What is companion care?
Companion care is non-medical, non-hands-on caregiving focused on company, supervision, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, errands, and the small tasks of daily life. An Illinois companion caregiver spends a shift talking with the client, making meals, doing laundry, driving to appointments, walking, and making sure the home is safe. There is no bathing, no toileting, no transferring, no wound care, and no medication administration — those tasks belong to a Home Services Worker (with personal care duties), Personal Assistant, or CNA.
Illinois regulates non-medical home services through the Department of Public Health's Home Services and Home Nursing Agency licensure. Agencies that provide companion-only services may operate under a Home Services license without nursing oversight; agencies that provide personal care need additional licensure. Individual companion caregivers do not need a personal state license; agency-employed workers undergo Illinois State Police criminal history checks and a Health Care Worker Registry review.
Companion care is the lowest-paid tier of caregiving in Illinois because no certification is required. Hourly pay typically lands in the $15–$19 range — below what a CNA earns in a long-term care facility and below the Personal Assistant pay set under the Home Services Program collective bargaining agreement with SEIU. The trade-off: fast entry, strong demand, and a less physically demanding day than hands-on personal care.
Most Illinois companion clients are older adults living in single-family homes, condos, or retirement communities whose adult children live nearby but work full time. Others include adults with disabilities living independently (often through the Home Services Program), post-discharge patients recovering at home, and clients with early-stage cognitive change.
How much do companion caregivers make in Illinois?
Companion caregivers in Illinois typically earn between $15 and $19 per hour in 2026. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists Illinois's median wage for home health and personal care aides at roughly $16.50/hour, with the top 10% reaching about $21/hour. Illinois's minimum wage rose to $15/hour in 2025, which puts a hard floor under companion pay.
Pay varies meaningfully by metro. Chicago, the North Shore (Winnetka, Wilmette, Lake Forest, Highland Park), and the DuPage County suburbs (Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Hinsdale) typically pay $17–$22/hour for private-pay companion care, with $24+ common for experienced companions. Cook County outside Chicago and the South Suburbs pay $15–$19. Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, and Champaign-Urbana pay $14–$18. Smaller downstate metros and rural counties pay $13–$16. Direct-hire pay is typically $2–$4/hour higher than agency pay.
Illinois's Home Services Program (HSP), administered by the Department of Human Services' Division of Rehabilitation Services, pays Personal Assistants to support adults with disabilities in their homes. PA wages are bargained between the state and SEIU Healthcare Illinois and currently sit around $19–$20/hour — higher than most companion roles. The Community Care Program (CCP) through the Department on Aging pays comparable rates for in-home help with chores and personal care for adults 60+.
Live-in and overnight roles in Illinois are common, especially in the North Shore and along the lakefront. Live-in companions typically earn $200–$300/day under the federal live-in exemption. Overnight awake shifts (8–10 hours) pay $16–$20/hour and are common in dementia situations and in supplemental private support for residents of independent living.
Typical hourly pay in Illinois: $15–$19/hour (Chicago suburbs $17–$22; HSP/CCP $19–$20)
Who pays for companion care in Illinois?
Illinois has a balanced funding mix: substantial private-pay demand in the Chicago metro plus large publicly funded programs (HSP and CCP) covering hundreds of thousands of recipients. Main payers:
What does a companion caregiver actually do?
An Illinois companion shift centers on conversation, supervision, daily routines, and household tasks. Typical duties:
- Conversation, reminiscing, reading aloud, watching news or favorite shows, playing cards or chess — the heart of the job is being a warm, attentive presence
- Preparing meals and sitting down to eat together — major for nutrition, hydration, and fall prevention
- Light housekeeping — dishes, laundry, tidying common areas, making the bed, taking out trash and recycling
- Grocery shopping, pharmacy pickups, and other errands using your car or the client's
- Transportation to medical appointments, the senior center, church or synagogue, salon visits, or family gatherings
- Companionship walks in the neighborhood, around the block, or at a local park — weather-permitting through Illinois winters
- Medication reminders — telling the client it is time, not handing or administering pills
- Supervision for safety — appliances off, doors locked, no fall hazards, the client not wandering (especially relevant in winter when wandering outside has cold-exposure risk)
- Helping plan the day, write down appointments, use the phone or video call, and operate technology
- Documenting the shift in a notebook or app so the family knows about meals, mood, and anything worth flagging
Do you need a certification for companion care in Illinois?
No CNA or HHA is required for pure companion work in Illinois. The state's framework is built around agency licensure plus background checks and Health Care Worker Registry review for individual workers.
Family member needs care? You may be able to be paid.
Illinois has several Medicaid and VA programs that let family members get paid to provide care at home — including companion care. See the full state guide:
Read the Illinois caregiver pay guide →Companion caregiver jobs in Illinois — FAQ
Can I do companion care in Illinois without certification?
Yes. Illinois does not require an individual companion caregiver to hold a CNA or HHA. Pure companion work — meals, housekeeping, conversation, transportation, supervision — can be done without any state credential. Agency-employed workers must clear the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check, which includes an Illinois State Police check and a Health Care Worker Registry review.
What is the difference between a companion caregiver and a Personal Assistant in the Home Services Program?
A Personal Assistant (PA) under the Home Services Program is hired by an adult with a disability and paid by the state to provide both companion and personal care services. PAs can be family members (other than spouses, in most cases). Pay is set by the state-SEIU contract — currently around $19–$20/hour. A companion caregiver works for any payer (private family, agency, LTC insurance, VA) and is limited to non-medical, non-hands-on tasks.
How is companion care paid for in Illinois?
The biggest funder is private-pay families, particularly in the Chicago metro. The Community Care Program (Illinois Department on Aging) covers older adults aged 60+ for in-home homemaker and companion services. The Home Services Program covers adults with disabilities. VA Aid & Attendance pension and long-term care insurance also pay for companion care.
Do I need a driver's license to work as a companion caregiver in Illinois?
In most Illinois companion roles, yes — clients need rides to medical appointments, grocery stores, and social outings. Agencies require a valid Illinois driver's license, a clean Motor Vehicle Record, and auto insurance. A small number of in-home-only shifts in dense Chicago neighborhoods (Lincoln Park, Lakeview, the Loop) do not require driving.
Can I be paid to provide companion care for my own parent in Illinois?
Yes, through the Community Care Program or the Home Services Program. If your parent is 60+ and CCP-eligible, you can be hired through a contracted agency to provide their care. If your parent is under 60 and has a qualifying disability, you can become their HSP Personal Assistant. Spouses generally cannot be paid through these programs. VA Aid & Attendance pension also gives veterans cash they can spend on a family caregiver.
How much can I earn in the Chicago suburbs vs. downstate Illinois?
The Chicago suburbs — North Shore, DuPage County, and parts of Lake County — pay the highest companion rates in the state, typically $17–$22/hour for private-pay work, with $24+ for experienced companions. Chicago proper pays $15–$20. Rockford, Peoria, and Springfield pay $14–$18. Smaller downstate metros pay $13–$16. The cost of living in the Chicago suburbs is meaningfully higher than downstate.
Is companion care a good first caregiver job in Illinois?
Yes — it is the most common entry point. The certification barrier is low, demand is strong across the state, Illinois's $15/hour minimum wage gives a solid floor, and many Illinois CNAs and HHAs started as companions before adding their credentials. Skills transfer directly into higher-paying hands-on roles.