Companion Care in Laurel, MS: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Laurel, MS: the local picture

2,504

residents 65 or older (14% of Laurel)

36%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (27% in Jones County)

8.8%

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

4.5%

of households have no vehicle (4.4% in Jones County)

About 797 residents of Laurel aged 65 or older live alone, 36% of older residents in households (27% in Jones County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

4.5% of Laurel households have no vehicle (4.4% in Jones County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 2,504 Laurel residents aged 65 or older, 469 are 85 or older (19%). 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.

1,383 Laurel households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 340 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 305 older Laurel residents (14%) live below the poverty line (12% in Jones 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 8.8% of Laurel residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (1,374), Arabic (28), Vietnamese (18). 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.

Laurel compared with Jones County and Mississippi

Census figure	Laurel	Jones County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	14%	18%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	8.8%	5.4%	4.3%
Households with no vehicle	4.5%	4.4%	6.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	12%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	45%	41%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,036	$36,332	—

Older residents in towns around Laurel

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Ellisville, MS	7.4 mi	850	41%
Petal, MS	24 mi	1,713	26%
Hattiesburg, MS	28 mi	6,399	33%
West Hattiesburg, MS	30 mi	709	27%
Waynesboro, MS	30 mi	850	50%
Magee, MS	37 mi	514	41%

Hospitals near Laurel (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
South Central Reg Med Ctr	Laurel, MS	1.4 mi	1 of 5	(601) 426-4000
Covington County Hospital Cah	Collins, MS	23 mi	not rated	(601) 765-6711
Forrest General Hospital	Hattiesburg, MS	28 mi	2 of 5	(601) 288-7000

Straight-line miles from the center of Laurel. 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 Laurel

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $4,003 monthly median income of Laurel households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Laurel: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Laurel?

About 797 residents aged 65 or older, 36% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (27% in Jones County).

How much does companion care cost in Laurel?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $4,003 monthly median income of Laurel households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

What does a companion caregiver do in Laurel?

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 Laurel

More senior care near Laurel

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Laurel

More for Laurel 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 Laurel, MS