Companion Care in Berkeley, IL: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Berkeley, IL: the local picture

882

residents 65 or older (17% of Berkeley)

9.5%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Cook County)

39%

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

7.7%

of households have no vehicle (18% in Cook County)

About 82 residents of Berkeley aged 65 or older live alone, 9.5% of older residents in households (32% in Cook County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

7.7% of Berkeley households have no vehicle (18% in Cook County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 882 Berkeley residents aged 65 or older, 99 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.

451 Berkeley households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 95 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 194 older Berkeley residents (22%) live below the poverty line (13% in Cook 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 39% of Berkeley residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (1,649), Tagalog (84), other Indo-European languages (68). 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.

Berkeley compared with Cook County and Illinois

Census figure	Berkeley	Cook County	Illinois
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	9.5%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	16%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	39%	36%	24%
Households with no vehicle	7.7%	18%	11%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	13%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	32%	32%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$55,000	$56,774	—

Older residents in towns around Berkeley

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Hillside, IL	1.6 mi	1,413	31%
Elmhurst, IL	1.7 mi	8,662	26%
Northlake, IL	1.8 mi	2,371	29%
Stone Park, IL	1.9 mi	152	15%
Bellwood, IL	1.9 mi	2,914	19%
Melrose Park, IL	2.6 mi	3,138	32%

Hospitals near Berkeley (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital	Elmhurst, IL	1.5 mi	3 of 5	(331) 221-1000
Loyola Gottlieb Memorial Hospital	Melrose Park, IL	2.9 mi	3 of 5	(708) 681-3200
Loyola University Medical Center	Maywood, IL	3.6 mi	2 of 5	(708) 216-9000

Straight-line miles from the center of Berkeley. 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 Berkeley

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 35% of the $4,583 monthly median income of Berkeley 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 Berkeley: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Berkeley?

About 82 residents aged 65 or older, 9.5% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (32% in Cook County).

How much does companion care cost in Berkeley?

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 35% of the $4,583 monthly median income of Berkeley 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 Berkeley?

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 Berkeley

More senior care near Berkeley

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Berkeley

More for Berkeley 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 Berkeley, IL