Charleston Senior AdvisorDorchester County runs inland from Summerville and the North Charleston line through Ridgeville and Harleyville to St. George, its county seat, with about 178,397 residents in 2025 Census estimates.
17.2% of residents are 65 or older and the median age is 38.8. Most licensed senior care sits in and around Summerville; the rural western half has a nursing home in St. George and little else, so families there often look toward Summerville.
How many seniors and licensed care options are in Dorchester County, SC?
Dorchester County had about 30,715 residents aged 65 or older (17.2% of 178,397), including 2,528 aged 85 or older, on July 1, 2025, and DPH licenses 5 senior-serving CRCFs and 4 nursing homes there.
| Found in Dorchester County | Not found in Dorchester County | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed with a local address (DPH) | Assisted living (CRCFs): 5, Nursing homes: 4, Adult day care: 1, In-home care providers: 17 | — |
| Missing locally | — | Home health agencies, Hospice programs, Hospice houses |
| Alzheimer's special care units | 3 buildings | — |
Population: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 county population estimates by age (July 1, 2025).
Where in Dorchester County is licensed senior care located?
Most of Dorchester County's licensed assisted living and nursing beds are in Summerville (8), St. George (1), counted by DPH's postal city for each license.
| Postal city | Senior CRCFs | Nursing homes |
|---|---|---|
| Summerville | 5 | 3 |
| St. George | 0 | 1 |
Which care facilities hold a license in Dorchester County?
Here is every community residential care facility and nursing home DPH lists in Dorchester County (data as of November 6, 2026), with licensed beds, Alzheimer's flags and city.
| Facility | License type | Licensed beds | Alzheimer's unit / care (DPH) | City | DPH orders since Jan 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claiborne at Brickyard Crossing 112 Grandview Dr, 29483 | CRCF | 128 | Unit + care | Summerville | 0 |
| Cypress Square 205 Midland Pkwy, 29485 | CRCF | 44 | No | Summerville | 0 |
| Harmony at Wescott 5130 Wescott Blvd, 29485 | CRCF | 105 | Unit + care | Summerville | 0 |
| Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina-Summerville 201 W 9th North St, 29483 | CRCF | 114 | Unit + care | Summerville | 0 |
| Terrabella Summerville 335 Midland Pkwy, 29485 | CRCF | 63 | No | Summerville | 0 |
| Hallmark Healthcare Center 255 Midland Pkwy, 29485 | NH | 88 | No | Summerville | 0 |
| Oakbrook Health and Rehabilitation Center 920 Travelers Blvd, 29485 | NH | 88 | No | Summerville | 0 |
| Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina-Summerville 201 W 9th North St, 29483 | NH | 88 | No | Summerville | 0 |
| St George Healthcare Center 905 Dukes St, 29477 | NH | 88 | No | St. George | 0 |
Which home health, hospice and adult day providers are based in Dorchester County?
DPH's data shows 0 home health agencies, 0 hospice programs and houses and 1 adult day center with Dorchester County addresses, plus 17 in-home care providers.
- Aging Gracefully Senior Care/graceful Embrace Developmental Day Program, Ladson — adult day care facility
Where do Dorchester County families get free senior help?
Older adults and caregivers in Dorchester County are served by the Trident Area Agency on Aging on Remount Road in North Charleston (843-554-2275, toll-free 1-800-894-0415), the regional Aging and Disability Resource Center, which also houses the long-term care ombudsman and SHIP Medicare counseling.
Its services include information and referral as the region's Aging and Disability Resource Center (since 2007), the regional Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, the Family Caregiver Support Program, home-delivered and group meals through county providers, and SHIP (I-CARE) Medicare counseling and Senior Medicare Patrol. 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. BoldAge PACE serves Dorchester County.
How far is St. George from hospital care?
From St. George, the county seat, the nearest general hospital on DPH's roster is HCA Healthcare Summerville Hospital (Trident Health), roughly 27.3 miles off as the crow flies, and downtown Charleston is about 45 miles away.
The next closest are Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital (about 28 miles) and HCA Healthcare Trident Hospital (about 31 miles). These are straight-line figures, not drive times.
