Hospice Support in Gunnison, CO: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Gunnison, CO: the local picture

1

Medicare-certified hospices serve Gunnison ZIP codes

36

residents 85 or older (0.5% of all residents)

49%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Gunnison County)

43%

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

Medicare lists 1 hospice whose service area includes Gunnison ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Gunnison Valley Health Hospice And Palliative Care in Gunnison (0.4 mi).

289 Gunnison residents 65 or older live alone (49% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Gunnison compared with Gunnison County and Colorado

Census figure	Gunnison	Gunnison County	Colorado
Residents 85 or older	0.5%	0.7%	1.6%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	49%	28%	28%
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.8%	2.2%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	9.6%	15%	16%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.9%	8.7%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,408	$78,393	—

Older residents in towns around Gunnison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Aspen, CO	45 mi	1,174	41%
Snowmass Village, CO	46 mi	1,038	34%
Buena Vista, CO	47 mi	152	55%
Salida, CO	50 mi	1,361	29%
Montrose, CO	51 mi	5,822	33%
Basalt, CO	57 mi	1,038	30%

Hospices serving Gunnison

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gunnison Valley Health Hospice And Palliative Care	Gunnison, CO	0.4 mi	(970) 641-4254

Straight-line miles from the center of Gunnison. 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 Gunnison

At the Colorado median aide wage of $18.53 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,606 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,617 monthly median income of Gunnison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 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 Gunnison: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Gunnison?

At the Colorado median aide wage of $18.53 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,606 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,617 monthly median income of Gunnison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 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 Gunnison

More senior care near Gunnison

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Gunnison

More for Gunnison 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 Gunnison, CO