Charleston Senior AdvisorHow much licensed senior care is inside the City of Charleston?
The City of Charleston had about 159,423 residents in Census Bureau estimates for July 1, 2025, and the S.C. Department of Public Health lists 11 senior-serving assisted living facilities and 5 nursing homes across its four main areas.
| Charleston area | Senior CRCFs | with Alzheimer's unit | Nursing homes | Home care / hospice offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Peninsula | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| West Ashley | 5 | 5 | 2 | 19 |
| James Island | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Daniel Island & Cainhoy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Why are North Charleston and Mount Pleasant listed separately?
Because they are separate municipalities with their own postal addresses, and together they hold more licensed assisted living than the City of Charleston itself; each has its own page, as do Summerville, Goose Creek and the sea islands.
The city grew from 150,746 in the 2020 estimates base to 159,423 in 2025. For a care decision, the drive for the family member who visits most matters more than the municipal line, which is why we group facilities by ZIP code within the city and by town outside it.
Which hospitals serve Charleston seniors?
DPH's roster lists general hospitals on the peninsula (MUSC Medical Center and Roper Hospital) and in West Ashley (Bon Secours St. Francis), with MUSC's rehabilitation hospital and Trident, East Cooper and Summerville hospitals nearby; most rehab and nursing home referrals begin with a discharge from one of them.
- Bon Secours St. Francis Xavier Hospital (Charleston, 190 licensed beds)
- Charleston-Amg Specialty Hospital (Mount Pleasant, 59 licensed beds)
- East Cooper Medical Center (Mount Pleasant, 130 licensed beds)
- HCA Healthcare Summerville Hospital (Trident Health) (Summerville, 174 licensed beds)
- HCA Healthcare Trident Hospital (Charleston, 312 licensed beds)
- Mount Pleasant Hospital (Mount Pleasant, 85 licensed beds)
- MUSC Health Rehabilitation Hospital An Affiliate of Encompass Health (North Charleston, 49 licensed beds)
- MUSC Medical Center (Charleston, 830 licensed beds)
- Roper Hospital (Charleston, 332 licensed beds)
- Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital (Summerville, 100 licensed beds)
Where do Charleston families get free help?
The Trident Area Agency on Aging, at 2456 Remount Road, Suite 305-C, North Charleston, SC 29406 (843-554-2275), is the Aging and Disability Resource Center for the city and the rest of the three counties, and it runs the regional long-term care ombudsman program and SHIP Medicare counseling.
Licensing complaints go to DPH Healthcare Quality at 1-800-922-6735, and suspected abuse of an adult at home to DSS Adult Protective Services at 1-888-227-3487. The City of Charleston's Mayor's Office on Aging also points residents to local programs. BoldAge PACE serves the city from its North Charleston center.
Care types in Charleston
Assisted living in Charleston
See by area →Memory care in Charleston
See by area →Nursing homes in Charleston
See by area →Home health & hospice in Charleston
See by area →Charleston at a glance
| Senior care in Charleston is | Senior care in Charleston is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | S.C. Department of Public Health for every facility type | Licensed by the city |
| Geography | Concentrated in West Ashley, James Island and Daniel Island | Plentiful on the peninsula |
| Storms | Planned under a sheltering rule for Charleston County facilities | Left to chance |
| Data | DPH roster and CMS ratings | Reviews or rankings |
