Hospice Support in Fort Walton Beach, FL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Fort Walton Beach, FL: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Fort Walton Beach ZIP codes

452

residents 85 or older (2.1% of all residents)

28%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (23% in Okaloosa County)

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Okaloosa County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Fort Walton Beach ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Gentiva I in Pensacola (34 mi) and Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC in Pensacola (36 mi).

1,128 Fort Walton Beach residents 65 or older live alone (28% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Fort Walton Beach compared with Okaloosa County and Florida

Census figure	Fort Walton Beach	Okaloosa County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	1.7%	2.6%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	23%	25%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	35%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.7%	6.8%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	20%	17%	21%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.1%	8.0%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$69,031	$72,832	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Walton Beach

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Ocean City, FL	1.3 mi	828	21%
Wright, FL	1.8 mi	3,854	20%
Mary Esther, FL	2.4 mi	875	16%
Lake Lorraine, FL	3.5 mi	1,214	31%
Eglin AFB, FL	4.9 mi	73	0.0%
Hurlburt Field, FL	5.8 mi	0	—

Hospices serving Fort Walton Beach

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva I	Pensacola, FL	34 mi	(704) 662-1761
Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC	Pensacola, FL	36 mi	(850) 378-5618
Emerald Coast Hospice	Panama City, FL	59 mi	(850) 769-0055
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Tallahassee, FL	143 mi	(850) 575-4998
Heartland Hospice (Jacksonville)	Jacksonville, FL	302 mi	(904) 737-2553
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	390 mi	(321) 751-6671

Straight-line miles from the center of Fort Walton Beach. 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 Walton Beach

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $5,753 monthly median income of Fort Walton Beach households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Walton Beach: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Fort Walton Beach?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $5,753 monthly median income of Fort Walton Beach households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Walton Beach

More senior care near Fort Walton Beach

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Walton Beach

More for Fort Walton Beach 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 Walton Beach, FL