Companion Care in Pittsfield, IL: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Pittsfield, IL: the local picture

1,079

residents 65 or older (24% of Pittsfield)

37%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (33% in Pike County)

1.9%

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

3.4%

of households have no vehicle (3.4% in Pike County)

About 363 residents of Pittsfield aged 65 or older live alone, 37% of older residents in households (33% in Pike County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

3.4% of Pittsfield households have no vehicle (3.4% in Pike County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,079 Pittsfield residents aged 65 or older, 295 are 85 or older (27%). 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.

546 Pittsfield households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 128 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 137 older Pittsfield residents (14%) live below the poverty line (12% in Pike 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.

Pittsfield compared with Pike County and Illinois

Census figure	Pittsfield	Pike County	Illinois
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	33%	30%
Residents 65 or older	24%	22%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.9%	2.2%	24%
Households with no vehicle	3.4%	3.4%	11%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	12%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	39%	32%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,909	$44,240	—

Older residents in towns around Pittsfield

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Louisiana, MO	17 mi	669	41%
Bowling Green, MO	27 mi	636	28%
South Jacksonville, IL	32 mi	971	49%
Hannibal, MO	32 mi	3,298	39%
Jacksonville, IL	32 mi	3,371	38%
Beardstown, IL	35 mi	762	48%

Hospitals near Pittsfield (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Illini Community Hospital	Pittsfield, IL	0.2 mi	3 of 5	(217) 285-2113
Pike County Memorial Hospital	Louisiana, MO	18 mi	not rated	(573) 754-5531
Thomas H Boyd Memorial Hospital	Carrollton, IL	30 mi	not rated	(217) 942-6946

Straight-line miles from the center of Pittsfield. 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 Pittsfield

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,409 monthly median income of Pittsfield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Pittsfield: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Pittsfield?

About 363 residents aged 65 or older, 37% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (33% in Pike County).

How much does companion care cost in Pittsfield?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,409 monthly median income of Pittsfield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Pittsfield?

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 Pittsfield

More senior care near Pittsfield

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pittsfield

More for Pittsfield 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 Pittsfield, IL