Hospice Support in Council Bluffs, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Council Bluffs, IA: the local picture

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Council Bluffs ZIP codes

1,120

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

35%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in Pottawattamie County)

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Pottawattamie County)

Medicare lists 16 hospices whose service area includes Council Bluffs ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hillcrest Hospice in Council Bluffs (1.2 mi) and Aseracare Hospice in Council Bluffs (1.2 mi).

3,700 Council Bluffs residents 65 or older live alone (35% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Council Bluffs compared with Pottawattamie County and Iowa

Census figure	Council Bluffs	Pottawattamie County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	2.2%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	30%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	36%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.6%	5.9%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.9%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,195	$52,811	—

Older residents in towns around Council Bluffs

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Carter Lake, IA	4.9 mi	650	30%
Bellevue, NE	7.7 mi	9,953	31%
Offutt AFB, NE	8.7 mi	98	46%
Ralston, NE	9.9 mi	1,048	37%
Omaha, NE	11 mi	70,865	34%
La Vista, NE	12 mi	1,995	26%

Hospices serving Council Bluffs

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hillcrest Hospice	Council Bluffs, IA	1.2 mi	(712) 435-4910
Aseracare Hospice	Council Bluffs, IA	1.2 mi	(712) 723-3959
St Croix Hospice	Co Bluffs, IA	2.3 mi	(712) 318-2120
St. Joseph Villa Homecare & Hospice	Omaha, NE	4.2 mi	(402) 926-4444
Chi Health At Home - Omaha	Omaha, NE	10 mi	(402) 898-8000
Aseracare Hospice	Omaha, NE	14 mi	(402) 926-2680

Straight-line miles from the center of Council Bluffs. 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 Council Bluffs

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $3,850 monthly median income of Council Bluffs households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Council Bluffs: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Council Bluffs?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $3,850 monthly median income of Council Bluffs households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Council Bluffs

More senior care near Council Bluffs

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Council Bluffs

More for Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs, IA