Hospice Support in Buckingham, FL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Buckingham, FL: the local picture

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Buckingham ZIP codes

163

residents 85 or older (3.8% of all residents)

19%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (22% in Lee County)

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Lee County)

Medicare lists 3 hospices whose service area includes Buckingham ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hope Hospice And Community Services Inc in Fort Myers (15 mi) and Empath Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota (61 mi).

239 Buckingham residents 65 or older live alone (19% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Buckingham compared with Lee County and Florida

Census figure	Buckingham	Lee County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	3.8%	3.3%	2.6%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	19%	22%	25%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.3%	4.8%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	29%	29%	21%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	10%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$61,333	$66,210	—

Older residents in towns around Buckingham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Gateway, FL	4.5 mi	2,180	21%
Fort Myers Shores, FL	4.7 mi	970	15%
Tice, FL	4.8 mi	452	30%
Olga, FL	5.5 mi	642	17%
Fort Myers, FL	5.5 mi	22,016	27%
Lehigh Acres, FL	7.1 mi	17,171	18%

Hospices serving Buckingham

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hope Hospice And Community Services Inc	Fort Myers, FL	15 mi	(800) 835-1673
Empath Tidewell Hospice	Sarasota, FL	61 mi	(941) 552-7500
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	121 mi	(321) 751-6671

Straight-line miles from the center of Buckingham. 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 Buckingham

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,111 monthly median income of Buckingham households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Buckingham: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Buckingham?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,111 monthly median income of Buckingham households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Buckingham

More senior care near Buckingham

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Buckingham

More for Buckingham 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 Buckingham, FL