Hospice Support in Freedom, CA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Freedom, CA: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Freedom ZIP codes

58

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

28%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (26% in Santa Cruz County)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Santa Cruz County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Freedom ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Bonita Springs Hospice Care LLC in Gilroy (13 mi) and Bridge Hospice in Salinas (15 mi).

126 Freedom 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.

Freedom compared with Santa Cruz County and California

Census figure	Freedom	Santa Cruz County	California
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	2.1%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	26%	23%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.6%	6.8%	9.3%
Residents 65 or older	14%	19%	16%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.6%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,875	$85,666	—

Older residents in towns around Freedom

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Amesti, CA	1.5 mi	599	16%
Watsonville, CA	1.7 mi	6,713	22%
Interlaken, CA	3.3 mi	1,199	11%
Pajaro, CA	4.0 mi	399	12%
Rio del Mar, CA	5.1 mi	2,352	26%
Las Lomas, CA	6.1 mi	264	9.1%

Hospices serving Freedom

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bonita Springs Hospice Care LLC	Gilroy, CA	13 mi	(408) 848-1114
Bridge Hospice	Salinas, CA	15 mi	(831) 216-5585
Hospice Of Santa Cruz County	Scotts Valley, CA	15 mi	(831) 430-3000
Central Coast Vna & Hospice, Inc	Salinas, CA	20 mi	(831) 758-4200
Universal Health Net Monterey, Inc	Monterey, CA	25 mi	(831) 920-6345
Home Connect Hospice, LLC	Fremont, CA	41 mi	(408) 858-7580

Straight-line miles from the center of Freedom. 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 Freedom

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 48% of the $3,073 monthly median income of Freedom households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Freedom: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Freedom?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 48% of the $3,073 monthly median income of Freedom households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 Freedom

More senior care near Freedom

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Freedom

More for Freedom 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 Freedom, CA