Companion Care in Poplar Bluff, MO for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in Poplar Bluff, MO: the local picture

3,268

residents 65 or older (20% of Poplar Bluff)

39%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (36% in Butler County)

2.2%

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

14%

of households have no vehicle (8.3% in Butler County)

About 1,185 residents of Poplar Bluff aged 65 or older live alone, 39% of older residents in households (36% in Butler County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

14% of Poplar Bluff households have no vehicle (8.3% in Butler County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 3,268 Poplar Bluff residents aged 65 or older, 308 are 85 or older (9.4%). 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.

1,403 Poplar Bluff households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 670 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 567 older Poplar Bluff residents (18%) live below the poverty line (16% in Butler 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.

Poplar Bluff compared with Butler County and Missouri

Census figure	Poplar Bluff	Butler County	Missouri
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	36%	30%
Residents 65 or older	20%	19%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.2%	1.8%	6.7%
Households with no vehicle	14%	8.3%	6.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	16%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	51%	46%	34%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$29,313	$36,708	—

Older residents in towns around Poplar Bluff

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Dexter, MO	25 mi	1,646	35%
Malden, MO	26 mi	753	38%
Corning, AR	26 mi	758	30%
Piggott, AR	29 mi	664	53%
Piedmont, MO	31 mi	501	51%
Kennett, MO	41 mi	2,130	29%

Hospitals near Poplar Bluff (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center	Poplar Bluff, MO	0.3 mi	2 of 5	(573) 785-7721
Mercy Hospital Stoddard	Dexter, MO	25 mi	2 of 5	(573) 624-5566
Piggott Community Hospital	Piggott, AR	29 mi	3 of 5	(870) 598-3881

Straight-line miles from the center of Poplar Bluff. 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 Poplar Bluff

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 56% of the $2,443 monthly median income of Poplar Bluff households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Poplar Bluff: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Poplar Bluff?

About 1,185 residents aged 65 or older, 39% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (36% in Butler County).

How much does companion care cost in Poplar Bluff?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 56% of the $2,443 monthly median income of Poplar Bluff households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Poplar Bluff?

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 Poplar Bluff

More senior care near Poplar Bluff

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Poplar Bluff

More for Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff, MO