Caring for an aging loved one is one of the hardest jobs there is — and you shouldn't have to do it alone. Below are 29 verified South Carolina programs offering emotional support, respite, training, financial help, peer groups, and legal planning — most of them completely free.
Last updated July 2026
Start here in South Carolina
SC Department on Aging — Family Caregiver Support
One call connects South Carolina family caregivers to free counseling, respite, training, and support groups through their local Area Agency on Aging.
SC Department on Aging — Family Caregiver Support
Free
Statewide — 10 Area Agencies on Aging covering all 46 counties
South Carolina's primary caregiver entry point. Free information, referrals, counseling, and connection to all caregiver services through 10 regional AAAs. Regional Family Caregiver Advocates work one-on-one with caregivers providing personalized counseling and support. GetCareSC.com is SC's zip-code-based resource finder.
Call 800-868-9095 or visit GetCareSC.com and enter your zip code to find local caregiver services. GetCareSC.com is SC's unique resource locator for all aging services
Alzheimer's Association SC Chapter — 24/7 Helpline
Free
Statewide — offices in Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, and Midlands serving all 46 counties
Around the clock emotional support, crisis assistance, and care consultations for dementia caregivers. SC Chapter serves all 46 counties through four offices. 125,538 South Carolinians diagnosed with Alzheimer's or related dementia. SC has the nation's most comprehensive statewide ADRD registry.
Upstate: 864-250-0029 | Midlands: 803-791-3430. Walk to End Alzheimer's July 10-12, 2026 — Simpsonville to Mt. Pleasant. 9 Walk locations statewide this fall
SC ARCC — Alzheimer's Resource Coordination Center
Free
Statewide — SCDOA with 7 grant-funded programs in 11 counties FY26
SC's unique state-funded center coordinating services, information, and education for people with Alzheimer's and related dementias and their families. ARCC grants fund innovative caregiver programs including virtual training, in-home activities, and wandering technology. New Dementia Care Specialists being deployed regionally.
Contact ARCC at dementia@aging.sc.gov or 800-868-9095. Dementia Toolkit available free — contact SCDOA to request. 7 ARCC grant programs active FY2026
Free 24/7 connection to local health and human services including emotional support, crisis intervention, and caregiver resource referrals across all 46 South Carolina counties.
Call or text 211 anytime — also available online at sc211.org. Available in English and Spanish
SC Alzheimer's Caregiver Respite Program — Vouchers
Free
Statewide — through 10 Area Agencies on Aging
State-funded respite voucher program for all informal dementia caregivers regardless of income. Caregivers choose their respite provider — in-home care agencies, adult day centers, or short-term residential care. Funded through SC General Assembly and administered by 10 AAAs.
No income limit — available to all informal dementia caregivers. Contact your regional AAA through aging.sc.gov or call 800-868-9095. Apply through your local AAA
Statewide coalition providing respite vouchers, information about respite programs, training, and referrals for SC family caregivers. Breakroom locations statewide where caregivers can find scheduled breaks. Partners with SCDOA and AAA network.
Call 866-345-6786 for respite voucher information and local Breakroom locations — unique SC resource providing structured caregiver break locations across the state
NFCSP-funded temporary respite care for family caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's through SC's 10 AAAs. In-home and adult day respite options available. Regional Family Caregiver Advocates facilitate appropriate respite.
Contact SCDOA at 800-868-9095 or your regional AAA — use GetCareSC.com to find AAA by zip code
At least 30 days annual respite for caregivers of eligible veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. Columbia VA, Charleston VA, and community clinics serve South Carolina's large veteran population.
Must be caring for veteran enrolled in VA healthcare — Columbia VAMC: 803-776-4000 | Charleston VAMC: 843-577-5011
Free education programs for dementia caregivers across all 46 SC counties. ALZ Talks webinars, Savvy Caregiver workshops, care consultations, and in-person conferences. SC has nation's most comprehensive ADRD registry — data-driven local programs.
Virtual options available statewide — call helpline or visit chapter website. Dementia ECHO program connects community providers with dementia care experts statewide
Statewide — regional specialists being deployed across SC
New SCDOA program deploying regional Dementia Care Specialists to provide hyper-local information, referral, and support — particularly in rural SC counties. Specialists connect caregivers to services and provide education. Contact dementia@aging.sc.gov for specialist in your region.
New program — contact SCDOA at 800-868-9095 or dementia@aging.sc.gov to find the Dementia Care Specialist serving your region. Particularly valuable for rural SC communities
Clemson University Extension — Caregiver Education
Free
Statewide — Clemson Extension offices in all 46 counties
Evidence-based caregiver education through Clemson University Extension. Family caregiver programs, aging-in-place resources, and Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshops in all SC counties including rural Lowcountry and Upstate communities.
Clemson Extension in every SC county — reaching rural caregivers across the Upstate, Midlands, Lowcountry, and Pee Dee regions
Statewide — 7 grant programs in 11 counties FY2026
ARCC-funded caregiver training programs including virtual training for family caregivers, in-home activities, and technology-based programs. Seven innovative programs funded statewide for FY2026. Contact SCDOA to find ARCC programs near you.
Free through ARCC grants — contact SCDOA at 800-868-9095 or dementia@aging.sc.gov. GetCareSC.com lists ARCC-funded programs by county
Comprehensive caregiver education library including fact sheets, online programs, and SC-specific resource directory. Especially valuable for rural SC caregivers in the Pee Dee, Lowcountry, or other areas with limited local options.
No registration required for most online resources
Free caregiver tools, guides, and education in English and Spanish. AARP SC reports 18% of SC adults provide regular care to an elderly relative or family member. AARP Care Guide and financial worksheets available.
AARP membership not required — AARP SC active in advocating for expanded caregiver respite and Dementia Care Specialist program funding in SC General Assembly
SC Community Choices Waiver — Paid Family Caregiver
Free
Statewide
South Carolina Medicaid HCBS waiver allowing eligible individuals to hire family members including spouses as paid personal care providers. Income limit $2,982/month effective January 2026. Must meet nursing home level of care. One of few SC programs explicitly allowing spouses as paid caregivers.
Spouses explicitly eligible — contact SCDHHS at 888-549-0820 or your local AAA. Income limit updated to $2,982/month effective January 2026. Consumer direction option available
SC Community Supports Waiver — Paid Family Caregiver
Free
Statewide
SC Medicaid waiver for individuals with intellectual disabilities or related disabilities. Allows family members including spouses to be paid as support workers. Consumer direction available through participant direction program. Income limit $2,982/month in 2026.
Spouses eligible under ID/RD Waiver — contact SCDHHS at 888-549-0820. Same income limit as Community Choices Waiver effective January 2026
Monthly stipend for caregivers of eligible veterans with 70%+ service-connected disability. Also includes CHAMPVA health insurance. VA legacy cohort protected through September 2028.
Must be caring for veteran with 70%+ service-connected disability rating
Federal program providing information, counseling, training, respite, and supplemental services to family caregivers of adults 60+ or any age with Alzheimer's. 'Seniors Raising Children' serves grandparent kinship caregivers — SC's unique name for OAA kinship caregiver services.
Contact SCDOA at 800-868-9095 — 'Seniors Raising Children' is SC's kinship caregiver program name. No income limits for Older Americans Act programs
Free caregiver support groups throughout South Carolina from Greenville to Columbia to Charleston to Myrtle Beach. Chapter can pay for a sitter so caregivers can attend groups up to twice monthly. ALZConnected online 24/7.
Unique SC benefit: chapter pays for sitter so caregivers can attend groups — call 800-272-3900. Virtual groups available statewide. Find by county at www.alz.org/sc
Caregiver support groups through SC's 10 AAAs covering all 46 counties. Regional Family Caregiver Advocates facilitate groups. Contact GetCareSC.com by zip code to find local groups.
Use GetCareSC.com to find support groups in your area — or call 800-868-9095. Advocates facilitate groups across all 46 SC counties
Unique SC resource — 'Breakrooms' are scheduled locations where family caregivers can drop off their loved ones for social activities while taking a structured break. Combines respite and peer connection in an accessible community setting.
Free — call 866-345-6786 to find Breakroom locations near you. Unique SC model for accessible community-based caregiver respite and connection
Free online peer community of 25,000+ caregivers active 24/7. Especially valuable for SC caregivers in rural Pee Dee, Lowcountry, or other areas where local groups are limited.
AARP membership not required — virtual peer support 24/7
Statewide — offices in Columbia, Greenville, Charleston, Florence, and other communities
Free civil legal services to low-income South Carolinians including elder law, advance directives, healthcare powers of attorney, Medicaid planning, housing, and consumer protection. Elder law priority for adults 60+.
Income eligibility requirements — adults 60+ receive priority for elder law matters. Statewide toll-free: 888-346-5592. Also visit lawhelp.org/sc for online legal resources at no cost to you
SC SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Free
Statewide — through SCDOA and 10 AAAs
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling for SC beneficiaries and caregivers through SCDOA and 10 AAAs. Certified counselors help navigate Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D statewide. Phone 800-868-9095 connects to both SHIP and Family Caregiver Support.
Unbiased — not affiliated with insurance industry. Same 800-868-9095 connects to SHIP counselors and caregiver support statewide
Free advocacy for caregivers with concerns about nursing home or assisted living quality. Investigates complaints and protects residents' rights across all 46 SC counties. Contact SCDOA at 803-734-9900 or 800-868-9095.
Complaint line: 803-734-9900 | Toll-free: 800-868-9095. Regional ombudsmen accessible through each AAA statewide
Free legal advocacy for South Carolinians with disabilities and their caregivers. SC's federally designated Protection and Advocacy agency. Covers disability rights, Medicaid, housing, Community Choices Waiver access, and abuse/neglect investigations.
Toll-free: 866-275-3772. Free services for people with disabilities and their family caregivers — all 46 SC counties
Connects South Carolina caregivers to elder law attorneys for advance directives, healthcare powers of attorney, guardianship, and Medicaid planning. Initial consultation available at reduced fee.
Referral fee may apply — income-eligible South Carolinians should contact SC Legal Services first for services at no cost to you. Toll-free: 800-868-2284
Frequently Asked Questions — South Carolina Caregivers
Honest answers to what South Carolina family caregivers ask most.
Most free caregiver help in South Carolina flows through SC Department on Aging — Family Caregiver Support, which works hand-in-hand with the South Carolina Department on Aging (SCDOA) and the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network. Call 800-868-9095 to be connected to your county's AAA or Aging and Disability Resource Center — they provide free caregiver counseling, support groups, respite vouchers, and caregiver education statewide.
In many cases, yes. The primary pathway is Community Choices Waiver. South Carolina's Community Choices Waiver supports in-home personal care, and the state's Companion Care benefit can pay a family member (other than a spouse) as a caregiver. The care recipient must meet South Carolina Medicaid's financial and functional eligibility rules. To apply or confirm what's currently available, call 800-868-9095 and ask specifically about Medicaid self-direction or consumer-directed personal-care services.
Free or low-cost respite in South Carolina comes from three main places: (1) SC Department on Aging — Family Caregiver Support and your local Area Agency on Aging, which can issue respite vouchers under the National Family Caregiver Support Program — call 800-868-9095; (2) the VA Caregiver Support Program (1-855-260-3274) for caregivers of enrolled veterans; and (3) the ARCH National Respite Locator at archrespite.org, which lists licensed South Carolina respite providers by ZIP code.
South Carolina veteran caregivers can access two main VA programs. The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) pays a monthly stipend of roughly $1,750–$3,200 for caregivers of post-9/11 and (now expanded) earlier-era veterans with a 70%+ service-connected disability who need help with daily activities. The Program of General Caregiver Support Services offers free training, peer mentoring, and REACH VA stress coaching for caregivers of any era veteran enrolled in VA healthcare. Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 or visit caregiver.va.gov to apply.
Yes. The Alzheimer's Association South Carolina Chapter runs in-person and virtual support groups across the state and operates a free 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 in English and Spanish. Local Area Agencies on Aging also coordinate dementia-specific groups through South Carolina's family caregiver support program — SC Department on Aging — Family Caregiver Support can refer you. For broader caregiver support groups (not dementia-specific), the Family Caregiver Alliance and Well Spouse Association also serve South Carolina families online.
South Carolina Legal Services is the main free civil legal aid resource for income-eligible South Carolina residents. They can help with advance directives, financial and healthcare powers of attorney, guardianship questions, Medicare and Medicaid appeals, and consumer or housing problems facing aging adults. South Carolina Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides separate free advocacy specifically for residents (and their families) in South Carolina nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care settings. Many South Carolina bar associations also run lawyer-referral services with reduced rates for caregivers and seniors.
988 is the free, confidential 24/7 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available to anyone in the U.S., including South Carolina family caregivers who feel overwhelmed, isolated, hopeless, or in emotional distress. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. For non-crisis support — finding food, transportation, rent help, or caregiver respite — dial 211 to reach a South Carolina-trained United Way navigator who can route you to local programs.
South Carolina's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) network is the single point of entry for county-level caregiver services. Call 800-868-9095 and you'll be routed to the ADRC or AAA serving your county. They handle benefits screening, options counseling, and direct connections to counseling, respite, training, transportation, and financial-help programs. South Carolina Department on Aging (SCDOA) oversees the network statewide and can also help if a local office is hard to reach.
Save these South Carolina resources to your free care plan
Your care plan keeps every South Carolina caregiver resource — phone numbers, eligibility, and next steps — in one calm, organized place.
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Source: LTCareNav.com research, updated on July 2026. Programs, phone numbers, and eligibility rules change frequently — please verify contact information directly with each organization before referral. This page is informational and not legal, medical, or financial advice.