Hospice Support in Columbus, KS: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Columbus, KS: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Columbus ZIP codes

117

residents 85 or older (4.1% of all residents)

45%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (31% in Cherokee County)

50%

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

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Columbus ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hospice Compassus-Southeast Kansas in Pittsburg (17 mi) and Gentiva in Pittsburg (17 mi).

234 Columbus residents 65 or older live alone (45% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Columbus compared with Cherokee County and Kansas

Census figure	Columbus	Cherokee County	Kansas
Residents 85 or older	4.1%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	50%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.2%	6.0%	5.6%
Residents 65 or older	21%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	15%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$26,182	$41,494	—

Older residents in towns around Columbus

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Baxter Springs, KS	12 mi	636	32%
Galena, KS	13 mi	480	22%
Carl Junction, MO	17 mi	1,201	32%
Pittsburg, KS	19 mi	2,600	41%
Miami, OK	20 mi	1,945	42%
Joplin, MO	20 mi	10,195	38%

Hospices serving Columbus

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Compassus-Southeast Kansas	Pittsburg, KS	17 mi	(620) 232-9898
Gentiva	Pittsburg, KS	17 mi	(620) 231-8000
Hospice Compassus-Joplin	Joplin, MO	20 mi	(417) 623-8272
Gentiva	Parsons, KS	26 mi	(620) 421-6161
Three Rivers Hospice West	Mount Vernon, MO	58 mi	(417) 461-0580
Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice	Wichita, KS	141 mi	(316) 265-9441

Straight-line miles from the center of Columbus. 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 Columbus

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 60% of the $2,182 monthly median income of Columbus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Columbus: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Columbus?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 60% of the $2,182 monthly median income of Columbus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Columbus

More senior care near Columbus

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Columbus

More for Columbus 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 Columbus, KS