Hospice Support in Bartow, FL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Bartow, FL: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Bartow ZIP codes

576

residents 85 or older (2.8% of all residents)

34%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (24% in Polk County)

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Polk County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Bartow ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Compassionate Care Hospice Of Central Florida Inc in Lakeland (8.8 mi) and Empath Hospice, LLC in Lakeland (13 mi).

1,058 Bartow residents 65 or older live alone (34% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Bartow compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figure	Bartow	Polk County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.1%	2.6%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	24%	25%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.6%	6.5%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	21%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,767	$50,939	—

Older residents in towns around Bartow

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Highland City, FL	6.3 mi	1,941	14%
Eagle Lake, FL	7.3 mi	217	24%
Wahneta, FL	7.5 mi	384	16%
Fort Meade, FL	8.4 mi	1,295	35%
Jan Phyl Village, FL	9.1 mi	833	20%
Alturas, FL	9.1 mi	851	20%

Hospices serving Bartow

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassionate Care Hospice Of Central Florida Inc	Lakeland, FL	8.8 mi	(863) 709-0099
Empath Hospice, LLC	Lakeland, FL	13 mi	(863) 329-2750
Good Shepherd Hospice	Lakeland, FL	15 mi	(863) 682-0067
Hospice Of Lake & Sumter Inc	Tavares, FL	63 mi	(352) 343-1341
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	70 mi	(321) 751-6671
Hospice Of Okeechobee Incorporated	Okeechobee, FL	77 mi	(813) 467-2321

Straight-line miles from the center of Bartow. 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 Bartow

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,731 monthly median income of Bartow households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Bartow: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Bartow?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,731 monthly median income of Bartow households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Bartow

More senior care near Bartow

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Bartow

More for Bartow 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 Bartow, FL