In-Home Care for Veterans in West Plains, MO

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in West Plains, MO: the local picture

346

veterans aged 65 or older (15% of residents 65+)

2,383

residents 65 or older (19% of West Plains)

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Howell County)

44%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (31% in Howell County)

About 346 West Plains residents aged 65 or older are veterans (15% of that age group; 17% in Howell County), out of 730 veterans of all adult ages in town.

39% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (38% in Howell County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

West Plains compared with Howell County and Missouri

Census figure	West Plains	Howell County	Missouri
Residents 65+ who are veterans	15%	17%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	38%	34%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	32%	25%	21%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	16%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,188	$36,839	—

Older residents in towns around West Plains

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Mountain View, MO	20 mi	741	20%
Cherokee Village, AR	35 mi	1,626	25%
Mountain Grove, MO	35 mi	1,069	10%
Horseshoe Bend, AR	37 mi	806	24%
Mountain Home, AR	40 mi	4,330	21%
Ava, MO	47 mi	621	15%

Hospitals near West Plains

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Ozarks Healthcare	West Plains, MO	0.7 mi	2 of 5	(417) 256-9111
Mercy St Francis Hospital	Mountain View, MO	20 mi	not rated	(417) 934-7000
Baxter Health Fulton County Hospital	Salem, AR	25 mi	not rated	(870) 895-2691

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

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 61% of the $2,266 monthly median income of West Plains 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 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 Plains: common questions

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

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 61% of the $2,266 monthly median income of West Plains 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).

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 Plains

More senior care near West Plains

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in West Plains

More for West Plains 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.