Companion Care in Martins Ferry, OH for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in Martins Ferry, OH: the local picture

1,250

residents 65 or older (20% of Martins Ferry)

45%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (34% in Belmont County)

2.4%

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

17%

of households have no vehicle (7.1% in Belmont County)

About 551 residents of Martins Ferry aged 65 or older live alone, 45% of older residents in households (34% in Belmont County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

17% of Martins Ferry households have no vehicle (7.1% in Belmont County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,250 Martins Ferry residents aged 65 or older, 82 are 85 or older (6.6%). 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.

565 Martins Ferry households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 342 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 197 older Martins Ferry residents (16%) live below the poverty line (9.9% in Belmont 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.

Martins Ferry compared with Belmont County and Ohio

Census figure	Martins Ferry	Belmont County	Ohio
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	34%	32%
Residents 65 or older	20%	22%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.4%	1.6%	8.0%
Households with no vehicle	17%	7.1%	7.5%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	9.9%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	33%	33%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,693	$45,681	—

Older residents in towns around Martins Ferry

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Wheeling, WV	2.7 mi	6,812	47%
Bethlehem, WV	4.7 mi	679	31%
Bellaire, OH	6.1 mi	745	53%
St. Clairsville, OH	9.2 mi	1,454	36%
Shadyside, OH	9.2 mi	722	35%
Moundsville, WV	13 mi	1,878	35%

Hospitals near Martins Ferry (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Wheeling Hospital, Inc	Wheeling, WV	4.3 mi	2 of 5	(304) 243-3000
Reynolds Memorial Hospital, Inc	Glen Dale, WV	10 mi	2 of 5	(304) 843-3230
Trinity Medical Ctr East &Trinity Medical Ctr West	Steubenville, OH	19 mi	2 of 5	(740) 264-7212

Straight-line miles from the center of Martins Ferry. 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 Martins Ferry

At the Ohio median aide wage of $16.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,436 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,224 monthly median income of Martins Ferry households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Ohio's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Martins Ferry: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Martins Ferry?

About 551 residents aged 65 or older, 45% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (34% in Belmont County).

How much does companion care cost in Martins Ferry?

At the Ohio median aide wage of $16.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,436 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,224 monthly median income of Martins Ferry households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Ohio's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Martins Ferry?

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 Martins Ferry

More senior care near Martins Ferry

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Martins Ferry

More for Martins Ferry 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 Martins Ferry, OH