Companion Care in East St. Louis, IL for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in East St. Louis, IL: the local picture

4,154

residents 65 or older (23% of East St. Louis)

45%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in St. Clair County)

1.5%

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

22%

of households have no vehicle (7.5% in St. Clair County)

About 1,834 residents of East St. Louis aged 65 or older live alone, 45% of older residents in households (32% in St. Clair County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

22% of East St. Louis households have no vehicle (7.5% in St. Clair County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 4,154 East St. Louis residents aged 65 or older, 545 are 85 or older (13%). 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.

2,450 East St. Louis households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 772 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 695 older East St. Louis residents (17%) live below the poverty line (10% in St. Clair 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.

East St. Louis compared with St. Clair County and Illinois

Census figure	East St. Louis	St. Clair County	Illinois
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	23%	17%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.5%	5.0%	24%
Households with no vehicle	22%	7.5%	11%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	10%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	33%	32%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$33,219	$54,949	—

Older residents in towns around East St. Louis

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Cahokia Heights, IL	3.3 mi	1,915	47%
Madison, IL	5.1 mi	406	49%
Caseyville, IL	5.3 mi	828	30%
St. Louis, MO	6.3 mi	44,707	44%
Fairview Heights, IL	6.9 mi	3,239	35%
Granite City, IL	7.8 mi	5,153	37%

Hospitals near East St. Louis (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Touchette Regional Hospital Inc	Centreville, IL	2.0 mi	not rated	(618) 332-3060
St Louis-John Cochran Va Medical Center	St. Louis, MO	4.6 mi	5 of 5	(314) 652-4100
Ssm Health Saint Louis University Hospital	Saint Louis, MO	4.8 mi	1 of 5	(314) 257-8000

Straight-line miles from the center of East St. Louis. 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 East St. Louis

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 57% of the $2,768 monthly median income of East St. Louis 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 East St. Louis: common questions

How many seniors live alone in East St. Louis?

About 1,834 residents aged 65 or older, 45% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (32% in St. Clair County).

How much does companion care cost in East St. Louis?

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 57% of the $2,768 monthly median income of East St. Louis 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 East St. Louis?

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 East St. Louis

More senior care near East St. Louis

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in East St. Louis

More for East St. Louis 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 East St. Louis, IL