Companion Care in Amarillo, TX: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Amarillo, TX: the local picture

30,530

residents 65 or older (15% of Amarillo)

32%

of residents 65+ in households live alone

23%

of residents 5+ speak a language other than English at home

5.9%

of households have no vehicle

About 9,421 residents of Amarillo aged 65 or older live alone, 32% of older residents in households. They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

5.9% of Amarillo households have no vehicle. A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 30,530 Amarillo residents aged 65 or older, 3,574 are 85 or older (12%). Before the first visit with someone in that oldest group, ask the family about hearing, eyesight, walking and any memory changes, so the visit is planned around them.

15,112 Amarillo households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 4,561 rent. A companion visiting a house may also help with mail, light chores and keeping an eye on things; in an apartment building, ask whether visitors sign in.

About 3,971 older Amarillo residents (13%) live below the poverty line. For them, Medicaid home and community-based services or the local Area Agency on Aging may cover some companion or homemaker hours, depending on the state program; private pay is not the only route.

About 23% of Amarillo residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (33,965), other Asian and Pacific Island languages (3,117), Vietnamese (2,422). If the person you care for is more at ease in one of these languages, say so in your posting; many caregivers list the languages they speak.

Amarillo compared with Texas

Census figure	Amarillo	Texas
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%
Residents 65 or older	15%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	23%	35%
Households with no vehicle	5.9%	5.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	35%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,996	—

Older residents in towns around Amarillo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Bushland, TX	13 mi	307	12%
Canyon, TX	15 mi	1,991	34%
Panhandle, TX	28 mi	593	52%
Borger, TX	40 mi	1,959	44%
Hereford, TX	41 mi	1,773	25%
Tulia, TX	46 mi	738	42%

Hospitals near Amarillo (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Northwest Texas Hospital	Amarillo, TX	3.5 mi	3 of 5	(806) 354-1110
Bsa Hospital	Amarillo, TX	3.5 mi	2 of 5	(806) 212-2000
Va Amarillo Healthcare System	Amarillo, TX	3.5 mi	5 of 5	(806) 355-9703

Straight-line miles from the center of Amarillo. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a companion caregiver can help with

Conversation, cards, puzzles and shared hobbies
Walks and outings to the park, library or senior center
Company at meals, and help preparing them
Rides or escort to appointments, church and visits

Cost

What companion care costs in Amarillo

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $3,916 monthly median income of Amarillo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see STAR+PLUS in Texas: using consumer directed services to pay a family caregiver.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a companion caregiver

Isolation is a health risk, not only a mood. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly one in four Americans aged 65 and older living in the community is socially isolated, and linked isolation to higher risks of dementia, heart disease and early death (2020 report).

Questions worth asking: What do you enjoy doing with the people you care for? Are you comfortable driving, and is your car insured for passengers? How do you handle a client who does not want company at first? More in our companion care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Companion Care in Amarillo: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Amarillo?

About 9,421 residents aged 65 or older, 32% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024).

How much does companion care cost in Amarillo?

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $3,916 monthly median income of Amarillo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Amarillo?

A companion keeps an older adult company and helps around the visit: conversation, activities, walks, meals, errands, rides and reminders. It suits someone who is mostly independent but lonely, or a family that wants someone to check in on weekdays.

More near Amarillo

More senior care near Amarillo

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Companion Care for Seniors in Amarillo, TX