Hospice Support in Dunkirk, NY: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Dunkirk, NY: the local picture

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Dunkirk ZIP codes

197

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

35%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (31% in Chautauqua County)

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Chautauqua County)

Medicare lists 1 hospice whose service area includes Dunkirk ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Chautauqua Hospice And Palliative Care in Lakewood (27 mi).

803 Dunkirk 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.

Dunkirk compared with Chautauqua County and New York

Census figure	Dunkirk	Chautauqua County	New York
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.5%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	31%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	32%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	7.7%	6.6%	8.3%
Residents 65 or older	19%	21%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	11%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,811	$48,647	—

Older residents in towns around Dunkirk

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Fredonia, NY	2.8 mi	1,883	28%
Silver Creek, NY	9.3 mi	307	20%
Lake Erie Beach, NY	16 mi	809	26%
Westfield, NY	17 mi	762	60%
Gowanda, NY	20 mi	497	53%
Highland-on-the-Lake, NY	23 mi	842	31%

Hospices serving Dunkirk

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Chautauqua Hospice And Palliative Care	Lakewood, NY	27 mi	(716) 338-0033

Straight-line miles from the center of Dunkirk. 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 Dunkirk

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,818 monthly median income of Dunkirk households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Dunkirk: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Dunkirk?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,818 monthly median income of Dunkirk households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Dunkirk

More senior care near Dunkirk

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Dunkirk

More for Dunkirk 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 Dunkirk, NY