Hospice Support in Columbus, WI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Columbus, WI: the local picture

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Columbus ZIP codes

97

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

46%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (27% in Columbia County)

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (25% in Columbia County)

Medicare lists 9 hospices whose service area includes Columbus ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hillside Hospice in Beaver Dam (13 mi) and Heartland Hospice Madison in Madison (21 mi).

354 Columbus residents 65 or older live alone (46% 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 Columbia County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Columbus	Columbia County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.9%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	25%	28%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.7%	4.0%	5.3%
Residents 65 or older	15%	20%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	7.7%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,750	$57,885	—

Older residents in towns around Columbus

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Waterloo, WI	11 mi	598	36%
Marshall, WI	12 mi	389	13%
Beaver Dam, WI	13 mi	3,018	43%
Windsor, WI	14 mi	1,284	14%
Sun Prairie, WI	15 mi	5,317	39%
Juneau, WI	17 mi	464	36%

Hospices serving Columbus

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hillside Hospice	Beaver Dam, WI	13 mi	(920) 887-4050
Heartland Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	21 mi	(608) 819-0033
Rainbow Hospice Care	Jefferson, WI	26 mi	(920) 674-6255
Bristol Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	28 mi	(608) 960-7699
Agrace Hospicecare	Madison, WI	30 mi	(608) 276-4660
St Croix Hospice Baraboo	Baraboo, WI	37 mi	(608) 448-4200

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 Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,063 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. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a 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 Columbus: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Columbus?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,063 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. Wisconsin'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, WI