Hospice Support in East Prairie, MO: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in East Prairie, MO: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve East Prairie ZIP codes

29

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

54%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (39% in Mississippi County)

79%

of residents 65+ report a disability (53% in Mississippi County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes East Prairie ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Elite Hospice in Sikeston (13 mi) and Elara Caring in Dexter (32 mi).

297 East Prairie residents 65 or older live alone (54% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

East Prairie compared with Mississippi County and Missouri

Census figure	East Prairie	Mississippi County	Missouri
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.3%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	54%	39%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	79%	53%	34%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.9%	6.6%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	19%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.8%	9.7%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$26,121	$40,000	—

Older residents in towns around East Prairie

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Charleston, MO	9.9 mi	656	38%
Sikeston, MO	13 mi	3,549	38%
New Madrid, MO	16 mi	560	42%
Tiptonville, TN	28 mi	390	39%
Portageville, MO	30 mi	387	36%
Union City, TN	31 mi	1,979	40%

Hospices serving East Prairie

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Elite Hospice	Sikeston, MO	13 mi	(573) 472-6163
Elara Caring	Dexter, MO	32 mi	(573) 614-4000
Crown Hospice, Inc	Cape Girardeau, MO	37 mi	(573) 335-4800
Mercy Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	38 mi	(573) 335-6208
Legacy Hospice, LLC	Kennett, MO	52 mi	(573) 888-4946
Vna Hospice	Kennett, MO	52 mi	(573) 888-5892

Straight-line miles from the center of East Prairie. 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 East Prairie

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 63% of the $2,177 monthly median income of East Prairie households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 East Prairie: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in East Prairie?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 63% of the $2,177 monthly median income of East Prairie households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 East Prairie

More senior care near East Prairie

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in East Prairie

More for East Prairie 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 East Prairie, MO