Hospice Support in Brainerd, MN: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Brainerd, MN: the local picture

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Brainerd ZIP codes

501

residents 85 or older (3.5% of all residents)

48%

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

45%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Crow Wing County)

Medicare lists 12 hospices whose service area includes Brainerd ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Good Samaritan Society Hospice in Nisswa (11 mi) and Horizon Health Hospice in Pierz (25 mi).

1,082 Brainerd residents 65 or older live alone (48% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Brainerd compared with Crow Wing County and Minnesota

Census figure	Brainerd	Crow Wing County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	3.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	48%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	12%	4.9%	5.4%
Residents 65 or older	18%	24%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	9.0%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,250	$56,498	—

Older residents in towns around Brainerd

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Baxter, MN	3.8 mi	2,095	35%
Breezy Point, MN	18 mi	656	15%
Crosslake, MN	23 mi	1,012	27%
Little Falls, MN	27 mi	2,345	43%
Long Prairie, MN	41 mi	887	23%
Wadena, MN	45 mi	803	40%

Hospices serving Brainerd

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Good Samaritan Society Hospice	Nisswa, MN	11 mi	(218) 963-9452
Horizon Health Hospice	Pierz, MN	25 mi	(320) 468-2788
Lakewood Health System Hospice	Staples, MN	27 mi	(218) 894-8080
Chi Health At Home	Little Falls, MN	27 mi	(320) 631-5575
Moments Hospice	Saint Cloud, MN	56 mi	(320) 372-4300
St Croix Hospice	St. Cloud, MN	56 mi	(320) 201-5930

Straight-line miles from the center of Brainerd. 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 Brainerd

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 47% of the $3,438 monthly median income of Brainerd 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 Brainerd: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Brainerd?

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 47% of the $3,438 monthly median income of Brainerd 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 Brainerd

More senior care near Brainerd

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Brainerd

More for Brainerd 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 Brainerd, MN