Hospice Support in Fort Defiance, AZ: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Fort Defiance, AZ: the local picture

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fort Defiance ZIP codes

21

residents 85 or older (0.6% of all residents)

26%

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

32%

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

Medicare lists 1 hospice whose service area includes Fort Defiance ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Compassus Hospice Albuquerque South in Albuquerque (147 mi).

111 Fort Defiance residents 65 or older live alone (26% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Fort Defiance compared with Apache County and Arizona

Census figure	Fort Defiance	Apache County	Arizona
Residents 85 or older	0.6%	1.4%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	24%	25%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	42%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	0.0%	9.7%	5.7%
Residents 65 or older	13%	17%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.2%	23%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,706	$33,831	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Defiance

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Gallup, NM	24 mi	3,019	24%
Chinle, AZ	40 mi	472	26%
Zuni Pueblo, NM	48 mi	878	13%
Crownpoint, NM	51 mi	306	25%

Hospices serving Fort Defiance

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus Hospice Albuquerque South	Albuquerque, NM	147 mi	(505) 881-5342

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

At the Arizona median aide wage of $17.51 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,518 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $4,976 monthly median income of Fort Defiance households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arizona's minimum wage is $15.15 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 ALTCS family caregiver rules: how to get paid to care for a family member in Arizona.

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 Defiance: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Fort Defiance?

At the Arizona median aide wage of $17.51 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,518 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $4,976 monthly median income of Fort Defiance households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arizona's minimum wage is $15.15 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 Defiance

More senior care near Fort Defiance

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Defiance

More for Fort Defiance 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 Defiance, AZ