Hospice Support in Ames, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Ames, IA: the local picture

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ames ZIP codes

1,000

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

31%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in Story County)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Story County)

Medicare lists 15 hospices whose service area includes Ames ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines) in Ames (1.3 mi) and Mary Greeley Hospice Services in Ames (4.1 mi).

2,276 Ames residents 65 or older live alone (31% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Ames compared with Story County and Iowa

Census figure	Ames	Story County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.7%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.9%	4.3%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	11%	13%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.5%	5.6%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,689	$69,964	—

Older residents in towns around Ames

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Nevada, IA	7.8 mi	1,242	30%
Huxley, IA	9.1 mi	525	23%
Story City, IA	11 mi	722	46%
Boone, IA	13 mi	2,272	40%
Madrid, IA	15 mi	566	30%
Polk City, IA	18 mi	874	14%

Hospices serving Ames

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines)	Ames, IA	1.3 mi	(515) 346-3321
Mary Greeley Hospice Services	Ames, IA	4.1 mi	(515) 239-2011
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	21 mi	(515) 276-2700
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	28 mi	(515) 271-6777
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	29 mi	(515) 274-3400
Mercyone Des Moines Hospice	Des Moines, IA	30 mi	(515) 643-8383

Straight-line miles from the center of Ames. 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 Ames

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 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames 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 Ames: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Ames?

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 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames 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 Ames

More senior care near Ames

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Ames

More for Ames 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 Ames, IA