Companion Care in Clever, MO: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Clever, MO: the local picture

235

residents 65 or older (7.8% of Clever)

62%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (22% in Christian County)

2.0%

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

5.4%

of households have no vehicle (3.0% in Christian County)

About 146 residents of Clever aged 65 or older live alone, 62% of older residents in households (22% in Christian County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

5.4% of Clever households have no vehicle (3.0% in Christian County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 235 Clever residents aged 65 or older, 16 are 85 or older (6.8%). 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.

97 Clever households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 84 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 38 older Clever residents (16%) live below the poverty line (9.2% in Christian 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.

Clever compared with Christian County and Missouri

Census figure	Clever	Christian County	Missouri
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	62%	22%	30%
Residents 65 or older	7.8%	17%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.0%	4.2%	6.7%
Households with no vehicle	5.4%	3.0%	6.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	9.2%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	29%	34%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$24,291	$61,657	—

Older residents in towns around Clever

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Battlefield, MO	8.3 mi	1,200	17%
Marionville, MO	9.3 mi	440	34%
Nixa, MO	9.7 mi	3,758	27%
Republic, MO	10.0 mi	3,124	32%
Ozark, MO	14 mi	3,268	23%
Aurora, MO	14 mi	1,386	36%

Hospitals near Clever (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Cox Medical Centers	Springfield, MO	13 mi	3 of 5	(417) 269-6000
Mercy Hospital Aurora	Aurora, MO	14 mi	not rated	(417) 678-2122
Mercy Hospital Springfield	Springfield, MO	15 mi	3 of 5	(417) 820-2000

Straight-line miles from the center of Clever. 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 Clever

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, which is 68% of the $2,024 monthly median income of Clever households headed by someone 65 or older. 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 Clever: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Clever?

About 146 residents aged 65 or older, 62% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (22% in Christian County).

How much does companion care cost in Clever?

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, which is 68% of the $2,024 monthly median income of Clever households headed by someone 65 or older. 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 Clever?

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 Clever

More senior care near Clever

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Clever

More for Clever families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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 Clever, MO