Companion Care in Durham, CA: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Durham, CA: the local picture

1,461

residents 65 or older (27% of Durham)

14%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Butte County)

5.7%

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

2.4%

of households have no vehicle (6.0% in Butte County)

About 207 residents of Durham aged 65 or older live alone, 14% of older residents in households (28% in Butte 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 Durham households have no vehicle (6.0% in Butte County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,461 Durham residents aged 65 or older, 129 are 85 or older (8.8%). 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.

776 Durham households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 112 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 113 older Durham residents (7.8%) live below the poverty line (11% in Butte 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 5.7% of Durham residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (173), other languages (50), other Indo-European languages (36). 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.

Durham compared with Butte County and California

Census figure	Durham	Butte County	California
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	28%	23%
Residents 65 or older	27%	18%	16%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.7%	17%	44%
Households with no vehicle	2.4%	6.0%	7.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.8%	11%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	33%	33%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$105,833	$58,573	—

Older residents in towns around Durham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Chico, CA	9.1 mi	14,532	36%
Paradise, CA	13 mi	3,026	26%
Thermalito, CA	13 mi	1,121	29%
Oroville, CA	15 mi	2,918	27%
Magalia, CA	16 mi	1,694	24%
South Oroville, CA	17 mi	360	41%

Hospitals near Durham (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Enloe Health	Chico, CA	8.5 mi	3 of 5	(530) 332-7300
Orchard Hospital	Gridley, CA	20 mi	not rated	(530) 846-5671
Oroville Hospital	Oroville, CA	20 mi	1 of 5	(530) 533-8500

Straight-line miles from the center of Durham. 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 Durham

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 17% of the $8,819 monthly median income of Durham households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Durham: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Durham?

About 207 residents aged 65 or older, 14% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (28% in Butte County).

How much does companion care cost in Durham?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 17% of the $8,819 monthly median income of Durham households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Durham?

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 Durham

More senior care near Durham

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Durham

More for Durham 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 Durham, CA