Veterans' Home Care in Forest, MS: Caregivers for Veterans

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Forest, MS: the local picture

37

veterans aged 65 or older (5.3% of residents 65+)

700

residents 65 or older (13% of Forest)

50%

of residents 65+ report a disability (46% in Scott County)

29%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (21% in Scott County)

About 37 Forest residents aged 65 or older are veterans (5.3% of that age group; 11% in Scott County), out of 133 veterans of all adult ages in town.

50% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (46% in Scott County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Forest compared with Scott County and Mississippi

Census figure	Forest	Scott County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ who are veterans	5.3%	11%	14%
Residents 65+ with a disability	50%	46%	41%
Residents 65 or older	13%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	21%	30%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	36%	31%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	14%	15%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,776	$39,941	—

Older residents in towns around Forest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Morton, MS	11 mi	669	16%
Newton, MS	19 mi	714	15%
Carthage, MS	27 mi	1,007	21%
Brandon, MS	31 mi	4,500	19%
Pearl River, MS	33 mi	598	12%
Flowood, MS	35 mi	1,563	18%

Hospitals near Forest

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
S E Lackey Memorial Hospital	Forest, MS	1.0 mi	not rated	(601) 469-4151
Ochsner Scott Regional	Morton, MS	7.6 mi	not rated	(601) 732-6301
Smith County Emergency Hospital	Raleigh, MS	21 mi	not rated	(601) 765-6711

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

What it covers

What a caregiver for a veteran can help with

Company and help around the house
Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting
Rides to VA and other appointments
Meals and medication reminders

Cost

What veterans’ home care costs in Forest

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 32% of the $3,065 monthly median income of Forest 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 a veteran

The VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program sends a trained aide, supervised by a registered nurse, to help eligible veterans with daily activities at home. The Aid and Attendance benefit adds monthly payments to a VA pension for veterans who need help with daily activities. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for veterans before? Can you drive to the VA medical center or clinic? Are you comfortable with the paperwork VA programs need? More in our veterans’ home care guide.

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

Questions

Veterans’ Home Care in Forest: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Forest?

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 32% of the $3,065 monthly median income of Forest 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).

Does the VA pay for in-home care?

For eligible veterans, VA programs such as Homemaker and Home Health Aide care can provide help at home, and Aid and Attendance can add to a VA pension. Ask the VA about eligibility; the Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (caregiver.va.gov).

More near Forest

More senior care near Forest

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Forest

More for Forest 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.

In-Home Care for Veterans in Forest, MS