Companion Care in Austin, AR: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Austin, AR: the local picture

278

residents 65 or older (7.1% of Austin)

7.6%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (27% in Lonoke County)

7.1%

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

0.0%

of households have no vehicle (4.1% in Lonoke County)

About 21 residents of Austin aged 65 or older live alone, 7.6% of older residents in households (27% in Lonoke County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

0.0% of Austin households have no vehicle (4.1% in Lonoke County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 278 Austin residents aged 65 or older, 30 are 85 or older (11%). 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.

121 Austin households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 0 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 0 older Austin residents (0.0%) live below the poverty line (8.5% in Lonoke County). 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 7.1% of Austin residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Vietnamese (139), Spanish (87), Tagalog (15). 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.

Austin compared with Lonoke County and Arkansas

Census figure	Austin	Lonoke County	Arkansas
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	7.6%	27%	29%
Residents 65 or older	7.1%	15%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.1%	4.4%	8.3%
Households with no vehicle	0.0%	4.1%	5.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.0%	8.5%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	39%	40%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$98,060	$50,414	—

Older residents in towns around Austin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Ward, AR	1.9 mi	511	32%
Cabot, AR	3.1 mi	3,706	29%
Beebe, AR	6.8 mi	1,118	25%
Jacksonville, AR	12 mi	3,435	35%
Vilonia, AR	14 mi	444	3.8%
Lonoke, AR	16 mi	821	45%

Hospitals near Austin (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Unity Health - Jacksonville	Jacksonville, AR	11 mi	not rated	(501) 453-5000
St Vincent Medical Center/North	Sherwood, AR	16 mi	4 of 5	(501) 552-7100
Baptist Health Medical Center North Little Rock	North Little Rock, AR	19 mi	1 of 5	(501) 202-3000

Straight-line miles from the center of Austin. 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 Austin

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 14% of the $8,172 monthly median income of Austin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

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 Austin: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Austin?

About 21 residents aged 65 or older, 7.6% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (27% in Lonoke County).

How much does companion care cost in Austin?

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 14% of the $8,172 monthly median income of Austin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Austin?

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 Austin

More senior care near Austin

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Austin

More for Austin families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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 Austin, AR