TL;DR: Southwest Domestics places background-checked, bonded, and insured senior companions with Houston-area families for non-medical companion and homemaker support. You interview four or five pre-screened candidates in person at our Stafford office. Full-time rates run about $20 to $30 an hour by experience class, with a one-time $175 registration fee, no finder’s fee, unlimited free replacements until you are happy, and placement typically under one week.
What a senior companion does (and does not do)
Companions typically help with:
- Conversation, companionship, and staying engaged at home
- Simple meal preparation and eating routines
- Light housekeeping and keeping shared spaces tidy
- Errands, appointments, and local outings when driving is part of the role
What we do not provide: Southwest Domestics places non-medical senior companions. We do not provide medical care, nursing, or hands-on personal care such as bathing, dressing, or toileting. If your loved one needs those services, ask their doctor about a licensed home health or personal assistance provider.
What it costs in Houston
Senior companion placements use the same Southwest Domestics experience classes listed on our rates page:
- Full-time (35 to 40 hours a week): Class A $25 to $30 an hour, Class B $23+ an hour, Class C $20+ an hour
- Part-time (4 to 34 hours a week): Class A $30 to $35 an hour, Class B $25 to $30 an hour, Class C $20 to $25 an hour, set case by case, with a 4-hour minimum per visit
- Registration: one-time $175 fee; no finder’s fee; interviews are free
- Overtime: live-out assignments over 40 hours a week are billed at an overtime rate under Texas law
- Payroll: companions are Southwest Domestics W-2 employees, and we handle the payroll taxes
What drives cost: weekly hours, live-in vs live-out, driving and errands, and the experience class you need. Call (713) 789-5437 for a consultation matched to your schedule.
Live-in vs hourly companions
- Hourly / live-out: the companion commutes for set hours. Full-time is typically 35 to 40 hours a week; hours over 40 are billed at overtime for live-out assignments.
- Live-in: the companion lives in the home. Duties, hours, time off, and a private place to sleep are agreed up front. Live-in pricing is set at your consultation based on the schedule and duties.
Placement agency vs home care franchise vs hiring privately
- Southwest Domestics (placement agency): we screen candidates, you meet four or five in person, and you choose who fits. Companions are our W-2 employees; we handle payroll taxes. Unlimited free replacements until you are happy.
- Home care franchise: often sends scheduled aides from a roster; the franchise is usually the employer. Ask what screening covers, whether you can meet the person first, and how backups work when someone calls out.
- Hiring privately: you find, screen, hire, and run payroll yourself, including household employment taxes. See nanny taxes in Texas for the household-employer overview that also applies when you employ household help directly.
How it works
- Consultation: we discuss schedule, duties, personality fit, and whether you need live-in or hourly support.
- Shortlist: we present four or five pre-screened, background-checked candidates.
- In-person interview: you meet them at 13847 Stafford Rd, Stafford, TX 77477. Each interview usually lasts 10 to 20 minutes; the visit usually takes an hour to an hour and a half. Interviews are free.
- Start: we handle placement details and ongoing support. If the match is not right, replacements are unlimited and free until your family is happy. Placement typically takes under one week.
Every placement includes a criminal background check, sex offender registry search, driving record check, reference checks, and Social Security number and identity verification. We rerun these checks for every placement. Providers are bonded and insured.
Areas served
We place senior companions across Greater Houston, including Houston, Stafford, Memorial, River Oaks, West University, Bellaire, Pearland, Missouri City, Richmond, Cypress, and nearby communities. For nearby suburb pages, see elderly companion care in Sugar Land and senior caregivers and companions in Katy. Our broader Houston senior page is senior caregivers and companions in Houston.
Frequently asked questions
What is senior companion care?
Companion care is non-medical support at home: conversation, meals, light housekeeping, errands, and outings so an older adult can stay engaged and comfortable at home.
How is companion care different from personal care?
Companion and homemaker support focuses on company and help around the home. Hands-on personal care such as bathing, dressing, or toileting, and any nursing or medical care, are not services Southwest Domestics provides. Ask your loved one’s doctor about a licensed home health or personal assistance provider for those needs.
How much does a senior companion cost in Houston?
Southwest Domestics uses the same experience classes as our other placements. Full-time rates are Class A $25 to $30 an hour, Class B $23+ an hour, and Class C $20+ an hour. Part-time rates are higher per hour, with a 4-hour minimum. A one-time $175 registration fee applies, with no finder’s fee. See our rates page for details.
Can a senior companion live in?
Yes, when the household and schedule fit a live-in arrangement. Duties, hours, private sleep space, and time off are agreed up front. Live-in pricing is set at your consultation. Call (713) 789-5437 to discuss.
Can I meet the companion before they start?
Yes. You interview four or five pre-screened candidates in person at our Stafford office, 13847 Stafford Rd, before anyone enters the home. Interviews are free.
Does Medicare pay for companion care?
Medicare does not typically pay for companion care. Most families pay privately. Some long-term care insurance policies may help; check your policy or ask your insurer.
What if the companion is not the right fit?
Replacements are unlimited and free. If the match is not right, we keep finding a new companion at no additional cost until your family is happy.
How do I get started with a Houston senior companion?
Call (713) 789-5437 or start a new client request on our website. We will set up a free consultation and interviews at our Stafford office, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Placement typically takes under one week.
Contact Southwest Domestics
Southwest Domestics
13847 Stafford Rd, Stafford, TX 77477
(713) 789-5437
Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
southwestdomestics@gmail.com
Ready to meet companions? Call (713) 789-5437 or start a new client request. Serving Houston families since 1990.