Companion Care in Beardstown, IL: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Beardstown, IL: the local picture

762

residents 65 or older (12% of Beardstown)

48%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (34% in Cass County)

43%

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

5.8%

of households have no vehicle (4.5% in Cass County)

About 328 residents of Beardstown aged 65 or older live alone, 48% of older residents in households (34% in Cass County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

5.8% of Beardstown households have no vehicle (4.5% in Cass County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 762 Beardstown residents aged 65 or older, 162 are 85 or older (21%). 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.

414 Beardstown households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 160 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 125 older Beardstown residents (18%) live below the poverty line (12% in Cass 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 43% of Beardstown residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (1,955), French, Haitian or Cajun (236), other languages (130). 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.

Beardstown compared with Cass County and Illinois

Census figure	Beardstown	Cass County	Illinois
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	48%	34%	30%
Residents 65 or older	12%	18%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	43%	22%	24%
Households with no vehicle	5.8%	4.5%	11%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	12%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	37%	32%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,633	$52,357	—

Older residents in towns around Beardstown

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Rushville, IL	10 mi	618	37%
Jacksonville, IL	22 mi	3,371	38%
South Jacksonville, IL	24 mi	971	49%
Havana, IL	28 mi	712	50%
Macomb, IL	34 mi	2,363	49%
Pittsfield, IL	35 mi	1,079	37%

Hospitals near Beardstown (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Sarah D Culbertson Memorial Hospital	Rushville, IL	9.3 mi	not rated	(217) 322-4321
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital	Jacksonville, IL	22 mi	not rated	(217) 245-9551
Mason District Hospital	Havana, IL	28 mi	not rated	(309) 543-4431

Straight-line miles from the center of Beardstown. 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 Beardstown

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 60% of the $2,636 monthly median income of Beardstown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Beardstown: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Beardstown?

About 328 residents aged 65 or older, 48% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (34% in Cass County).

How much does companion care cost in Beardstown?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 60% of the $2,636 monthly median income of Beardstown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Beardstown?

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 Beardstown

More senior care near Beardstown

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Beardstown

More for Beardstown 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 Beardstown, IL