Hospice Support in Caribou, ME: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Caribou, ME: the local picture

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Caribou ZIP codes

398

residents 85 or older (5.4% of all residents)

39%

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

38%

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

Medicare lists 5 hospices whose service area includes Caribou ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company in Bangor (145 mi) and St. Joseph Hospice in Bangor (145 mi).

730 Caribou residents 65 or older live alone (39% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Caribou compared with Aroostook County and Maine

Census figure	Caribou	Aroostook County	Maine
Residents 85 or older	5.4%	3.1%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	32%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	37%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.8%	7.0%	4.8%
Residents 65 or older	27%	26%	22%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	13%	9.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$34,917	$38,808	—

Older residents in towns around Caribou

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Presque Isle, ME	11 mi	1,971	33%
Madawaska, ME	40 mi	923	35%
Houlton, ME	50 mi	1,282	52%

Hospices serving Caribou

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Bangor, ME	145 mi	(207) 942-2920
St. Joseph Hospice	Bangor, ME	145 mi	(207) 907-1810
Gentiva	Brewer, ME	147 mi	(207) 573-7012
Andwell Health Partners	Lewiston, ME	219 mi	(207) 777-7740
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice	South Portland, ME	249 mi	(800) 757-3326

Straight-line miles from the center of Caribou. 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 Caribou

At the Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 55% of the $2,910 monthly median income of Caribou households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 Caribou: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Caribou?

At the Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 55% of the $2,910 monthly median income of Caribou households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 Caribou

More senior care near Caribou

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Caribou

More for Caribou 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 Caribou, ME