Hospice Support in Alta Sierra, CA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Alta Sierra, CA: the local picture

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Alta Sierra ZIP codes

108

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

14%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (25% in Nevada County)

25%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Nevada County)

Medicare lists 7 hospices whose service area includes Alta Sierra ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hospice Of The Foothills in Grass Valley (6.1 mi) and Sutter Auburn Faith Vna & Hospice-Hospice in Auburn (10 mi).

311 Alta Sierra residents 65 or older live alone (14% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Alta Sierra compared with Nevada County and California

Census figure	Alta Sierra	Nevada County	California
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	2.6%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	25%	23%
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	27%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.7%	4.6%	9.3%
Residents 65 or older	29%	29%	16%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.0%	11%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$92,800	$70,332	—

Older residents in towns around Alta Sierra

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Lake of the Pines, CA	6.1 mi	1,582	21%
Grass Valley, CA	6.5 mi	4,483	57%
Meadow Vista, CA	8.6 mi	1,163	9.4%
Nevada City, CA	9.3 mi	1,296	19%
Lake Wildwood, CA	11 mi	2,022	25%
North Auburn, CA	14 mi	3,672	36%

Hospices serving Alta Sierra

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of The Foothills	Grass Valley, CA	6.1 mi	(530) 272-5739
Sutter Auburn Faith Vna & Hospice-Hospice	Auburn, CA	10 mi	(530) 886-6650
Pic Comfort Care	Auburn, CA	15 mi	(530) 268-7423
Bristol Hospice - Sacramento, LLC	Roseville, CA	29 mi	(916) 782-5511
American Heritage Hospice, Inc	Folsom, CA	32 mi	(916) 306-5200
Sanctuary Hospice	Sacramento, CA	36 mi	(916) 671-3017

Straight-line miles from the center of Alta Sierra. 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 Alta Sierra

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 19% of the $7,733 monthly median income of Alta Sierra households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Alta Sierra: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Alta Sierra?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 19% of the $7,733 monthly median income of Alta Sierra households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

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 Alta Sierra

More senior care near Alta Sierra

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Alta Sierra

More for Alta Sierra 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 Alta Sierra, CA