Companion Care in Pulaski, VA: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Pulaski, VA: the local picture

1,600

residents 65 or older (18% of Pulaski)

43%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (35% in Pulaski County)

3.6%

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

9.4%

of households have no vehicle (4.6% in Pulaski County)

About 664 residents of Pulaski aged 65 or older live alone, 43% of older residents in households (35% in Pulaski County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

9.4% of Pulaski households have no vehicle (4.6% in Pulaski County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,600 Pulaski residents aged 65 or older, 208 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.

775 Pulaski households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 317 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 223 older Pulaski residents (14%) live below the poverty line (8.7% in Pulaski 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 3.6% of Pulaski residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (78), German or West Germanic languages (78), French, Haitian or Cajun (74). 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.

Pulaski compared with Pulaski County and Virginia

Census figure	Pulaski	Pulaski County	Virginia
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	35%	27%
Residents 65 or older	18%	23%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.6%	2.6%	17%
Households with no vehicle	9.4%	4.6%	6.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	8.7%	8.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	60%	39%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,247	$46,850	—

Older residents in towns around Pulaski

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Dublin, VA	5.4 mi	319	36%
Radford, VA	12 mi	1,601	29%
Pearisburg, VA	19 mi	680	37%
Wytheville, VA	19 mi	1,952	34%
Hillsville, VA	20 mi	630	27%
Christiansburg, VA	21 mi	4,364	34%

Hospitals near Pulaski (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Lewisgale Hospital Pulaski	Pulaski, VA	0.6 mi	4 of 5	(540) 994-8100
Carilion Giles Community Hospital	Pearisburg, VA	18 mi	4 of 5	(540) 921-6000
Carilion New River Valley Medical Center	Christiansburg, VA	20 mi	4 of 5	(540) 731-2000

Straight-line miles from the center of Pulaski. 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 Pulaski

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $2,687 monthly median income of Pulaski households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Pulaski: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Pulaski?

About 664 residents aged 65 or older, 43% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (35% in Pulaski County).

How much does companion care cost in Pulaski?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $2,687 monthly median income of Pulaski households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Pulaski?

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 Pulaski

More senior care near Pulaski

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pulaski

More for Pulaski 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 Pulaski, VA