Hospice Support in Fellsmere, FL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Fellsmere, FL: the local picture

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fellsmere ZIP codes

14

residents 85 or older (0.3% of all residents)

24%

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

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Indian River County)

Medicare lists 3 hospices whose service area includes Fellsmere ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Vna Hospice Of Indian River County Inc in Vero Beach (14 mi) and Hospice Of Health First Inc in West Melbourne (24 mi).

99 Fellsmere residents 65 or older live alone (24% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Fellsmere compared with Indian River County and Florida

Census figure	Fellsmere	Indian River County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	0.3%	4.8%	2.6%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	25%	25%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.2%	5.4%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	8.8%	35%	21%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.9%	8.3%	12%

Older residents in towns around Fellsmere

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Vero Lake Estates, FL	5.3 mi	1,108	11%
Sebastian, FL	8.8 mi	9,665	25%
West Vero Corridor, FL	9.8 mi	5,836	33%
Micco, FL	11 mi	5,460	33%
Winter Beach, FL	11 mi	1,825	11%
Gifford, FL	12 mi	560	25%

Hospices serving Fellsmere

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vna Hospice Of Indian River County Inc	Vero Beach, FL	14 mi	(772) 567-5551
Hospice Of Health First Inc	West Melbourne, FL	24 mi	(321) 434-1744
Mederi Caretenders Hospice	Viera, FL	34 mi	(321) 253-2222

Straight-line miles from the center of Fellsmere. 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 Fellsmere

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Fellsmere: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Fellsmere?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Fellsmere

More senior care near Fellsmere

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Fellsmere

More for Fellsmere 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 Fellsmere, FL