Hospice Support in Alton, IL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Alton, IL: the local picture

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Alton ZIP codes

569

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

44%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Madison County)

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Madison County)

Medicare lists 13 hospices whose service area includes Alton ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Osf Saint Anthony's Hospice in Alton (0.4 mi) and Bjc Hospice in Glen Carbon (14 mi).

1,789 Alton residents 65 or older live alone (44% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Alton compared with Madison County and Illinois

Census figure	Alton	Madison County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.1%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	35%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	9.0%	7.6%	6.9%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	9.0%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,027	$57,096	—

Older residents in towns around Alton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
East Alton, IL	2.7 mi	890	44%
Rosewood Heights, IL	4.3 mi	1,068	27%
Wood River, IL	4.9 mi	1,691	40%
Godfrey, IL	5.1 mi	4,551	29%
Bethalto, IL	5.7 mi	2,119	24%
Spanish Lake, MO	8.5 mi	2,122	36%

Hospices serving Alton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Osf Saint Anthony's Hospice	Alton, IL	0.4 mi	(618) 463-5683
Bjc Hospice	Glen Carbon, IL	14 mi	(618) 463-7100
Unity Hospice Of Greater St Louis	Collinsville, IL	18 mi	(618) 346-1111
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Midwest	Fairview Heights, IL	23 mi	(618) 622-9073
Heartland Hospice (Fairview Heights)	Fairview Heights, IL	23 mi	(618) 632-0304
Bjc Hospice	Saint Louis, MO	24 mi	(314) 872-5050

Straight-line miles from the center of Alton. 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 Alton

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $3,086 monthly median income of Alton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 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 Alton: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Alton?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $3,086 monthly median income of Alton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Alton

More senior care near Alton

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Alton

More for Alton 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 Alton, IL