Hospice Support in Fitzgerald, GA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Fitzgerald, GA: the local picture

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fitzgerald ZIP codes

116

residents 85 or older (1.3% of all residents)

36%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Ben Hill County)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Ben Hill County)

Medicare lists 14 hospices whose service area includes Fitzgerald ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Eternal Faith Hospice And Palliative Care in Chula (21 mi) and Hospice Of Tift Area in Tifton (23 mi).

499 Fitzgerald residents 65 or older live alone (36% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Fitzgerald compared with Ben Hill County and Georgia

Census figure	Fitzgerald	Ben Hill County	Georgia
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.5%	1.4%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	32%	26%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	34%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.8%	6.3%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	15%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	19%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,519	$33,208	—

Older residents in towns around Fitzgerald

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Ocilla, GA	7.9 mi	499	47%
Abbeville, GA	20 mi	349	16%
Tifton, GA	23 mi	2,845	41%
Ashburn, GA	24 mi	955	46%
Douglas, GA	27 mi	1,671	40%
McRae-Helena, GA	32 mi	1,115	41%

Hospices serving Fitzgerald

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Eternal Faith Hospice And Palliative Care	Chula, GA	21 mi	(229) 520-3052
Hospice Of Tift Area	Tifton, GA	23 mi	(229) 353-6330
Pruitthealth Hospice-Cordele	Cordele, GA	35 mi	(229) 271-0300
Empyrean Hospice Of Georgia, LLC-(Adel)	Adel, GA	42 mi	(229) 500-6250
Georgia Hospice Care	Albany, GA	54 mi	(229) 349-6390
Georgia Hospice Care	Dublin, GA	55 mi	(800) 932-2738

Straight-line miles from the center of Fitzgerald. 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 Fitzgerald

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $2,377 monthly median income of Fitzgerald households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Fitzgerald: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Fitzgerald?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $2,377 monthly median income of Fitzgerald households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Fitzgerald

More senior care near Fitzgerald

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Fitzgerald

More for Fitzgerald 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 Fitzgerald, GA