Companion Care in Laurel, VA: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Laurel, VA: the local picture

2,217

residents 65 or older (12% of Laurel)

40%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Henrico County)

27%

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

4.6%

of households have no vehicle (5.8% in Henrico County)

About 827 residents of Laurel aged 65 or older live alone, 40% of older residents in households (32% in Henrico County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

4.6% of Laurel households have no vehicle (5.8% in Henrico County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

About 27% of Laurel residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (2,088), other Indo-European languages (1,151), Arabic (616). 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 Henrico County and Virginia

Census figure	Laurel	Henrico County	Virginia
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	27%
Residents 65 or older	12%	17%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	27%	16%	17%
Households with no vehicle	4.6%	5.8%	6.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.0%	8.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	29%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,301	$63,316	—

Older residents in towns around Laurel

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Dumbarton, VA	1.7 mi	1,498	55%
Lakeside, VA	2.3 mi	1,860	40%
Glen Allen, VA	2.4 mi	3,105	32%
Innsbrook, VA	4.0 mi	1,041	24%
Chamberlayne, VA	4.4 mi	1,366	23%
Tuckahoe, VA	5.6 mi	9,800	32%

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 Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,525 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. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 827 residents aged 65 or older, 40% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (32% in Henrico County).

How much does companion care cost in Laurel?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,525 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. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

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, VA