Meal Preparation for Seniors in Portageville, MO

Local figures

Senior Meal Preparation in Portageville, MO: the local picture

16%

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

36%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (34% in New Madrid County)

5.1%

of households have no vehicle (7.2% in New Madrid County)

387

residents 65 or older (14% of Portageville)

About 57 Portageville residents 65 or older have difficulty doing errands such as shopping alone (16%; 19% in New Madrid County). Shopping and cooking are often the first things to become hard.

125 live alone, and many people eat better with company at the table.

5.1% of Portageville households have no car (7.2% in New Madrid County), so a caregiver who shops on the way can matter as much as one who cooks.

Portageville compared with New Madrid County and Missouri

Census figure	Portageville	New Madrid County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with difficulty doing errands alone	16%	19%	13%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	34%	30%
Households with no vehicle	5.1%	7.2%	6.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	14%	10%
Residents 65 or older	14%	20%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.8%	2.1%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$35,500	$43,274	—

Older residents in towns around Portageville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Errand difficulty (65+)
Tiptonville, TN	13 mi	390	14%
New Madrid, MO	14 mi	560	24%
Caruthersville, MO	17 mi	894	22%
Malden, MO	20 mi	753	23%
Kennett, MO	23 mi	2,130	21%
Piggott, AR	28 mi	664	23%

What it covers

What a caregiver who cooks can help with

Planning meals around tastes and any diet the doctor set
Grocery shopping and putting it away
Cooking, and making extra for the days between visits
Company at meals, and noticing if appetite changes

Cost

What meal preparation costs in Portageville

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $2,958 monthly median income of Portageville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a caregiver who cooks

Meal help is non-medical and is often the first help a family arranges. A caregiver can follow a diet the doctor has set but does not design medical diets.

Questions worth asking: What do you like to cook, and can you follow a special diet? Can you shop on the way and keep receipts? Will you eat with my parent, or only cook? More in our senior meal preparation guide.

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

Questions

Senior Meal Preparation in Portageville: common questions

How much does meal preparation cost in Portageville?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $2,958 monthly median income of Portageville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Can a caregiver cook for a special diet?

Yes, if the diet is written down: low salt, soft foods, diabetic-friendly meals and so on. Designing a medical diet is a job for a doctor or dietitian.

More near Portageville

More senior care near Portageville

Senior Meal Preparation in nearby cities

Other care in Portageville

More for Portageville families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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.