Get paid to care for family in Richland County
Most of the 64,000 people in Richland County who are 65 or older are cared for at home, by a relative. South Carolina Medicaid can pay you for that work.
Richland County at a glance
- Aged 65+
- 64,000
- Aged 85+
- 5,410
- Rank in SC
- 4th
- Median age
- 34.8
15% of residents
when daily help usually starts
of 46 counties, by residents 65+
younger than the country
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Population Estimates (Vintage 2024). Richland County is a metro county (Rural-Urban Continuum Code 2).
- 50 + DC
- states covered
- 3,144
- counties with local data
- $0
- it is always free to apply
- 2 min
- to see if you qualify
Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Rules from each state's published Medicaid program
Care in Richland
What being a paid caregiver looks like here
About 64,000 people in Richland County are 65 or older — 15% of everyone who lives here. Richland County skews younger than South Carolina overall, but the families caring for an older parent here face the same bills. Roughly 5,410 are 85 or older, the age when daily help usually starts. Agencies operate in Richland County, though families still run into gaps: no weekend coverage, a new aide every few weeks, hours that don't match real life.
Statewide, 1.1 million people in South Carolina are 65 or older — 20% of the state, across 46 counties.
What South Carolina pays family caregivers
Rates vary — check with the program.
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: South Carolina Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
South Carolina's programs at a glance
- Community Choices Waiver (self-directed)
- Medically Complex Children Waiver
- Spouse paid?
- Sometimes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Yes
- Waitlist
- Some programs have no waitlist.
These rules are set by the state, so they are the same in every county. Read the full South Carolina guide →
Towns and cities in Richland County
South Carolina sets eligibility, not your town — so a family in Columbia and a family at the far edge of the county apply the same way. The largest communities in Richland County:
- Columbia144,151
- Forest Acres10,438
- Irmo7,891
- Blythewood6,600
- Arcadia Lakes856
- Eastover628
- Cayce497
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Subcounty Population Estimates.
How families in Richland apply
You do not need a county office to start. Families in Richland County start with South Carolina's program:
Contact the regional Community Long Term Care (CLTC) office or Healthy Connections at 888-549-0820 and file the Application for Nursing Home, Residential or In-Home Care; MCC families request self-direction through their Waiver Nurse Case Manager.
Or skip the phone tag — our free 2-minute check tells you which South Carolina program fits your family, then we help with the forms.
See if you qualify →Richland questions, answered honestly
Can I get paid to care for a family member in Richland County?
Yes. South Carolina runs real Medicaid programs — like Community Choices Waiver (self-directed) — that pay family caregivers, and they cover families in Richland County. We help you enroll, and applying costs you nothing.
How much do family caregivers earn in Richland County?
South Carolina doesn't publish one flat rate. The program sets your exact pay. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Where do families in Richland County apply?
Families in Richland County start with the state, not the county. Contact the regional Community Long Term Care (CLTC) office or Healthy Connections at 888-549-0820 and file the Application for Nursing Home, Residential or In-Home Care; MCC families request self-direction through their Waiver Nurse Case Manager.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Richland County?
Sometimes — it depends on the program. The fine print for South Carolina: limited — spouses cannot provide companion care but may provide attendant care services; legal guardians excluded
How many people in Richland County might need this?
64,000 residents of Richland County are 65 or older and about 5,410 are 85 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 population estimates. Most of them are cared for at home by a relative rather than in a facility. South Carolina's programs exist to pay for exactly that care.
Which towns in Richland do you cover?
All of Richland County — including Columbia, Forest Acres, Irmo, Blythewood and Arcadia Lakes. Eligibility is set by South Carolina, not by your town, so where you live inside the county does not change whether you qualify.
Program facts come from South Carolina's published Medicaid program rules · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For families in Richland County
Start with the South Carolina caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.