Companion Care in Bonne Terre, MO: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Bonne Terre, MO: the local picture

848

residents 65 or older (13% of Bonne Terre)

35%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in St. Francois County)

4.4%

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

16%

of households have no vehicle (6.6% in St. Francois County)

About 239 residents of Bonne Terre aged 65 or older live alone, 35% of older residents in households (30% in St. Francois County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

16% of Bonne Terre households have no vehicle (6.6% in St. Francois County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 848 Bonne Terre residents aged 65 or older, 93 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.

224 Bonne Terre households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 191 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 145 older Bonne Terre residents (21%) live below the poverty line (12% in St. Francois 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 4.4% of Bonne Terre residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (128), other Indo-European languages (82), Arabic (29). 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.

Bonne Terre compared with St. Francois County and Missouri

Census figure	Bonne Terre	St. Francois County	Missouri
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	13%	17%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.4%	1.3%	6.7%
Households with no vehicle	16%	6.6%	6.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	12%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	42%	34%

Older residents in towns around Bonne Terre

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Desloge, MO	3.4 mi	968	24%
Terre du Lac, MO	4.3 mi	500	27%
Park Hills, MO	7.6 mi	1,028	36%
Farmington, MO	11 mi	3,359	36%
Potosi, MO	13 mi	465	39%
De Soto, MO	15 mi	1,115	39%

Hospitals near Bonne Terre (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Parkland Health Center - Bonne Terre	Bonne Terre, MO	0.7 mi	not rated	(573) 358-1400
Parkland Health Center	Farmington, MO	12 mi	4 of 5	(573) 431-6005
Washington County Memorial Hospital	Potosi, MO	17 mi	not rated	(573) 438-5451

Straight-line miles from the center of Bonne Terre. 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 Bonne Terre

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid 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 Bonne Terre: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Bonne Terre?

About 239 residents aged 65 or older, 35% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (30% in St. Francois County).

How much does companion care cost in Bonne Terre?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Bonne Terre?

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 Bonne Terre

More senior care near Bonne Terre

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Bonne Terre

More for Bonne Terre 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 Bonne Terre, MO