Companion Care in Scottdale, PA: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Scottdale, PA: the local picture

910

residents 65 or older (21% of Scottdale)

36%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Westmoreland County)

3.6%

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

15%

of households have no vehicle (6.2% in Westmoreland County)

About 327 residents of Scottdale aged 65 or older live alone, 36% of older residents in households (29% in Westmoreland County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

15% of Scottdale households have no vehicle (6.2% in Westmoreland County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 910 Scottdale residents aged 65 or older, 130 are 85 or older (14%). 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.

444 Scottdale households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 205 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 97 older Scottdale residents (11%) live below the poverty line (8.0% in Westmoreland 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 Scottdale residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Vietnamese (44), Spanish (39), other Indo-European languages (23). 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.

Scottdale compared with Westmoreland County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Scottdale	Westmoreland County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	21%	24%	19%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.6%	2.8%	12%
Households with no vehicle	15%	6.2%	10%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.0%	9.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	29%	32%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,482	$53,414	—

Older residents in towns around Scottdale

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Mount Pleasant, PA	4.1 mi	1,069	34%
Connellsville, PA	6.0 mi	1,668	44%
New Stanton, PA	8.3 mi	466	23%
Youngwood, PA	9.7 mi	696	35%
West Newton, PA	12 mi	786	40%
Greensburg, PA	15 mi	3,269	37%

Hospitals near Scottdale (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Penn Highlands Connellsville	Connellsville, PA	5.6 mi	not rated	(724) 628-1500
Excela Health - Frick Hospital	Mount Pleasant, PA	6.3 mi	3 of 5	(724) 547-1500
Excela Health Westmoreland Regional Hospital	Greensburg, PA	14 mi	3 of 5	(724) 832-4000

Straight-line miles from the center of Scottdale. 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 Scottdale

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,207 monthly median income of Scottdale households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Scottdale: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Scottdale?

About 327 residents aged 65 or older, 36% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (29% in Westmoreland County).

How much does companion care cost in Scottdale?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,207 monthly median income of Scottdale households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Scottdale?

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 Scottdale

More senior care near Scottdale

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Scottdale

More for Scottdale 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 Scottdale, PA