Companion Care in Hummelstown, PA: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Hummelstown, PA: the local picture

692

residents 65 or older (15% of Hummelstown)

46%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Dauphin County)

5.3%

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

5.7%

of households have no vehicle (9.4% in Dauphin County)

About 321 residents of Hummelstown aged 65 or older live alone, 46% of older residents in households (29% in Dauphin County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

5.7% of Hummelstown households have no vehicle (9.4% in Dauphin County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 692 Hummelstown residents aged 65 or older, 136 are 85 or older (20%). 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.

319 Hummelstown households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 207 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 88 older Hummelstown residents (13%) live below the poverty line (12% in Dauphin 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 5.3% of Hummelstown residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (101), Arabic (42), Tagalog (38). 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.

Hummelstown compared with Dauphin County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Hummelstown	Dauphin County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	19%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.3%	15%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.7%	9.4%	10%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	12%	9.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	32%	32%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,788	$59,435	—

Older residents in towns around Hummelstown

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Rutherford, PA	2.9 mi	799	12%
Hershey, PA	3.8 mi	3,017	34%
Lawnton, PA	4.5 mi	1,166	24%
Middletown, PA	4.5 mi	1,494	41%
Skyline View, PA	5.0 mi	1,854	15%
Paxtonia, PA	5.3 mi	737	29%

Hospitals near Hummelstown (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Milton S Hershey Medical Center	Hershey, PA	3.1 mi	4 of 5	(717) 531-8521
Upmc Pinnacle Hospitals	Harrisburg, PA	7.7 mi	4 of 5	(717) 782-3131
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute	Harrisburg, PA	9.5 mi	not rated	(717) 782-4742

Straight-line miles from the center of Hummelstown. 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 Hummelstown

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,232 monthly median income of Hummelstown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Hummelstown: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Hummelstown?

About 321 residents aged 65 or older, 46% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (29% in Dauphin County).

How much does companion care cost in Hummelstown?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,232 monthly median income of Hummelstown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Hummelstown?

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 Hummelstown

More senior care near Hummelstown

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Hummelstown

More for Hummelstown 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 Hummelstown, PA