Charleston Senior Advisor
What is Charleston Senior Advisor?
Charleston Senior Advisor is a free referral and guidance service for families looking at senior care in Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville and the rest of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, South Carolina.
We publish what South Carolina's regulation actually requires, what the published cost data does and does not say, and every licensed building on the state's own roster; then a local advisor helps you narrow the field. Communities pay us a referral fee when a family we introduced moves in. That is how the service stays free to you, and you should know it from the start.
How many older adults and licensed care options does the tri-county area have?
About 160,354 residents of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties were 65 or older on July 1, 2025, by Census Bureau estimates, and the S.C. Department of Public Health licenses 56 senior-serving community residential care facilities and 19 nursing homes there.
| County | Residents 65+ | Share 65+ | Senior CRCFs | with Alzheimer's unit | Nursing homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston County | 85,144 | 19.5% | 42 | 15 | 11 |
| Berkeley County | 44,495 | 16.2% | 9 | 3 | 4 |
| Dorchester County | 30,715 | 17.2% | 5 | 3 | 4 |
Population: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 county population estimates by age (July 1, 2025). Licenses: S.C. DPH data as of November 6, 2026.
How is assisted living licensed in South Carolina?
As a community residential care facility (CRCF), licensed by DPH under Regulation 60-84; memory care is an Alzheimer's special care unit or program inside a licensed CRCF or nursing home rather than a license of its own.
Every CRCF must staff at least one person for each eight residents at peak hours and employ a state-licensed administrator. Read how the license works and how memory care units are regulated.
What do Lowcountry families need to know about hurricanes and care facilities?
Every licensed assisted living building must keep a written evacuation plan with a signed sheltering agreement, and buildings in Charleston County must name at least one shelter site outside the coastal counties; families may read the plan on request.
Ask for it on every tour. Our hurricane evacuation guide lists what the plan must contain and the questions worth asking.
What does senior care cost in South Carolina?
CareScout's 2025 statewide medians are about $5,350 a month for assisted living, $9,034 for a semi-private nursing home room and about $31 an hour for home care; no Charleston-only figure and no memory care figure is published.
For residents with very low income, Optional State Supplementation pays a participating CRCF up to $1,719 a month in total, so how you will pay matters as much as the sticker price. See costs and paying for care.
Where should a Charleston family start?
Start from what just happened rather than from a care type: a hospital discharge, a fall, a dementia diagnosis, a worn-out caregiver or savings running low each lead to different first steps.
What we are and are not
| Charleston Senior Advisor is | Charleston Senior Advisor is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to families | Free; communities pay a referral fee | Billed to you, now or later |
| Data | S.C. DPH license records and CMS Care Compare | Aggregator listings or paid placement |
| Ratings | CMS star ratings, labeled as CMS's | Scores or rankings of our own |
| Affiliation | An independent referral service | A government agency or the Trident AAA |
