Hospice Support in Forest, VA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Forest, VA: the local picture

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Forest ZIP codes

410

residents 85 or older (3.1% of all residents)

24%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (24% in Bedford County)

21%

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

Medicare lists 13 hospices whose service area includes Forest ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Centra Health, Hospice Of The Hills in Lynchburg (6.8 mi) and James River Home Health Care LLC in Lynchburg (6.8 mi).

651 Forest 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.

Forest compared with Bedford County and Virginia

Census figure	Forest	Bedford County	Virginia
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.2%	1.7%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	24%	27%
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.6%	5.2%	6.7%
Residents 65 or older	21%	23%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	1.5%	5.5%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,386	$63,298	—

Older residents in towns around Forest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Timberlake, VA	4.3 mi	2,386	31%
Lynchburg, VA	4.8 mi	11,391	33%
Madison Heights, VA	11 mi	2,157	31%
Bedford, VA	13 mi	1,647	35%
Altavista, VA	17 mi	656	43%
Buena Vista, VA	25 mi	1,240	26%

Hospices serving Forest

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Centra Health, Hospice Of The Hills	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	(804) 200-3204
James River Home Health Care LLC	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	(434) 849-8614
Westminster At Home (Hospice)	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	(434) 386-3800
Centra Bedford Hospice	Bedford, VA	15 mi	(540) 587-6592
Nayar Hospice Bedford LLC	Bedford, VA	15 mi	(804) 330-5433
Gentle Shepherd Hospice Inc	Roanoke, VA	35 mi	(540) 989-6265

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest. 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

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,032 monthly median income of Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Forest?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,032 monthly median income of Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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

More senior care near Forest

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Forest

More for Forest 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, VA