Companion Care in Portage Lakes, OH for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in Portage Lakes, OH: the local picture

1,638

residents 65 or older (28% of Portage Lakes)

31%

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

3.5%

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

8.7%

of households have no vehicle (7.9% in Summit County)

About 500 residents of Portage Lakes aged 65 or older live alone, 31% of older residents in households (33% in Summit County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

8.7% of Portage Lakes households have no vehicle (7.9% in Summit County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,638 Portage Lakes residents aged 65 or older, 221 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.

815 Portage Lakes households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 218 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 366 older Portage Lakes residents (22%) live below the poverty line (9.2% in Summit 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 3.5% of Portage Lakes residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Vietnamese (70), other Indo-European languages (46), Tagalog (30). 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.

Portage Lakes compared with Summit County and Ohio

Census figure	Portage Lakes	Summit County	Ohio
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	33%	32%
Residents 65 or older	28%	19%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.5%	7.3%	8.0%
Households with no vehicle	8.7%	7.9%	7.5%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	9.2%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	32%	33%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,761	$52,212	—

Older residents in towns around Portage Lakes

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Barberton, OH	3.4 mi	5,037	45%
New Franklin, OH	4.5 mi	3,116	18%
Akron, OH	5.0 mi	30,360	39%
Green, OH	5.2 mi	5,720	29%
Norton, OH	5.7 mi	2,610	24%
Lakemore, OH	6.1 mi	826	34%

Hospitals near Portage Lakes (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Akron General Medical Center	Akron, OH	4.2 mi	5 of 5	(330) 344-6000
Summa Health System	Akron, OH	6.2 mi	3 of 5	(330) 375-3000
Summa Western Reserve Hospital	Cuyahoga Falls, OH	9.6 mi	3 of 5	(330) 971-7000

Straight-line miles from the center of Portage Lakes. 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 Portage Lakes

At the Ohio median aide wage of $16.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,436 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $3,897 monthly median income of Portage Lakes households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Ohio's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Portage Lakes: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Portage Lakes?

About 500 residents aged 65 or older, 31% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (33% in Summit County).

How much does companion care cost in Portage Lakes?

At the Ohio median aide wage of $16.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,436 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $3,897 monthly median income of Portage Lakes households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Ohio's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Portage Lakes?

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 Portage Lakes

More senior care near Portage Lakes

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Portage Lakes

More for Portage Lakes 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 Portage Lakes, OH