Companion Care in Strafford, MO: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Strafford, MO: the local picture

281

residents 65 or older (11% of Strafford)

46%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Greene County)

3.1%

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

1.4%

of households have no vehicle (6.4% in Greene County)

About 109 residents of Strafford aged 65 or older live alone, 46% of older residents in households (32% in Greene County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

1.4% of Strafford households have no vehicle (6.4% in Greene County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 281 Strafford residents aged 65 or older, 52 are 85 or older (19%). 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.

151 Strafford households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 35 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 24 older Strafford residents (10%) live below the poverty line (10% in Greene 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 3.1% of Strafford residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are other Indo-European languages (60), Spanish (12). 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.

Strafford compared with Greene County and Missouri

Census figure	Strafford	Greene County	Missouri
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	11%	17%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.1%	5.5%	6.7%
Households with no vehicle	1.4%	6.4%	6.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	10%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	35%	34%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,278	$49,891	—

Older residents in towns around Strafford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Springfield, MO	11 mi	27,514	43%
Rogersville, MO	11 mi	283	36%
Marshfield, MO	12 mi	1,492	39%
Willard, MO	17 mi	667	34%
Ozark, MO	17 mi	3,268	23%
Battlefield, MO	17 mi	1,200	17%

Hospitals near Strafford (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mercy Hospital Springfield	Springfield, MO	10 mi	3 of 5	(417) 820-2000
Lakeland Behavioral Health System	Springfield, MO	11 mi	not rated	(417) 865-5581
Cox Medical Centers	Springfield, MO	13 mi	3 of 5	(417) 269-6000

Straight-line miles from the center of Strafford. 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 Strafford

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 33% of the $4,190 monthly median income of Strafford 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 Strafford: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Strafford?

About 109 residents aged 65 or older, 46% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (32% in Greene County).

How much does companion care cost in Strafford?

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 33% of the $4,190 monthly median income of Strafford 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 Strafford?

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 Strafford

More senior care near Strafford

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Strafford

More for Strafford families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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 Strafford, MO