Hospice Support in Elk Plain, WA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Elk Plain, WA: the local picture

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Elk Plain ZIP codes

67

residents 85 or older (0.5% of all residents)

14%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (25% in Pierce County)

47%

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

Medicare lists 10 hospices whose service area includes Elk Plain ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Pierce County in Tacoma (13 mi) and Puget Sound Hospice in Tacoma (13 mi).

282 Elk Plain residents 65 or older live alone (14% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Elk Plain compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Elk Plain	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	0.5%	1.5%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	25%	26%
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	7.7%	7.1%
Residents 65 or older	14%	15%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%	8.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$82,000	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Elk Plain

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Frederickson, WA	3.5 mi	2,671	21%
Graham, WA	4.2 mi	3,824	14%
Spanaway, WA	4.7 mi	3,607	23%
Summit View, WA	6.6 mi	842	31%
South Hill, WA	6.6 mi	7,833	19%
Clover Creek, WA	7.0 mi	996	10.0%

Hospices serving Elk Plain

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Pierce County	Tacoma, WA	13 mi	(517) 256-0946
Puget Sound Hospice	Tacoma, WA	13 mi	(253) 581-9410
Envision Hospice	Tacoma, WA	15 mi	(360) 350-4875
Multicare Hospice	Tacoma, WA	15 mi	(253) 301-6400
Franciscan Hospice	University Place, WA	15 mi	(253) 534-7000
Wesley Homes Hospice, LLC	Kent, WA	24 mi	(206) 870-1127

Straight-line miles from the center of Elk Plain. 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 Elk Plain

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $6,833 monthly median income of Elk Plain households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Elk Plain: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Elk Plain?

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $6,833 monthly median income of Elk Plain households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Elk Plain

More senior care near Elk Plain

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Elk Plain

More for Elk Plain 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 Elk Plain, WA