Medication Reminders in Columbus, MS: Help at Home

Local figures

Medication Reminders in Columbus, MS: the local picture

5.3%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (5.7% in Lowndes County)

46%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (36% in Lowndes County)

12%

of residents 65+ have difficulty doing errands alone (12% in Lowndes County)

4,787

residents 65 or older (21% of Columbus)

About 230 Columbus residents 65 or older have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions (5.3%; 5.7% in Lowndes County). Missed or doubled doses are a common reason families arrange reminder visits.

1,999 older residents live alone (46%), with no one at home to notice a missed dose.

Columbus compared with Lowndes County and Mississippi

Census figure	Columbus	Lowndes County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.3%	5.7%	11%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	36%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty doing errands alone	12%	12%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.4%	3.0%	4.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	14%	15%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$33,131	$39,242	—

Older residents in towns around Columbus

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Memory difficulty (65+)
New Hope, MS	5.1 mi	484	8.9%
West Point, MS	16 mi	1,985	6.3%
Mississippi State, MS	23 mi	0	—
Aberdeen, MS	24 mi	1,401	7.1%
Starkville, MS	24 mi	2,917	5.3%
Macon, MS	28 mi	412	17%

Hospitals near Columbus

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Bmh-Golden Triangle	Columbus, MS	5.4 mi	3 of 5	(662) 244-1000
Clay County Medical Corporation	West Point, MS	16 mi	3 of 5	(662) 495-2300

Straight-line miles from the center of Columbus. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for medication reminders can help with

Reminders at the times the doctor or pharmacist set
Checking a pill organizer or blister pack
Picking up refills and noticing when one is due
Keeping a simple log the family can see

Cost

What medication reminders costs in Columbus

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 36% of the $2,761 monthly median income of Columbus 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 caregiver for medication reminders

A caregiver reminds; giving medication (putting pills in the person’s hand or mouth, injections, eye drops on someone’s behalf) is generally reserved for licensed nurses or aides with a separate state certification. Ask your pharmacist about pill organizers and blister packs, which make reminders easier to check.

Questions worth asking: How do you remind without taking over? How would you check that a dose was taken? Can you pick up refills on the way? More in our medication reminders guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Medication Reminders in Columbus: common questions

How much does medication reminders cost in Columbus?

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 36% of the $2,761 monthly median income of Columbus 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).

Can a caregiver give medication?

Usually not. A caregiver can remind and check; giving medication is generally reserved for licensed nurses or aides with a state medication certification. Ask your state’s rules if you need more.

More near Columbus

More senior care near Columbus

Medication Reminders in nearby cities

Other care in Columbus

More for Columbus 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.

Medication Reminders at Home in Columbus, MS