Companion Care in Cross Lanes, WV: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Cross Lanes, WV: the local picture

2,226

residents 65 or older (23% of Cross Lanes)

31%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (31% in Kanawha County)

3.3%

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

3.9%

of households have no vehicle (9.5% in Kanawha County)

About 678 residents of Cross Lanes aged 65 or older live alone, 31% of older residents in households (31% in Kanawha County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

3.9% of Cross Lanes households have no vehicle (9.5% in Kanawha County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 2,226 Cross Lanes residents aged 65 or older, 88 are 85 or older (4.0%). 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.

1,364 Cross Lanes households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 144 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 147 older Cross Lanes residents (6.6%) live below the poverty line (11% in Kanawha 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 3.3% of Cross Lanes residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (154), other Indo-European languages (81), Tagalog (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.

Cross Lanes compared with Kanawha County and West Virginia

Census figure	Cross Lanes	Kanawha County	West Virginia
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	23%	22%	21%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.3%	2.3%	2.5%
Households with no vehicle	3.9%	9.5%	8.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.6%	11%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	37%	39%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$61,169	$51,172	—

Older residents in towns around Cross Lanes

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Nitro, WV	2.6 mi	1,330	26%
St. Albans, WV	4.8 mi	2,646	38%
Dunbar, WV	4.9 mi	1,618	52%
South Charleston, WV	7.3 mi	2,876	31%
Teays Valley, WV	8.4 mi	2,900	23%
Sissonville, WV	8.6 mi	856	19%

Hospitals near Cross Lanes (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Thomas Memorial Hospital	South Charleston, WV	6.0 mi	1 of 5	(304) 766-3600
Charleston Area Medical Center	Charleston, WV	9.6 mi	2 of 5	(304) 388-5432
Jackson General Hospital	Ripley, WV	26 mi	3 of 5	(304) 372-2731

Straight-line miles from the center of Cross Lanes. 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 Cross Lanes

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages, which is 23% of the $5,097 monthly median income of Cross Lanes households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in West Virginia: ADW and Personal Options.

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 Cross Lanes: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Cross Lanes?

About 678 residents aged 65 or older, 31% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (31% in Kanawha County).

How much does companion care cost in Cross Lanes?

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages, which is 23% of the $5,097 monthly median income of Cross Lanes households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Cross Lanes?

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 Cross Lanes

More senior care near Cross Lanes

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Cross Lanes

More for Cross Lanes 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 Cross Lanes, WV