Hospice Support in Alpena, MI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Alpena, MI: the local picture

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Alpena ZIP codes

382

residents 85 or older (3.8% of all residents)

49%

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

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Alpena County)

Medicare lists 9 hospices whose service area includes Alpena ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hospice Of Northeastern Michigan in Gaylord (60 mi) and Compassus - Northern Michigan in West Branch (67 mi).

1,089 Alpena residents 65 or older live alone (49% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Alpena compared with Alpena County and Michigan

Census figure	Alpena	Alpena County	Michigan
Residents 85 or older	3.8%	3.3%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	49%	31%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	36%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.1%	6.1%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	23%	25%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	13%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,776	$44,177	—

Older residents in towns around Alpena

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Rogers City, MI	30 mi	1,009	39%
East Tawas, MI	54 mi	971	40%
Gaylord, MI	61 mi	907	51%
Cheboygan, MI	63 mi	1,159	38%
Skidway Lake, MI	68 mi	584	31%
St. Helen, MI	69 mi	913	38%

Hospices serving Alpena

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Northeastern Michigan	Gaylord, MI	60 mi	(989) 731-2744
Compassus - Northern Michigan	West Branch, MI	67 mi	(989) 343-2470
Heartland Hospice (West Branch)	West Branch, MI	67 mi	(989) 345-0651
Mclaren Hospice	Petoskey, MI	74 mi	(231) 627-2031
The Care Team Hospice	Standish, MI	80 mi	(989) 941-9975
Munson Hospice And Palliative Care	Traverse City, MI	109 mi	(616) 935-6520

Straight-line miles from the center of Alpena. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for hospice support can help with

Comfort, company and a calm presence
Gentle personal care and repositioning
Small meals and fluids as the person wants
Telling the hospice nurse about changes

Cost

What hospice support costs in Alpena

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 42% of the $3,481 monthly median income of Alpena households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 hospice support

Under Medicare, hospice is for someone whose doctors certify a life expectancy of six months or less and who chooses comfort care instead of treatment to cure the illness. Medicare does not cover room and board for hospice care at home (Medicare.gov).

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone at the end of life? How do you work with a hospice nurse? Can you sit overnight in the last days if needed? More in our hospice support guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Hospice Support in Alpena: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Alpena?

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 42% of the $3,481 monthly median income of Alpena households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

Who qualifies for hospice under Medicare?

Someone whose hospice doctor (and regular doctor, if they have one) certifies a life expectancy of six months or less, and who accepts comfort care instead of curative treatment (Medicare.gov).

More near Alpena

More senior care near Alpena

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Alpena

More for Alpena 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.

In-Home Hospice Support in Alpena, MI