Companion Care in Austin, MN: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Austin, MN: the local picture

4,489

residents 65 or older (17% of Austin)

29%

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

27%

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

6.3%

of households have no vehicle (5.2% in Mower County)

About 1,219 residents of Austin aged 65 or older live alone, 29% of older residents in households (27% in Mower County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

6.3% of Austin households have no vehicle (5.2% in Mower County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 4,489 Austin residents aged 65 or older, 697 are 85 or older (16%). 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.

2,268 Austin households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 680 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 370 older Austin residents (8.7%) live below the poverty line (8.7% in Mower 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 27% of Austin residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (3,827), other Asian and Pacific Island languages (1,260), other languages (528). 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 Mower County and Minnesota

Census figure	Austin	Mower County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	27%	19%	12%
Households with no vehicle	6.3%	5.2%	6.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.7%	8.7%	8.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	28%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,515	$54,904	—

Older residents in towns around Austin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Albert Lea, MN	19 mi	4,619	36%
Dodge Center, MN	25 mi	419	21%
Kasson, MN	27 mi	1,037	32%
Stewartville, MN	28 mi	916	28%
Osage, IA	28 mi	897	28%
Byron, MN	30 mi	849	26%

Hospitals near Austin (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea And Austin	Albert Lea, MN	20 mi	5 of 5	(507) 377-6490
Owatonna Hospital	Owatonna, MN	31 mi	5 of 5	(507) 451-3850
Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester	Rochester, MN	34 mi	5 of 5	(507) 255-5123

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 Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $4,126 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. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 1,219 residents aged 65 or older, 29% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (27% in Mower County).

How much does companion care cost in Austin?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $4,126 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. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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; 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, MN