Hospice Support in DeKalb, IL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in DeKalb, IL: the local picture

24

Medicare-certified hospices serve DeKalb ZIP codes

850

residents 85 or older (2.1% of all residents)

37%

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

32%

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

Medicare lists 24 hospices whose service area includes DeKalb ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Compassus-Chicago in Dekalb (1.9 mi) and Unity Hospice Of Western Illinois in Rochelle (17 mi).

1,516 DeKalb residents 65 or older live alone (37% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

DeKalb compared with DeKalb County and Illinois

Census figure	DeKalb	DeKalb County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	1.6%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	28%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.6%	4.0%	6.9%
Residents 65 or older	11%	14%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	7.4%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$55,079	$64,446	—

Older residents in towns around DeKalb

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Cortland, IL	3.1 mi	360	21%
Sycamore, IL	5.9 mi	2,459	23%
Genoa, IL	12 mi	769	18%
Elburn, IL	15 mi	817	25%
Rochelle, IL	16 mi	1,474	41%
Campton Hills, IL	17 mi	1,893	9.8%

Hospices serving DeKalb

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus-Chicago	Dekalb, IL	1.9 mi	(815) 220-1390
Unity Hospice Of Western Illinois	Rochelle, IL	17 mi	(815) 561-8866
Solace Hospice & Palliative Care Inc	St Charles, IL	18 mi	(847) 250-5036
Mo Chara Hospice LLC	Cherry Valley, IL	23 mi	(847) 275-9510
Divine Hospice & Palliative Care LLC	Yorkville, IL	25 mi	(630) 553-8500
Northern Illinois Hospice	Rockford, IL	26 mi	(815) 398-0500

Straight-line miles from the center of DeKalb. 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 DeKalb

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 35% of the $4,590 monthly median income of DeKalb 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 DeKalb: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in DeKalb?

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 35% of the $4,590 monthly median income of DeKalb 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 DeKalb

More senior care near DeKalb

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in DeKalb

More for DeKalb 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 DeKalb, IL