Hospice Support in Freeport, FL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Freeport, FL: the local picture

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Freeport ZIP codes

112

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

23%

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

28%

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

Medicare lists 5 hospices whose service area includes Freeport ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Emerald Coast Hospice in Panama City (35 mi) and Gentiva I in Pensacola (63 mi).

186 Freeport residents 65 or older live alone (23% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Freeport compared with Walton County and Florida

Census figure	Freeport	Walton County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.4%	2.6%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	23%	25%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.5%	4.6%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	12%	20%	21%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.0%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$78,417	$67,531	—

Older residents in towns around Freeport

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
DeFuniak Springs, FL	14 mi	1,057	36%
Miramar Beach, FL	15 mi	3,412	24%
Laguna Beach, FL	20 mi	1,274	19%
Niceville, FL	21 mi	3,016	19%
Destin, FL	21 mi	2,572	30%
Valparaiso, FL	23 mi	698	24%

Hospices serving Freeport

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Emerald Coast Hospice	Panama City, FL	35 mi	(850) 769-0055
Gentiva I	Pensacola, FL	63 mi	(704) 662-1761
Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC	Pensacola, FL	65 mi	(850) 378-5618
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Tallahassee, FL	114 mi	(850) 575-4998
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	365 mi	(321) 751-6671

Straight-line miles from the center of Freeport. 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 Freeport

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 22% of the $6,535 monthly median income of Freeport 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 Freeport: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Freeport?

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 22% of the $6,535 monthly median income of Freeport 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 Freeport

More senior care near Freeport

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Freeport

More for Freeport 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 Freeport, FL