Columbia, Mississippi

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in Columbia, MS

Hands-on personal care at home from a certified nursing assistant, for families who want state-certified training. Post what you need in Columbia for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Columbia, MS: the local picture

6+
Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles
478
certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes
$11.47
median hourly wage of home care aides in Mississippi (BLS, May 2025)
$7.25
Mississippi minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Columbia are Myrtles Nursing Center, LLC in Columbia (0.0 mi), The Grove in Columbia (0.8 mi), Columbia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center in Columbia (1.7 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Mississippi earn a median $11.47 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). 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).

Columbia has about 229 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Columbia compared with Marion County and Mississippi

Census figureColumbiaMarion CountyMississippi
Residents 85 or older3.5%1.8%1.7%
Residents 65+ with a disability59%49%41%
Residents 65 or older21%19%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone39%27%30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)17%11%15%
Households with no vehicle14%5.5%6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$32,930$41,138—

Older residents in towns around Columbia

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
West Hattiesburg, MS26 mi70966
Hattiesburg, MS30 mi6,399648
Bogalusa, LA33 mi2,047177
Poplarville, MS34 mi33221
Franklinton, LA34 mi59248
Petal, MS35 mi1,713219

Nursing homes near Columbia

Nursing homeTownDistanceCMS overall ratingCertified bedsPhone
Myrtles Nursing Center, LLCColumbia, MS0.0 mi2 of 598(601) 731-1745
The GroveColumbia, MS0.8 mi2 of 586(601) 736-4747
Columbia Rehabilitation And Healthcare CenterColumbia, MS1.7 mi3 of 5119(601) 736-9557
Billdora Senior CareTylertown, MS22 mi3 of 560(601) 876-2173
Diversicare Of TylertownTylertown, MS22 mi5 of 560(601) 876-2107
Jefferson Davis Community Hospital EcfPrentiss, MS24 mi5 of 555(601) 792-1172

Home health agencies serving Columbia

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Adoration Home HealthCollins, MS33 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(601) 765-8316
Forrest General Home Care Of Marion GeneralColumbia, MS1.1 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(601) 740-2201
Mississippi HomecareHattiesburg, MS26 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(601) 268-8450
Forrest General Home CareHattiesburg, MS26 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(601) 288-4344

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

What it covers

What a nursing assistant can help with

  • Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
  • Safe transfers, repositioning and walking
  • Help with eating and fluids
  • Taking and noting vital signs if asked
Cost

What CNAs costs in Columbia

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 $2,744 monthly median income of Columbia 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 nursing assistant

To be certified, a nurse aide completes a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and passes a competency exam (42 CFR 483.152). The state then lists them on its nurse aide registry, which you can search online in most states.

Questions worth asking: Which state certified you, and is it current? Where have you worked as a CNA? Are you comfortable with lifts, catheters and incontinence care? More in our nursing assistants guide.

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

Questions

Nursing Assistants in Columbia: common questions

What nursing homes are near Columbia?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Myrtles Nursing Center, LLC in Columbia (0.0 mi, 2 of 5 overall); The Grove in Columbia (0.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Columbia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center in Columbia (1.7 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Columbia?

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 $2,744 monthly median income of Columbia 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 CNA give medication?

Generally no. A CNA can remind someone to take medication. Giving medication is usually reserved for licensed nurses, or for aides with a separate state medication certification.

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.

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