Companion Care in West Hattiesburg, MS for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in West Hattiesburg, MS: the local picture

709

residents 65 or older (11% of West Hattiesburg)

27%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Forrest County)

18%

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

21%

of households have no vehicle (7.1% in Forrest County)

About 176 residents of West Hattiesburg aged 65 or older live alone, 27% of older residents in households (28% in Forrest County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

21% of West Hattiesburg households have no vehicle (7.1% in Forrest County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 709 West Hattiesburg residents aged 65 or older, 66 are 85 or older (9.3%). 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.

278 West Hattiesburg households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 121 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 94 older West Hattiesburg residents (14%) live below the poverty line (14% in Forrest 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 18% of West Hattiesburg residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (847), other languages (119), other Indo-European languages (36). 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.

West Hattiesburg compared with Forrest County and Mississippi

Census figure	West Hattiesburg	Forrest County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	28%	30%
Residents 65 or older	11%	14%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	18%	3.9%	4.3%
Households with no vehicle	21%	7.1%	6.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	14%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	50%	47%	41%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,563	$49,275	—

Older residents in towns around West Hattiesburg

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Hattiesburg, MS	3.5 mi	6,399	33%
Petal, MS	8.8 mi	1,713	26%
Ellisville, MS	22 mi	850	41%
Columbia, MS	26 mi	1,375	39%
Laurel, MS	30 mi	2,504	36%
Poplarville, MS	34 mi	332	34%

Hospitals near West Hattiesburg (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Merit Health Wesley	Hattiesburg, MS	0.0 mi	2 of 5	(601) 268-8000
Forrest General Hospital	Hattiesburg, MS	4.2 mi	2 of 5	(601) 288-7000
Marion General Hospital	Columbia, MS	25 mi	1 of 5	(601) 736-6303

Straight-line miles from the center of West Hattiesburg. 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 West Hattiesburg

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $3,380 monthly median income of West Hattiesburg households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 West Hattiesburg: common questions

How many seniors live alone in West Hattiesburg?

About 176 residents aged 65 or older, 27% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (28% in Forrest County).

How much does companion care cost in West Hattiesburg?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $3,380 monthly median income of West Hattiesburg households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

What does a companion caregiver do in West Hattiesburg?

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 West Hattiesburg

More senior care near West Hattiesburg

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in West Hattiesburg

More for West Hattiesburg 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 West Hattiesburg, MS