Hospice Support in Brookings, SD: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Brookings, SD: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Brookings ZIP codes

282

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

40%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Brookings County)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Brookings County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Brookings ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Brookings Health System in Brookings (0.3 mi) and Prairie Lakes Hospice in Watertown (45 mi).

1,093 Brookings residents 65 or older live alone (40% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Brookings compared with Brookings County and South Dakota

Census figure	Brookings	Brookings County	South Dakota
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.4%	3.8%	5.4%
Residents 65 or older	12%	13%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,482	$57,114	—

Older residents in towns around Brookings

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Madison, SD	26 mi	1,384	22%
Pipestone, MN	32 mi	812	44%
Dell Rapids, SD	33 mi	703	34%
Watertown, SD	46 mi	4,553	38%
Hartford, SD	48 mi	614	18%
Brandon, SD	50 mi	1,627	26%

Hospices serving Brookings

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Brookings Health System	Brookings, SD	0.3 mi	(605) 696-7700
Prairie Lakes Hospice	Watertown, SD	45 mi	(605) 882-7745
Avera @ Home	Sioux Falls, SD	53 mi	(605) 322-7705
Aseracare Hospice	Sioux Falls, SD	54 mi	(605) 338-2066
Avera @ Home	Milbank, SD	63 mi	(605) 432-3259
Avera @ Home	Mitchell, SD	74 mi	(605) 995-2268

Straight-line miles from the center of Brookings. 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 Brookings

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,457 monthly median income of Brookings households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Brookings: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Brookings?

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,457 monthly median income of Brookings households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Brookings

More senior care near Brookings

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Brookings

More for Brookings 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 Brookings, SD