Hospice Support in Bethlehem, NC: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Bethlehem, NC: the local picture

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Bethlehem ZIP codes

74

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

18%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Catawba County)

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Catawba County)

Medicare lists 12 hospices whose service area includes Bethlehem ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Alexander Hospice in Taylorsville (7.6 mi) and Carolina Caring in Newton (12 mi).

204 Bethlehem residents 65 or older live alone (18% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Bethlehem compared with Catawba County and North Carolina

Census figure	Bethlehem	Catawba County	North Carolina
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.8%	1.7%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	18%	29%	28%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.1%	6.8%	6.6%
Residents 65 or older	28%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.0%	9.5%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$75,677	$48,859	—

Older residents in towns around Bethlehem

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
St. Stephens, NC	4.0 mi	1,924	26%
Hickory, NC	5.5 mi	7,564	35%
Granite Falls, NC	7.1 mi	908	13%
Long View, NC	8.1 mi	881	25%
Conover, NC	8.5 mi	1,545	38%
Sawmills, NC	9.8 mi	725	29%

Hospices serving Bethlehem

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Alexander Hospice	Taylorsville, NC	7.6 mi	(828) 632-5026
Carolina Caring	Newton, NC	12 mi	(828) 466-0466
Amorem	Lenoir, NC	15 mi	(828) 754-0101
Wake Forest Baptist Health Care At Home Hospice-WI	Wilkesboro, NC	23 mi	(336) 818-3177
Via Health Partners - Cleveland	Shelby, NC	38 mi	(704) 487-4677
Medi Home Hospice	Newland, NC	39 mi	(828) 733-0663

Straight-line miles from the center of Bethlehem. 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 Bethlehem

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,306 monthly median income of Bethlehem households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 Bethlehem: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Bethlehem?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,306 monthly median income of Bethlehem households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 Bethlehem

More senior care near Bethlehem

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Bethlehem

More for Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem, NC