Hospice Support in Fort Madison, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Fort Madison, IA: the local picture

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fort Madison ZIP codes

302

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

42%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (33% in Lee County)

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Lee County)

Medicare lists 5 hospices whose service area includes Fort Madison ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Lee County Health Department in Fort Madison (0.9 mi) and Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice in West Burlington (17 mi).

851 Fort Madison residents 65 or older live alone (42% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Fort Madison compared with Lee County and Iowa

Census figure	Fort Madison	Lee County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.6%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	7.2%	5.1%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	22%	22%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.7%	9.1%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,590	$44,102	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Madison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Keokuk, IA	15 mi	2,065	40%
Hamilton, IL	16 mi	542	43%
West Burlington, IA	16 mi	631	33%
Burlington, IA	17 mi	5,107	40%
Mount Pleasant, IA	26 mi	1,634	36%
Canton, MO	35 mi	343	40%

Hospices serving Fort Madison

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Lee County Health Department	Fort Madison, IA	0.9 mi	(319) 372-5225
Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice	West Burlington, IA	17 mi	(319) 768-3350
Everystep	Mount Pleasant, IA	26 mi	(319) 385-4472
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	94 mi	(319) 362-2500
St Croix Hospice	Strawberry Point, IA	143 mi	(563) 933-2070

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

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,216 monthly median income of Fort Madison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Fort Madison: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Fort Madison?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,216 monthly median income of Fort Madison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Madison

More senior care near Fort Madison

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Madison

More for Fort Madison 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 Madison, IA