Companion Care in Red Lodge, MT: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Red Lodge, MT: the local picture

845

residents 65 or older (34% of Red Lodge)

28%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (20% in Carbon County)

1.5%

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

7.0%

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

About 218 residents of Red Lodge aged 65 or older live alone, 28% of older residents in households (20% in Carbon County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

7.0% of Red Lodge households have no vehicle (3.4% in Carbon County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 845 Red Lodge residents aged 65 or older, 72 are 85 or older (8.5%). 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.

459 Red Lodge households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 72 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 6 older Red Lodge residents (0.8%) live below the poverty line (5.8% in Carbon 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.

Red Lodge compared with Carbon County and Montana

Census figure	Red Lodge	Carbon County	Montana
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	20%	29%
Residents 65 or older	34%	28%	20%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.5%	2.2%	4.2%
Households with no vehicle	7.0%	3.4%	4.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.8%	5.8%	9.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	18%	30%	32%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$68,558	$64,495	—

Older residents in towns around Red Lodge

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Powell, WY	38 mi	1,383	42%
Laurel, MT	40 mi	1,046	28%
Cody, WY	47 mi	2,088	39%
Billings, MT	53 mi	22,510	33%
Lockwood, MT	60 mi	1,212	20%

Hospitals near Red Lodge (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Stillwater Billings Clinic	Columbus, MT	30 mi	not rated	(406) 322-5316
Powell Valley Hospital	Powell, WY	38 mi	4 of 5	(307) 754-1107

Straight-line miles from the center of Red Lodge. 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 Red Lodge

At the Montana median aide wage of $17.61 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,526 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,713 monthly median income of Red Lodge households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 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 Red Lodge: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Red Lodge?

About 218 residents aged 65 or older, 28% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (20% in Carbon County).

How much does companion care cost in Red Lodge?

At the Montana median aide wage of $17.61 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,526 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,713 monthly median income of Red Lodge households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Red Lodge?

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 Red Lodge

More senior care near Red Lodge

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Red Lodge

More for Red Lodge 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 Red Lodge, MT