Hospice Support in Altoona, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Altoona, IA: the local picture

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Altoona ZIP codes

311

residents 85 or older (1.4% of all residents)

32%

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

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)

Medicare lists 16 hospices whose service area includes Altoona ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Everystep in Des Moines (3.7 mi) and St Croix Hospice in Ankeny (6.7 mi).

1,154 Altoona residents 65 or older live alone (32% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Altoona compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Altoona	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.2%	5.5%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	17%	14%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.6%	7.5%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,263	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Altoona

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Bondurant, IA	3.5 mi	577	46%
Pleasant Hill, IA	3.8 mi	2,222	26%
Mitchellville, IA	6.0 mi	263	29%
Saylorville, IA	7.9 mi	705	14%
Ankeny, IA	8.3 mi	8,466	27%
Des Moines, IA	8.6 mi	27,045	40%

Hospices serving Altoona

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	3.7 mi	(515) 274-3400
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	6.7 mi	(515) 276-2700
Mercyone Des Moines Hospice	Des Moines, IA	7.6 mi	(515) 643-8383
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	12 mi	(515) 218-2143
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	13 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	13 mi	(515) 557-3100

Straight-line miles from the center of Altoona. 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 Altoona

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,022 monthly median income of Altoona households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Altoona: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Altoona?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,022 monthly median income of Altoona households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Altoona

More senior care near Altoona

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Altoona

More for Altoona 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 Altoona, IA