Companion Care in Gun Barrel City, TX for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in Gun Barrel City, TX: the local picture

1,740

residents 65 or older (26% of Gun Barrel City)

30%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (17% in Kaufman County)

2.9%

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

0.7%

of households have no vehicle (3.1% in Kaufman County)

About 518 residents of Gun Barrel City aged 65 or older live alone, 30% of older residents in households (17% in Kaufman County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

0.7% of Gun Barrel City households have no vehicle (3.1% in Kaufman County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,740 Gun Barrel City residents aged 65 or older, 182 are 85 or older (10%). 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.

1,110 Gun Barrel City households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 71 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 202 older Gun Barrel City residents (12%) live below the poverty line (11% in Kaufman 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.

Gun Barrel City compared with Kaufman County and Texas

Census figure	Gun Barrel City	Kaufman County	Texas
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	17%	25%
Residents 65 or older	26%	11%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.9%	23%	35%
Households with no vehicle	0.7%	3.1%	5.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	11%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	35%	35%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,886	$59,158	—

Older residents in towns around Gun Barrel City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Mabank, TX	3.3 mi	621	33%
Athens, TX	20 mi	2,563	34%
Kaufman, TX	20 mi	1,124	31%
Canton, TX	22 mi	819	50%
Corsicana, TX	26 mi	3,864	29%
Wills Point, TX	27 mi	631	31%

Hospitals near Gun Barrel City (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman	Kaufman, TX	18 mi	not rated	(972) 932-7200
UT Health East Texas Athens Hospital	Athens, TX	19 mi	2 of 5	(903) 676-1000
Navarro Regional Hospital	Corsicana, TX	26 mi	2 of 5	(903) 654-6800

Straight-line miles from the center of Gun Barrel City. 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 Gun Barrel City

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 19% of the $5,407 monthly median income of Gun Barrel City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 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 STAR+PLUS in Texas: using consumer directed services to pay a family 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 Gun Barrel City: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Gun Barrel City?

About 518 residents aged 65 or older, 30% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (17% in Kaufman County).

How much does companion care cost in Gun Barrel City?

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 19% of the $5,407 monthly median income of Gun Barrel City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Gun Barrel City?

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 Gun Barrel City

More senior care near Gun Barrel City

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gun Barrel City

More for Gun Barrel City 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 Gun Barrel City, TX