Senior Transportation in Pearl River, LA

Local figures

Senior Transportation in Pearl River, LA: the local picture

14%

of households have no vehicle (4.3% in St. Tammany Parish)

6.5 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Slidell)

418

residents 65 or older (16% of Pearl River)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in St. Tammany Parish)

About 142 Pearl River households, 14%, have no vehicle (4.3% in St. Tammany Parish). The Census figure covers all ages, but older adults who stop driving are a large part of it.

Hospitals with an emergency department near Pearl River: Slidell Memorial Hospital in Slidell (6.5 mi); Highland Community Hospital in Picayune (12 mi); Ochsner Medical Center-Hancock in Bay Saint Louis (18 mi). Distances are straight-line, so allow more on the road.

33% of residents 65 and older report a disability. If walking is hard, look for a caregiver who is comfortable with walkers and car transfers, not only a driver.

Pearl River compared with St. Tammany Parish and Louisiana

Census figure	Pearl River	St. Tammany Parish	Louisiana
Households with no vehicle	14%	4.3%	8.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	36%	38%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	26%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	9.8%	15%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.9%	1.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,250	$55,295	—

Older residents in towns around Pearl River

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Households with no car
Slidell, LA	6.0 mi	6,098	7.5%
Nicholson, MS	8.6 mi	433	17%
Eden Isle, LA	11 mi	1,989	0.9%
Lacombe, LA	11 mi	1,403	8.2%
Picayune, MS	12 mi	2,353	4.3%
Hide-A-Way Lake, MS	16 mi	707	0.8%

Hospitals near Pearl River

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Slidell Memorial Hospital	Slidell, LA	6.5 mi	2 of 5	(985) 643-2200
Highland Community Hospital	Picayune, MS	12 mi	1 of 5	(601) 358-9400
Ochsner Medical Center-Hancock	Bay Saint Louis, MS	18 mi	3 of 5	(228) 467-8600
St Tammany Parish Hospital	Covington, LA	22 mi	4 of 5	(985) 898-4000

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

What it covers

What a caregiver who drives can help with

Rides to doctor, dental and therapy appointments
Waiting during the appointment and taking notes
Grocery shopping, pharmacy and errands
Trips to church, the senior center and family

Cost

What senior transportation costs in Pearl River

At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $4,688 monthly median income of Pearl River households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana 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 who drives

Giving up driving is a common reason older adults start to miss appointments and see fewer people. Before a caregiver drives, agree whose car is used, check that the auto insurance covers it, and agree a mileage rate in writing. The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) can point you to free and low-cost ride programs.

Questions worth asking: May I see your license and proof of auto insurance? Will you drive your car or ours? How do you help someone with a walker in and out of the car? More in our senior transportation guide.

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

Questions

Senior Transportation in Pearl River: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Pearl River?

Slidell Memorial Hospital in Slidell, about 6.5 mi in a straight line from the center of Pearl River (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (985) 643-2200. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does senior transportation cost in Pearl River?

At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $4,688 monthly median income of Pearl River households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana 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).

Does Medicare pay for rides to appointments?

Original Medicare covers emergency ambulance trips, not routine rides. Medicaid covers non-emergency medical transportation for eligible members, and some Medicare Advantage plans include rides (Medicare.gov).

More near Pearl River

More senior care near Pearl River

Senior Transportation in nearby cities

Other care in Pearl River

More for Pearl River 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.

Senior Transportation and Escorted Rides in Pearl River, LA