Hospice Support in Athens, AL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Athens, AL: the local picture

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Athens ZIP codes

528

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

32%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (27% in Limestone County)

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Limestone County)

Medicare lists 14 hospices whose service area includes Athens ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hospice Of Limestone County in Athens (2.0 mi) and Enhabit Hospice - Huntsville in Madison (13 mi).

1,485 Athens 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.

Athens compared with Limestone County and Alabama

Census figure	Athens	Limestone County	Alabama
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.3%	1.7%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	27%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	34%	38%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.7%	8.6%	7.9%
Residents 65 or older	17%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10.0%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$55,505	$55,604	—

Older residents in towns around Athens

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Madison, AL	12 mi	7,628	27%
Harvest, AL	12 mi	957	23%
Decatur, AL	14 mi	10,356	39%
Trinity, AL	15 mi	459	14%
Huntsville, AL	17 mi	36,541	33%
Triana, AL	18 mi	325	5.5%

Hospices serving Athens

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Limestone County	Athens, AL	2.0 mi	(256) 232-5017
Enhabit Hospice - Huntsville	Madison, AL	13 mi	(256) 203-8508
Affinity Hospice Madison	Madison, AL	13 mi	(256) 772-8108
Hospice Of The Valley, Inc	Decatur, AL	13 mi	(205) 350-5585
Aveanna Hospice Of Decatur	Decatur, AL	16 mi	(256) 905-0280
Hospice Of North Alabama, LLC	Huntsville, AL	20 mi	(256) 533-4300

Straight-line miles from the center of Athens. 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 Athens

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $4,625 monthly median income of Athens households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Athens: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Athens?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $4,625 monthly median income of Athens households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Athens

More senior care near Athens

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Athens

More for Athens 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 Athens, AL