Companion Care in Du Quoin, IL: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Du Quoin, IL: the local picture

1,071

residents 65 or older (19% of Du Quoin)

31%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (27% in Perry County)

1.2%

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

15%

of households have no vehicle (6.5% in Perry County)

About 290 residents of Du Quoin aged 65 or older live alone, 31% of older residents in households (27% in Perry County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

15% of Du Quoin households have no vehicle (6.5% in Perry County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,071 Du Quoin residents aged 65 or older, 162 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.

482 Du Quoin households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 128 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 141 older Du Quoin residents (15%) live below the poverty line (11% in Perry 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.

Du Quoin compared with Perry County and Illinois

Census figure	Du Quoin	Perry County	Illinois
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.2%	2.6%	24%
Households with no vehicle	15%	6.5%	11%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	11%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	37%	32%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,917	$51,598	—

Older residents in towns around Du Quoin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Pinckneyville, IL	7.8 mi	807	29%
Christopher, IL	10 mi	694	50%
Murphysboro, IL	17 mi	1,462	61%
Benton, IL	17 mi	1,743	36%
Herrin, IL	18 mi	2,336	35%
West Frankfort, IL	18 mi	1,051	41%

Hospitals near Du Quoin (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Marshall Browning Hospital	Du Quoin, IL	0.8 mi	not rated	(618) 542-2146
Pinckneyville Community Hospital	Pinckneyville, IL	10 mi	not rated	(618) 357-2187
Franklin Hospital	Benton, IL	17 mi	not rated	(618) 439-3161

Straight-line miles from the center of Du Quoin. 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 Du Quoin

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $4,410 monthly median income of Du Quoin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

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 Du Quoin: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Du Quoin?

About 290 residents aged 65 or older, 31% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (27% in Perry County).

How much does companion care cost in Du Quoin?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $4,410 monthly median income of Du Quoin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 Du Quoin?

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 Du Quoin

More senior care near Du Quoin

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Du Quoin

More for Du Quoin 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 Du Quoin, IL