What it costs: Typically the most affordable tier, generally running in the high-$20s to mid-$30s per hour depending on your city.
What companion care actually covers
Companion care is non-medical, non-hands-on support built around supervision, conversation, and everyday safety. It's the service most families start with, often before a diagnosis has even fully settled in, because it addresses the earliest and most common concern: "they shouldn't be alone anymore."
- Supervision to prevent falls, wandering, or unsafe situations
- Conversation and cognitive engagement to reduce isolation
- Light housekeeping, meal preparation, and errands
- Transportation to appointments and social activities
- Medication reminders (not hands-on administration)
- Gentle redirection and validation-based communication
Who this service is right for
Companion care fits families whose loved one is still largely independent with daily tasks like bathing and dressing, but who can no longer safely be left completely alone - whether because of early memory loss, a recent fall, or a family's growing unease after a few close calls.
It's also a common first step for families easing into paid care gradually: a few hours a day or a few days a week, building trust with a caregiver before considering more hours or a higher level of care.
How it differs from personal care
The dividing line is hands-on assistance with the body. Companion caregivers supervise, engage, and support - they do not assist with bathing, dressing, toileting, or transferring. If your loved one needs that kind of hands-on help, our Personal Care service is the right fit, and many families transition from companion to personal care as needs progress.
What it costs
Companion care is generally the most accessible entry point, typically running in the high-$20s to mid-$30s per hour depending on your city and the caregiver's experience. Most families start with a set number of hours per week and adjust as needs change - there's no minimum commitment required to get matched with a caregiver.
What it costs where you live
Companion care usually sits at the lower end of a city's range, because it is supervision and company rather than hands-on help.
The figures below are the going hourly range for in-home dementia care in each city we cover, not for this service alone. They move with local wages more than with anything else, which is why the same care costs half as much again in one city as in another. Each city links to a fuller local guide.
| City | Typical hourly range |
|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | $24 to $34 |
| Boston, MA | $26 to $40 |
| Buffalo, NY | $20 to $30 |
| Charlotte, NC | $24 to $32 |
| Chicago, IL | $24 to $36 |
| Columbus, OH | $22 to $32 |
| Dallas, TX | $22 to $34 |
| Denver, CO | $24 to $34 |
| Detroit, MI | $22 to $32 |
| Houston, TX | $22 to $34 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $27 to $40 |
| Memphis, TN | $22 to $32 |
| Miami, FL | $35 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $22 to $32 |
| Naples, FL | $35 |
| New York, NY | $28 to $42 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $26 to $34 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $22 to $33 |
| San Antonio, TX | $20 to $30 |
| San Diego, CA | $26 to $38 |
| Seattle, WA | $28 to $40 |
| Tampa, FL | $35 |
| Tucson, AZ | $20 to $30 |
Ranges are what families in each city are currently quoted, and are a guide rather than a price. What you pay depends on hours, the caregiver's experience, and how much notice you can give.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does companion care include any hands-on help at all?
Companion caregivers can assist with light tasks like helping someone stand up or steadying them while walking, but they do not perform hands-on personal care like bathing or toileting. If your loved one needs that level of support, our Personal Care service covers it.
How many hours of companion care do most families start with?
It varies widely, but many families begin with 10-20 hours a week and adjust from there based on how things go. There's no required minimum to get matched with a caregiver.
Can companion care help with sundowning or wandering?
Yes - companion caregivers are trained specifically in dementia behaviors, including safe redirection during sundowning and wandering prevention, which is a core part of what makes this different from generic elder-sitting services.