Companion Care in Starke, FL: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Starke, FL: the local picture

797

residents 65 or older (14% of Starke)

67%

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

2.1%

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

8.7%

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

About 334 residents of Starke aged 65 or older live alone, 67% of older residents in households (33% in Bradford 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 Starke households have no vehicle (6.2% in Bradford County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 797 Starke residents aged 65 or older, 127 are 85 or older (16%). 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.

203 Starke households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 208 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 113 older Starke residents (22%) live below the poverty line (18% in Bradford 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.

Starke compared with Bradford County and Florida

Census figure	Starke	Bradford County	Florida
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	67%	33%	25%
Residents 65 or older	14%	18%	21%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.1%	5.0%	31%
Households with no vehicle	8.7%	6.2%	6.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	18%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	29%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$22,264	$39,930	—

Older residents in towns around Starke

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Middleburg, FL	15 mi	1,893	16%
Asbury Lake, FL	21 mi	1,834	12%
Oakleaf Plantation, FL	23 mi	3,028	17%
Macclenny, FL	23 mi	1,260	30%
Gainesville, FL	23 mi	17,357	36%
Lakeside, FL	24 mi	5,934	21%

Hospitals near Starke (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Lake Butler Hospital	Lake Butler, FL	17 mi	not rated	(386) 496-2323
Ascension St Vincent's Clay County	Middleburg, FL	18 mi	3 of 5	(904) 602-1000
Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital	Macclenny, FL	23 mi	1 of 5	(904) 259-3151

Straight-line miles from the center of Starke. 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 Starke

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 76% of the $1,855 monthly median income of Starke households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Starke: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Starke?

About 334 residents aged 65 or older, 67% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (33% in Bradford County).

How much does companion care cost in Starke?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 76% of the $1,855 monthly median income of Starke households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

What does a companion caregiver do in Starke?

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 Starke

More senior care near Starke

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Starke

More for Starke 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 Starke, FL