Hospice Support in Boston, MA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Boston, MA: the local picture

30

Medicare-certified hospices serve Boston ZIP codes

10,842

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

35%

of residents 65+ in households live alone

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability

Medicare lists 30 hospices whose service area includes Boston ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company in Charlestown (3.5 mi) and Legacy Lifecare Hospice And Palliative Care in Chelsea (4.1 mi).

29,056 Boston residents 65 or older live alone (35% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Boston compared with Massachusetts

Census figure	Boston	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	12%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	13%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,082	—

Older residents in towns around Boston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Winthrop Town, MA	3.5 mi	3,631	39%
Chelsea, MA	4.1 mi	4,188	44%
Everett, MA	5.0 mi	5,660	26%
Quincy, MA	5.4 mi	18,123	34%
Somerville, MA	5.5 mi	8,108	37%
Cambridge, MA	5.7 mi	14,440	40%

Hospices serving Boston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Charlestown, MA	3.5 mi	(617) 242-4872
Legacy Lifecare Hospice And Palliative Care	Chelsea, MA	4.1 mi	(617) 889-0779
Longwood Hospice	Brookline, MA	5.4 mi	(617) 505-3443
Good Shepherd Community Care	Newton, MA	8.4 mi	(617) 969-6130
First Choice Healthcare Inc	Newton, MA	8.7 mi	(617) 738-1113
All Care Hospice Inc	Lynn, MA	9.2 mi	(781) 586-1608

Straight-line miles from the center of Boston. 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 Boston

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,257 monthly median income of Boston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Boston: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Boston?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,257 monthly median income of Boston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Boston

More senior care near Boston

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Boston

More for Boston 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 Boston, MA