Hospice Support in Big Stone Gap, VA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Big Stone Gap, VA: the local picture

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Big Stone Gap ZIP codes

80

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

30%

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

61%

of residents 65+ report a disability (54% in Wise County)

Medicare lists 4 hospices whose service area includes Big Stone Gap ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hospice & Palliative Care Of Virginia in Norton (9.8 mi) and Caris Healthcare, LP (Abingdon) in Abingdon (44 mi).

233 Big Stone Gap residents 65 or older live alone (30% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Big Stone Gap compared with Wise County and Virginia

Census figure	Big Stone Gap	Wise County	Virginia
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	29%	27%
Residents 65+ with a disability	61%	54%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	16%	12%	6.7%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	16%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,795	$35,825	—

Older residents in towns around Big Stone Gap

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Norton, VA	9.6 mi	761	53%
Wise, VA	13 mi	514	42%
Mount Carmel, TN	21 mi	1,272	20%
Church Hill, TN	24 mi	1,706	26%
Bloomingdale, TN	24 mi	2,040	41%
Kingsport, TN	27 mi	13,132	34%

Hospices serving Big Stone Gap

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice & Palliative Care Of Virginia	Norton, VA	9.8 mi	(276) 679-7212
Caris Healthcare, LP (Abingdon)	Abingdon, VA	44 mi	(276) 494-0465
Ballad Health Hospice	Abingdon, VA	44 mi	(276) 619-4500
Medical Services Of America Home Health & Hospice	Richlands, VA	56 mi	(276) 964-4202

Straight-line miles from the center of Big Stone Gap. 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 Big Stone Gap

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,233 monthly median income of Big Stone Gap households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Big Stone Gap: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Big Stone Gap?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,233 monthly median income of Big Stone Gap households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Big Stone Gap

More senior care near Big Stone Gap

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Big Stone Gap

More for Big Stone Gap 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 Big Stone Gap, VA