Hospice Support in Buffalo, MO: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Buffalo, MO: the local picture

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Buffalo ZIP codes

68

residents 85 or older (2.0% of all residents)

56%

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

55%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Dallas County)

Medicare lists 11 hospices whose service area includes Buffalo ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Citizens Memorial Hospice in Bolivar (18 mi) and St Croix Hospice in Bolivar (18 mi).

192 Buffalo residents 65 or older live alone (56% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Buffalo compared with Dallas County and Missouri

Census figure	Buffalo	Dallas County	Missouri
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.5%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	56%	22%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	55%	37%	34%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	9.4%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	13%	21%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	15%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$25,536	$33,601	—

Older residents in towns around Buffalo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Bolivar, MO	18 mi	2,283	49%
Marshfield, MO	23 mi	1,492	39%
Lebanon, MO	24 mi	2,587	38%
Strafford, MO	26 mi	281	46%
Willard, MO	30 mi	667	34%
Camdenton, MO	32 mi	457	42%

Hospices serving Buffalo

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Citizens Memorial Hospice	Bolivar, MO	18 mi	(417) 326-3585
St Croix Hospice	Bolivar, MO	18 mi	(417) 777-2703
Seasons Hospice, Inc	Springfield, MO	29 mi	(417) 890-5533
Access Hospice Care	Springfield, MO	34 mi	(417) 332-3510
Phoenix Home Care And Hospice	Springfield, MO	34 mi	(417) 881-7442
Integrity Home Care + Hospice	Springfield, MO	34 mi	(417) 851-4300

Straight-line miles from the center of Buffalo. 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 Buffalo

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 65% of the $2,128 monthly median income of Buffalo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Buffalo: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Buffalo?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 65% of the $2,128 monthly median income of Buffalo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Buffalo

More senior care near Buffalo

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Buffalo

More for Buffalo 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 Buffalo, MO