Companion Care in Pine Island, MN: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Pine Island, MN: the local picture

558

residents 65 or older (16% of Pine Island)

26%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Goodhue County)

0.1%

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

1.4%

of households have no vehicle (6.8% in Goodhue County)

About 125 residents of Pine Island aged 65 or older live alone, 26% of older residents in households (29% in Goodhue County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

1.4% of Pine Island households have no vehicle (6.8% in Goodhue County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 558 Pine Island residents aged 65 or older, 104 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.

220 Pine Island households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 82 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 36 older Pine Island residents (7.5%) live below the poverty line (9.9% in Goodhue 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.

Pine Island compared with Goodhue County and Minnesota

Census figure	Pine Island	Goodhue County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	16%	21%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	0.1%	3.6%	12%
Households with no vehicle	1.4%	6.8%	6.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	9.9%	8.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	27%	28%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,216	$60,009	—

Older residents in towns around Pine Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Zumbrota, MN	7.1 mi	925	33%
Byron, MN	11 mi	849	26%
Kasson, MN	13 mi	1,037	32%
Rochester, MN	15 mi	19,980	30%
Dodge Center, MN	16 mi	419	21%
Plainview, MN	23 mi	536	38%

Hospitals near Pine Island (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester	Rochester, MN	15 mi	5 of 5	(507) 255-5123
Olmsted Medical Center	Rochester, MN	17 mi	4 of 5	(507) 288-3443
Mayo Clinic Health System - Lake City	Lake City, MN	23 mi	not rated	(651) 345-5955

Straight-line miles from the center of Pine Island. 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 Pine Island

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,685 monthly median income of Pine Island households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Pine Island: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Pine Island?

About 125 residents aged 65 or older, 26% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (29% in Goodhue County).

How much does companion care cost in Pine Island?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,685 monthly median income of Pine Island households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Pine Island?

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 Pine Island

More senior care near Pine Island

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pine Island

More for Pine Island 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 Pine Island, MN