Hospice Support in Austin, MN: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Austin, MN: the local picture

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Austin ZIP codes

697

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

29%

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

27%

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

Medicare lists 12 hospices whose service area includes Austin ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Mayo Clinic Health System - Austin in Austin (0.2 mi) and St Croix Hospice in Albert Lea (20 mi).

1,219 Austin 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.

Austin compared with Mower County and Minnesota

Census figure	Austin	Mower County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	28%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.9%	5.6%	5.4%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.7%	8.7%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,515	$54,904	—

Older residents in towns around Austin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Albert Lea, MN	19 mi	4,619	36%
Dodge Center, MN	25 mi	419	21%
Kasson, MN	27 mi	1,037	32%
Stewartville, MN	28 mi	916	28%
Osage, IA	28 mi	897	28%
Byron, MN	30 mi	849	26%

Hospices serving Austin

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System - Austin	Austin, MN	0.2 mi	(507) 434-1415
St Croix Hospice	Albert Lea, MN	20 mi	(507) 416-4247
Moments Hospice	Rochester, MN	34 mi	(507) 888-9700
Mayo Clinic Hospice	Rochester, MN	35 mi	(507) 284-4002
United Hospital District Inc	Blue Earth, MN	56 mi	(507) 526-3273
Prairie Grace Hospice, LLC	Mankato, MN	61 mi	(507) 821-0430

Straight-line miles from the center of Austin. 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 Austin

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $4,126 monthly median income of Austin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Austin: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Austin?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $4,126 monthly median income of Austin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Austin

More senior care near Austin

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Austin

More for Austin 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 Austin, MN