Companion Care in Petal, MS: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Petal, MS: the local picture

1,713

residents 65 or older (15% of Petal)

26%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Forrest County)

4.2%

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

2.7%

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

About 427 residents of Petal aged 65 or older live alone, 26% of older residents in households (28% in Forrest County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

2.7% of Petal households have no vehicle (7.1% in Forrest County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,713 Petal residents aged 65 or older, 219 are 85 or older (13%). 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.

757 Petal households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 215 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 194 older Petal residents (12%) live below the poverty line (14% in Forrest 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 4.2% of Petal residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (335), Chinese (112). 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.

Petal compared with Forrest County and Mississippi

Census figure	Petal	Forrest County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	28%	30%
Residents 65 or older	15%	14%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.2%	3.9%	4.3%
Households with no vehicle	2.7%	7.1%	6.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	14%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	47%	41%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,833	$49,275	—

Older residents in towns around Petal

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Hattiesburg, MS	5.6 mi	6,399	33%
West Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	709	27%
Ellisville, MS	17 mi	850	41%
Laurel, MS	24 mi	2,504	36%
Wiggins, MS	34 mi	598	44%
Columbia, MS	35 mi	1,375	39%

Hospitals near Petal (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Forrest General Hospital	Hattiesburg, MS	4.8 mi	2 of 5	(601) 288-7000
Merit Health Wesley	Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	2 of 5	(601) 268-8000
Perry County General Hospital	Richton, MS	19 mi	not rated	(601) 788-6316

Straight-line miles from the center of Petal. 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 Petal

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 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal 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 Petal: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Petal?

About 427 residents aged 65 or older, 26% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (28% in Forrest County).

How much does companion care cost in Petal?

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 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal 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 Petal?

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 Petal

More senior care near Petal

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Petal

More for Petal 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 Petal, MS