Companion Care in St. James, MO: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in St. James, MO: the local picture

898

residents 65 or older (23% of St. James)

44%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in Phelps County)

1.0%

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

9.0%

of households have no vehicle (6.1% in Phelps County)

About 326 residents of St. James aged 65 or older live alone, 44% of older residents in households (30% in Phelps County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

9.0% of St. James households have no vehicle (6.1% in Phelps County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 898 St. James residents aged 65 or older, 131 are 85 or older (15%). 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.

279 St. James households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 226 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 123 older St. James residents (17%) live below the poverty line (12% in Phelps 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.

St. James compared with Phelps County and Missouri

Census figure	St. James	Phelps County	Missouri
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	23%	17%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.0%	4.8%	6.7%
Households with no vehicle	9.0%	6.1%	6.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	12%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	53%	38%	34%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,314	$47,348	—

Older residents in towns around St. James

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Rolla, MO	8.9 mi	2,865	41%
Cuba, MO	12 mi	540	30%
Owensville, MO	25 mi	552	48%
Salem, MO	25 mi	1,025	63%
Sullivan, MO	28 mi	1,280	41%
St. Robert, MO	32 mi	700	41%

Hospitals near St. James (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Phelps County Regional Medical Center	Rolla, MO	8.8 mi	2 of 5	(573) 458-8899
Salem Memorial District Hospital	Salem, MO	27 mi	4 of 5	(573) 729-6626
Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital	Sullivan, MO	29 mi	2 of 5	(573) 468-4186

Straight-line miles from the center of St. James. 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 St. James

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 53% of the $2,610 monthly median income of St. James 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 St. James: common questions

How many seniors live alone in St. James?

About 326 residents aged 65 or older, 44% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (30% in Phelps County).

How much does companion care cost in St. James?

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 53% of the $2,610 monthly median income of St. James 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 St. James?

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 St. James

More senior care near St. James

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. James

More for St. James 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 St. James, MO