Hospice Support in Cortland, IL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Cortland, IL: the local picture

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Cortland ZIP codes

12

residents 85 or older (0.3% of all residents)

21%

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

35%

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

Medicare lists 12 hospices whose service area includes Cortland ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Compassus-Chicago in Dekalb (4.2 mi) and Solace Hospice & Palliative Care Inc in St Charles (15 mi).

75 Cortland residents 65 or older live alone (21% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Cortland compared with DeKalb County and Illinois

Census figure	Cortland	DeKalb County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	0.3%	1.6%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	21%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	28%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	7.2%	4.0%	6.9%
Residents 65 or older	7.9%	14%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.7%	7.4%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,269	$64,446	—

Older residents in towns around Cortland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
DeKalb, IL	3.1 mi	4,472	37%
Sycamore, IL	4.2 mi	2,459	23%
Genoa, IL	11 mi	769	18%
Elburn, IL	12 mi	817	25%
Campton Hills, IL	14 mi	1,893	9.8%
Hampshire, IL	16 mi	865	24%

Hospices serving Cortland

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus-Chicago	Dekalb, IL	4.2 mi	(815) 220-1390
Solace Hospice & Palliative Care Inc	St Charles, IL	15 mi	(847) 250-5036
Unity Hospice Of Western Illinois	Rochelle, IL	20 mi	(815) 561-8866
Heartland Hospice (Rockford)	Rockford, IL	28 mi	(815) 397-3691
Northern Illinois Hospice	Rockford, IL	28 mi	(815) 398-0500
St Croix Hospice	Rockford, IL	30 mi	(815) 316-2700

Straight-line miles from the center of Cortland. 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 Cortland

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $4,022 monthly median income of Cortland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 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 Cortland: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Cortland?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $4,022 monthly median income of Cortland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 Cortland

More senior care near Cortland

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Cortland

More for Cortland families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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 Cortland, IL