Hays, Kansas

Companion Care for Seniors in Hays, KS

Conversation, outings, meals together and a steady, friendly presence for an older adult who lives alone or spends long days by themselves. Post what you need in Hays for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

Post your care need free Hays at a glance

A younger woman and an older woman looking at a phone together on a park bench

Local figures

Companion Care in Hays, KS: the local picture

3,332

residents 65 or older (16% of Hays)

32%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (33% in Ellis County)

7.2%

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

4.2%

of households have no vehicle (3.8% in Ellis County)

About 1,021 residents of Hays aged 65 or older live alone, 32% of older residents in households (33% in Ellis County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

4.2% of Hays households have no vehicle (3.8% in Ellis County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 3,332 Hays residents aged 65 or older, 598 are 85 or older (18%). 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.

1,685 Hays households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 548 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 409 older Hays residents (13%) live below the poverty line (12% in Ellis 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 7.2% of Hays residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (1,018), Chinese (144), other Indo-European languages (95). 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.

Hays compared with Ellis County and Kansas

Census figure	Hays	Ellis County	Kansas
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	33%	30%
Residents 65 or older	16%	16%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.2%	6.2%	12%
Households with no vehicle	4.2%	3.8%	5.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	12%	8.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	31%	33%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,827	$46,379	—

Older residents in towns around Hays

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Russell, KS	25 mi	1,030	39%
Hoisington, KS	39 mi	503	44%
Great Bend, KS	46 mi	2,705	35%
Larned, KS	50 mi	899	50%
Ellsworth, KS	60 mi	537	31%

Hospitals near Hays (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Hays Medical Center	Hays, KS	0.7 mi	3 of 5	(785) 623-5000
Rooks County Health Center	Plainville, KS	24 mi	not rated	(785) 688-4401
Rush County Memorial Hospital	La Crosse, KS	24 mi	not rated	(785) 222-2545

Straight-line miles from the center of Hays. 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 Hays

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,736 monthly median income of Hays households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 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 Hays: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Hays?

About 1,021 residents aged 65 or older, 32% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (33% in Ellis County).

How much does companion care cost in Hays?

What does a companion caregiver do in Hays?

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 Hays