In-Home Care for Veterans in West Hattiesburg, MS

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in West Hattiesburg, MS: the local picture

121

veterans aged 65 or older (17% of residents 65+)

709

residents 65 or older (11% of West Hattiesburg)

50%

of residents 65+ report a disability (47% in Forrest County)

27%

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

About 121 West Hattiesburg residents aged 65 or older are veterans (17% of that age group; 17% in Forrest County), out of 262 veterans of all adult ages in town.

50% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (47% in Forrest County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

West Hattiesburg compared with Forrest County and Mississippi

Census figure	West Hattiesburg	Forrest County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ who are veterans	17%	17%	14%
Residents 65+ with a disability	50%	47%	41%
Residents 65 or older	11%	14%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	33%	34%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	14%	15%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,563	$49,275	—

Older residents in towns around West Hattiesburg

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Hattiesburg, MS	3.5 mi	6,399	16%
Petal, MS	8.8 mi	1,713	21%
Ellisville, MS	22 mi	850	13%
Columbia, MS	26 mi	1,375	13%
Laurel, MS	30 mi	2,504	11%
Poplarville, MS	34 mi	332	9.0%

Hospitals near West Hattiesburg

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Merit Health Wesley	Hattiesburg, MS	0.0 mi	2 of 5	(601) 268-8000
Forrest General Hospital	Hattiesburg, MS	4.2 mi	2 of 5	(601) 288-7000
Marion General Hospital	Columbia, MS	25 mi	1 of 5	(601) 736-6303

Straight-line miles from the center of West Hattiesburg. 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 West Hattiesburg

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 29% of the $3,380 monthly median income of West Hattiesburg 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 West Hattiesburg: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in West Hattiesburg?

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 29% of the $3,380 monthly median income of West Hattiesburg 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 West Hattiesburg

More senior care near West Hattiesburg

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in West Hattiesburg

More for West Hattiesburg 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.