The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Myrtle Beach, SC for 2024

Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in Myrtle Beach, SC, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies 5.0 out of 5 stars across the 31 options below.

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that home care agencies in Myrtle Beach charge $4,576 per month for nonmedical full-time assistance. While this exceeds South Carolina’s norm by over $100, it’s about $400 lower than the U.S. average. Local rates are competitive compared to care costs in Sumter, where seniors pay $4,957 for care, and in Charleston, rates are several hundred dollars higher than in Myrtle Beach, at $5,005. In Hilton Head Island, care costs are $1,000 over Myrtle Beach’s average, but in Florence, care costs are lower than in Myrtle Beach at $4,195.

Home care in Myrtle Beach is moderately priced compared to other local long-term care options, with seniors paying $4,576 monthly for care. Assisted living, which features a similar scope of services in a residential setting, costs about $500 less per month, and seniors who attend adult day health care pay about $3,300 less for care than those who obtain private services at home. Home health care, which includes skilled nursing, costs about $200 more than basic home care, and seniors who live in nursing homes pay considerably higher monthly rates of $6,372. 

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help to pay for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-Term Care Insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations, typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day, and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial or nonmedical care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care services either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans' Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with activities of daily living. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a tax-free portion of your home's equity in cash. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.