Companion Care in Newbern, TN: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Newbern, TN: the local picture

463

residents 65 or older (14% of Newbern)

53%

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

2.2%

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

5.3%

of households have no vehicle (6.7% in Dyer County)

About 245 residents of Newbern aged 65 or older live alone, 53% of older residents in households (27% in Dyer County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

5.3% of Newbern households have no vehicle (6.7% in Dyer County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 463 Newbern residents aged 65 or older, 134 are 85 or older (29%). 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.

313 Newbern households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 53 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 158 older Newbern residents (34%) live below the poverty line (11% in Dyer 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.

Newbern compared with Dyer County and Tennessee

Census figure	Newbern	Dyer County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	53%	27%	29%
Residents 65 or older	14%	18%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.2%	2.4%	8.6%
Households with no vehicle	5.3%	6.7%	5.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	34%	11%	11%
Residents 65+ with a disability	68%	43%	36%

Older residents in towns around Newbern

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Dyersburg, TN	7.7 mi	3,071	33%
Trenton, TN	21 mi	732	52%
Tiptonville, TN	21 mi	390	39%
Caruthersville, MO	23 mi	894	31%
Union City, TN	25 mi	1,979	40%
Martin, TN	28 mi	1,189	37%

Hospitals near Newbern (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Dyersburg Regional Medical Center	Dyersburg, TN	8.0 mi	4 of 5	(731) 285-2410
Baptist Memorial Hospital Union City	Union City, TN	24 mi	4 of 5	(731) 885-2410
Pemiscot County Memorial Hospital	Hayti, MO	28 mi	not rated	(573) 359-1372

Straight-line miles from the center of Newbern. 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 Newbern

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Tennessee 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 TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee.

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 Newbern: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Newbern?

About 245 residents aged 65 or older, 53% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (27% in Dyer County).

How much does companion care cost in Newbern?

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Tennessee 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 Newbern?

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 Newbern

More senior care near Newbern

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Newbern

More for Newbern 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 Newbern, TN