Companion Care in Waco, TX: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Waco, TX: the local picture

19,292

residents 65 or older (13% of Waco)

32%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (25% in McLennan County)

23%

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

6.8%

of households have no vehicle (5.3% in McLennan County)

About 5,783 residents of Waco aged 65 or older live alone, 32% of older residents in households (25% in McLennan County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

6.8% of Waco households have no vehicle (5.3% in McLennan County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 19,292 Waco residents aged 65 or older, 2,538 are 85 or older (13%). 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.

8,582 Waco households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 3,867 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 2,431 older Waco residents (13%) live below the poverty line (10% in McLennan 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 23% of Waco residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (27,298), other Indo-European languages (1,110), German or West Germanic languages (496). 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.

Waco compared with McLennan County and Texas

Census figure	Waco	McLennan County	Texas
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%	25%
Residents 65 or older	13%	15%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	23%	20%	35%
Households with no vehicle	6.8%	5.3%	5.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	10%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	37%	35%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,729	$56,849	—

Older residents in towns around Waco

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Woodway, TX	4.8 mi	2,201	21%
Bellmead, TX	6.6 mi	1,485	17%
Lacy-Lakeview, TX	7.1 mi	800	22%
Hewitt, TX	7.4 mi	3,097	23%
Robinson, TX	8.3 mi	1,865	18%
McGregor, TX	17 mi	858	27%

Hospitals near Waco (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Ascension Providence	Waco, TX	4.4 mi	2 of 5	(254) 751-4000
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Hillcrest	Waco, TX	4.4 mi	4 of 5	(254) 202-2000
Falls Community Hospital And Clinic	Marlin, TX	25 mi	not rated	(254) 803-3561

Straight-line miles from the center of Waco. 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 Waco

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $3,894 monthly median income of Waco households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 STAR+PLUS in Texas: using consumer directed services to pay a family 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 Waco: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Waco?

About 5,783 residents aged 65 or older, 32% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (25% in McLennan County).

How much does companion care cost in Waco?

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $3,894 monthly median income of Waco households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 Waco?

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 Waco

More senior care near Waco

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waco

More for Waco 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 Waco, TX