Hospice Support in Fort Atkinson, WI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Fort Atkinson, WI: the local picture

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fort Atkinson ZIP codes

249

residents 85 or older (2.0% of all residents)

39%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in Jefferson County)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Jefferson County)

Medicare lists 9 hospices whose service area includes Fort Atkinson ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Rainbow Hospice Care in Jefferson (5.6 mi) and Heartland Hospice Madison in Madison (25 mi).

867 Fort Atkinson residents 65 or older live alone (39% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Fort Atkinson compared with Jefferson County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Fort Atkinson	Jefferson County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	27%	28%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.0%	4.6%	5.3%
Residents 65 or older	19%	19%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	8.2%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,786	$59,050	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Atkinson

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Jefferson, WI	5.8 mi	1,261	45%
Whitewater, WI	8.2 mi	1,592	26%
Lake Mills, WI	11 mi	1,189	32%
Johnson Creek, WI	11 mi	364	25%
Milton, WI	11 mi	935	34%
Edgerton, WI	13 mi	1,046	41%

Hospices serving Fort Atkinson

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Rainbow Hospice Care	Jefferson, WI	5.6 mi	(920) 674-6255
Heartland Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	25 mi	(608) 819-0033
Bristol Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	29 mi	(608) 960-7699
St Croix Hospice Waukesha	Waukesha, WI	30 mi	(262) 796-0600
Commonheart Hospice	Waukesha, WI	30 mi	(920) 206-6202
Agrace Hospicecare	Madison, WI	32 mi	(608) 276-4660

Straight-line miles from the center of Fort Atkinson. 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 Fort Atkinson

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $3,899 monthly median income of Fort Atkinson households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Fort Atkinson: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Fort Atkinson?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $3,899 monthly median income of Fort Atkinson households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Fort Atkinson

More senior care near Fort Atkinson

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Atkinson

More for Fort Atkinson 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 Fort Atkinson, WI