Hospice Support in Des Moines, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Des Moines, IA: the local picture

23

Medicare-certified hospices serve Des Moines ZIP codes

3,313

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

40%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Polk County)

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)

Medicare lists 23 hospices whose service area includes Des Moines ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Mercyone Des Moines Hospice in Des Moines (1.4 mi) and Everystep in Des Moines (5.0 mi).

10,298 Des Moines residents 65 or older live alone (40% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Des Moines compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.3%	5.5%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	13%	14%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	7.5%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,181	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Des Moines

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Pleasant Hill, IA	5.7 mi	2,222	26%
Windsor Heights, IA	5.7 mi	985	29%
Carlisle, IA	7.1 mi	523	25%
Saylorville, IA	7.5 mi	705	14%
Norwalk, IA	7.6 mi	2,002	33%
Altoona, IA	8.6 mi	3,684	32%

Hospices serving Des Moines

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mercyone Des Moines Hospice	Des Moines, IA	1.4 mi	(515) 643-8383
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	5.0 mi	(515) 274-3400
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	7.0 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	7.0 mi	(515) 557-3100
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	8.4 mi	(515) 218-2143
Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines	West Des Moines, IA	9.8 mi	(515) 223-3813

Straight-line miles from the center of Des Moines. 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 Des Moines

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 37% of the $4,015 monthly median income of Des Moines 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 Des Moines: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Des Moines?

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 37% of the $4,015 monthly median income of Des Moines 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 Des Moines

More senior care near Des Moines

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Des Moines

More for Des Moines 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 Des Moines, IA