Companion Care in Ferguson, MO: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Ferguson, MO: the local picture

2,573

residents 65 or older (14% of Ferguson)

37%

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

2.8%

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

12%

of households have no vehicle (6.6% in St. Louis County)

About 899 residents of Ferguson aged 65 or older live alone, 37% of older residents in households (32% in St. Louis County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

12% of Ferguson households have no vehicle (6.6% in St. Louis County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 2,573 Ferguson residents aged 65 or older, 240 are 85 or older (9.3%). 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.

1,363 Ferguson households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 388 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 251 older Ferguson residents (10%) live below the poverty line (8.2% in St. Louis 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.

Ferguson compared with St. Louis County and Missouri

Census figure	Ferguson	St. Louis County	Missouri
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	19%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.8%	11%	6.7%
Households with no vehicle	12%	6.6%	6.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	8.2%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	28%	34%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,629	$63,295	—

Older residents in towns around Ferguson

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Dellwood, MO	1.2 mi	937	18%
Berkeley, MO	2.2 mi	1,003	41%
Jennings, MO	2.5 mi	2,294	42%
Moline Acres, MO	2.9 mi	698	32%
Normandy, MO	2.9 mi	531	40%
Northwoods, MO	3.2 mi	1,033	35%

Hospitals near Ferguson (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Christian Hospital Northeast	Saint Louis, MO	2.5 mi	4 of 5	(314) 653-5000
Ssm Health Depaul Hospital St Louis	Bridgeton, MO	6.5 mi	4 of 5	(314) 344-6000
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - St Louis	Saint Louis, MO	8.5 mi	3 of 5	(314) 768-8000

Straight-line miles from the center of Ferguson. 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 Ferguson

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 32% of the $4,302 monthly median income of Ferguson 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 Ferguson: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Ferguson?

About 899 residents aged 65 or older, 37% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (32% in St. Louis County).

How much does companion care cost in Ferguson?

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 32% of the $4,302 monthly median income of Ferguson 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 Ferguson?

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 Ferguson

More senior care near Ferguson

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ferguson

More for Ferguson 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 Ferguson, MO