Companion Care in Sussex, WI: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Sussex, WI: the local picture

1,561

residents 65 or older (13% of Sussex)

42%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (27% in Waukesha County)

7.5%

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

2.8%

of households have no vehicle (3.5% in Waukesha County)

About 652 residents of Sussex aged 65 or older live alone, 42% of older residents in households (27% in Waukesha County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

2.8% of Sussex households have no vehicle (3.5% in Waukesha County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,561 Sussex residents aged 65 or older, 190 are 85 or older (12%). 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.

831 Sussex households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 331 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 140 older Sussex residents (9.0%) live below the poverty line (6.8% in Waukesha 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 7.5% of Sussex residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are other Asian and Pacific Island languages (482), other Indo-European languages (67), other languages (67). 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.

Sussex compared with Waukesha County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Sussex	Waukesha County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	13%	20%	19%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.5%	7.7%	9.0%
Households with no vehicle	2.8%	3.5%	6.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.0%	6.8%	9.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	25%	28%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,364	$65,141	—

Older residents in towns around Sussex

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Lisbon, WI	2.0 mi	2,296	24%
Merton, WI	4.4 mi	353	9.9%
Pewaukee, WI	4.8 mi	3,786	22%
Menomonee Falls, WI	5.5 mi	8,302	35%
Hartland, WI	6.0 mi	1,940	27%
Richfield, WI	7.2 mi	2,444	12%

Hospitals near Sussex (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Community Memorial Hospital	Menomonee Falls, WI	6.0 mi	4 of 5	(262) 251-1000
Ascension Wisconsin Hosp Menomonee Falls Campus	Menomonee Falls, WI	6.0 mi	not rated	(262) 415-2001
Waukesha Memorial Hospital	Waukesha, WI	8.7 mi	4 of 5	(262) 928-1000

Straight-line miles from the center of Sussex. 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 Sussex

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,697 monthly median income of Sussex households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a 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 Sussex: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Sussex?

About 652 residents aged 65 or older, 42% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (27% in Waukesha County).

How much does companion care cost in Sussex?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,697 monthly median income of Sussex households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Sussex?

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 Sussex

More senior care near Sussex

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sussex

More for Sussex 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 Sussex, WI