Hospice Support in Harlan, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Harlan, IA: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Harlan ZIP codes

286

residents 85 or older (5.8% of all residents)

47%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (31% in Shelby County)

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (23% in Shelby County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Harlan ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Myrtue Medical Center Hospice in Harlan (0.9 mi) and Crawford County Community Health in Denison (26 mi).

509 Harlan residents 65 or older live alone (47% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Harlan compared with Shelby County and Iowa

Census figure	Harlan	Shelby County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	5.8%	4.0%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	47%	31%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	23%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.0%	4.1%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	24%	23%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	24%	16%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,500	$53,889	—

Older residents in towns around Harlan

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Atlantic, IA	24 mi	1,632	35%
Denison, IA	25 mi	1,109	37%
Missouri Valley, IA	30 mi	529	50%
Carroll, IA	38 mi	2,456	34%
Carter Lake, IA	39 mi	650	30%
Council Bluffs, IA	39 mi	10,951	35%

Hospices serving Harlan

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Myrtue Medical Center Hospice	Harlan, IA	0.9 mi	(712) 755-4308
Crawford County Community Health	Denison, IA	26 mi	(712) 263-3303
St Croix Hospice	Co Bluffs, IA	37 mi	(712) 318-2120
Aseracare Hospice	Council Bluffs, IA	41 mi	(712) 723-3959
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	84 mi	(515) 218-2143
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	91 mi	(515) 276-2700

Straight-line miles from the center of Harlan. 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 Harlan

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 55% of the $2,708 monthly median income of Harlan 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 Harlan: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Harlan?

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 55% of the $2,708 monthly median income of Harlan 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 Harlan

More senior care near Harlan

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Harlan

More for Harlan 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 Harlan, IA