Hospice Support in Ester, AK: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Ester, AK: the local picture

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ester ZIP codes

0

residents 85 or older (0.0% of all residents)

72%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Fairbanks North Star Borough)

1.4%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Fairbanks North Star Borough)

Medicare lists 1 hospice whose service area includes Ester ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Hospice Services in Fairbanks (10 mi).

247 Ester residents 65 or older live alone (72% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Ester compared with Fairbanks North Star Borough and Alaska

Census figure	Ester	Fairbanks North Star Borough	Alaska
Residents 85 or older	0.0%	0.9%	0.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	72%	28%	27%
Residents 65+ with a disability	1.4%	38%	35%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	0.0%	5.7%	6.8%
Residents 65 or older	13%	13%	14%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	29%	6.3%	8.3%

Older residents in towns around Ester

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Goldstream, AK	4.4 mi	630	34%
Chena Ridge, AK	5.9 mi	639	13%
College, AK	6.6 mi	2,077	31%
Farmers Loop, AK	10 mi	631	18%
Fairbanks, AK	12 mi	3,811	27%
Steele Creek, AK	18 mi	727	24%

Hospices serving Ester

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Hospice Services	Fairbanks, AK	10 mi	(907) 458-3090

Straight-line miles from the center of Ester. 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 Ester

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in Alaska: consumer-directed personal care.

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 Ester: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Ester?

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Ester

More senior care near Ester

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Ester

More for Ester families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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 Ester, AK