Medication Reminders in Petal, MS: Help at Home

Local figures

Medication Reminders in Petal, MS: the local picture

18%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (13% in Forrest County)

26%

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

23%

of residents 65+ have difficulty doing errands alone (19% in Forrest County)

1,713

residents 65 or older (15% of Petal)

About 302 Petal residents 65 or older have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions (18%; 13% in Forrest County). Missed or doubled doses are a common reason families arrange reminder visits.

427 older residents live alone (26%), with no one at home to notice a missed dose.

Petal compared with Forrest County and Mississippi

Census figure	Petal	Forrest County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	18%	13%	11%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty doing errands alone	23%	19%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.2%	1.7%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.2%	3.9%	4.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	14%	15%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,833	$49,275	—

Older residents in towns around Petal

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Memory difficulty (65+)
Hattiesburg, MS	5.6 mi	6,399	11%
West Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	709	20%
Ellisville, MS	17 mi	850	30%
Laurel, MS	24 mi	2,504	7.8%
Wiggins, MS	34 mi	598	32%
Columbia, MS	35 mi	1,375	17%

Hospitals near Petal

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Forrest General Hospital	Hattiesburg, MS	4.8 mi	2 of 5	(601) 288-7000
Merit Health Wesley	Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	2 of 5	(601) 268-8000

Straight-line miles from the center of Petal. 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 Petal

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 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal 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 Petal: common questions

How much does medication reminders cost in Petal?

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 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal 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 Petal

More senior care near Petal

Medication Reminders in nearby cities

Other care in Petal

More for Petal 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 Petal, MS