Hospice Support in Forest City, NC: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Forest City, NC: the local picture

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Forest City ZIP codes

77

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

46%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (34% in Rutherford County)

48%

of residents 65+ report a disability (42% in Rutherford County)

Medicare lists 4 hospices whose service area includes Forest City ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Via Health Partners - Cleveland in Shelby (18 mi) and Hospice Of The Carolina Foothills in Saluda (27 mi).

578 Forest City residents 65 or older live alone (46% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Forest City compared with Rutherford County and North Carolina

Census figure	Forest City	Rutherford County	North Carolina
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	34%	28%
Residents 65+ with a disability	48%	42%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	9.8%	8.3%	6.6%
Residents 65 or older	18%	22%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	13%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,443	$40,364	—

Older residents in towns around Forest City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Spindale, NC	3.4 mi	862	47%
Rutherfordton, NC	5.5 mi	978	30%
Boiling Springs, NC	13 mi	431	17%
Shelby, NC	19 mi	4,572	42%
Boiling Springs, SC	21 mi	1,477	31%
Landrum, SC	21 mi	656	45%

Hospices serving Forest City

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Via Health Partners - Cleveland	Shelby, NC	18 mi	(704) 487-4677
Hospice Of The Carolina Foothills	Saluda, NC	27 mi	(864) 432-8717
Four Seasons The Care You Trust	Flat Rock, NC	30 mi	(828) 692-6178
Medi Home Hospice	Newland, NC	50 mi	(828) 733-0663

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest City. 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 Forest City

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 55% of the $2,370 monthly median income of Forest City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Forest City: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Forest City?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 55% of the $2,370 monthly median income of Forest City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Forest City

More senior care near Forest City

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Forest City

More for Forest City 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 Forest City, NC