Companion Care in Swansea, IL: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Swansea, IL: the local picture

2,699

residents 65 or older (18% of Swansea)

24%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in St. Clair County)

3.4%

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

4.9%

of households have no vehicle (7.5% in St. Clair County)

About 613 residents of Swansea aged 65 or older live alone, 24% of older residents in households (32% in St. Clair County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

4.9% of Swansea households have no vehicle (7.5% in St. Clair County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 2,699 Swansea residents aged 65 or older, 330 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.

1,360 Swansea households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 296 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 269 older Swansea residents (10%) live below the poverty line (10% in St. Clair 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 3.4% of Swansea residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Chinese (131), Korean (82), Spanish (71). 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.

Swansea compared with St. Clair County and Illinois

Census figure	Swansea	St. Clair County	Illinois
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	17%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.4%	5.0%	24%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	7.5%	11%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	10%	10%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	33%	32%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$68,214	$54,949	—

Older residents in towns around Swansea

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Belleville, IL	2.5 mi	6,768	39%
Fairview Heights, IL	3.2 mi	3,239	35%
Shiloh, IL	4.0 mi	2,294	36%
O'Fallon, IL	5.1 mi	5,382	29%
Caseyville, IL	5.9 mi	828	30%
Scott AFB, IL	7.3 mi	33	0.0%

Hospitals near Swansea (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Memorial Hospital	Belleville, IL	1.3 mi	5 of 5	(618) 233-7750
Hshs St Elizabeth's Hospital	O Fallon, IL	5.1 mi	4 of 5	(618) 234-2120
Touchette Regional Hospital Inc	Centreville, IL	8.0 mi	not rated	(618) 332-3060

Straight-line miles from the center of Swansea. 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 Swansea

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,685 monthly median income of Swansea households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 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 Swansea: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Swansea?

About 613 residents aged 65 or older, 24% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (32% in St. Clair County).

How much does companion care cost in Swansea?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,685 monthly median income of Swansea households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 Swansea?

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 Swansea

More senior care near Swansea

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Swansea

More for Swansea 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 Swansea, IL