Companion Care for Seniors in Chattanooga Valley, GA

About 61 residents of Chattanooga Valley aged 65 or older live alone, 7.6% of older residents in households (26% in Walker County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

2.4% of Chattanooga Valley households have no vehicle (3.7% in Walker County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 804 Chattanooga Valley residents aged 65 or older, 30 are 85 or older (3.7%). 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.

431 Chattanooga Valley households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 21 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 69 older Chattanooga Valley residents (8.6%) live below the poverty line (12% in Walker 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.

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 19% of the $6,284 monthly median income of Chattanooga Valley households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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.