Companion Care for Seniors in Chickamauga, GA

About 225 residents of Chickamauga aged 65 or older live alone, 39% 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.

5.1% of Chickamauga 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 570 Chickamauga residents aged 65 or older, 86 are 85 or older (15%). 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.

302 Chickamauga households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 78 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 63 older Chickamauga residents (11%) 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 49% of the $2,490 monthly median income of Chickamauga 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.