Hospice Support in Amherst Town, MA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Amherst Town, MA: the local picture

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Amherst Town ZIP codes

392

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

29%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Hampshire County)

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Hampshire County)

Medicare lists 1 hospice whose service area includes Amherst Town ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Vna & Hospice Of Cooley Dickinson in Northampton (6.9 mi).

1,092 Amherst Town residents 65 or older live alone (29% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Amherst Town compared with Hampshire County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Amherst Town	Hampshire County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.9%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.4%	4.5%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	10%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.2%	6.6%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$97,722	$67,196	—

Older residents in towns around Amherst Town

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Northampton, MA	8.9 mi	6,331	39%
Easthampton, MA	11 mi	3,843	34%
Holyoke, MA	13 mi	7,606	37%
Chicopee, MA	13 mi	10,770	42%
Ware, MA	15 mi	1,106	31%
Palmer Town, MA	16 mi	2,587	33%

Hospices serving Amherst Town

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vna & Hospice Of Cooley Dickinson	Northampton, MA	6.9 mi	(413) 584-1060

Straight-line miles from the center of Amherst Town. 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 Amherst Town

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $8,144 monthly median income of Amherst Town households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts'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 Amherst Town: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Amherst Town?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $8,144 monthly median income of Amherst Town households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts'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 Amherst Town

More senior care near Amherst Town

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Amherst Town

More for Amherst Town 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 Amherst Town, MA