Hospice Support in Helena, AL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Helena, AL: the local picture

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Helena ZIP codes

92

residents 85 or older (0.4% of all residents)

19%

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

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Shelby County)

Medicare lists 16 hospices whose service area includes Helena ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Enhabit Hospice Birmingham in Hoover (5.8 mi) and Aveanna Hospice Of Pelham in Pelham (6.5 mi).

525 Helena residents 65 or older live alone (19% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Helena compared with Shelby County and Alabama

Census figure	Helena	Shelby County	Alabama
Residents 85 or older	0.4%	1.5%	1.7%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	19%	23%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	30%	38%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.6%	6.5%	7.9%
Residents 65 or older	13%	17%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.0%	8.2%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,285	$69,559	—

Older residents in towns around Helena

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Alabaster, AL	5.8 mi	4,876	27%
Hoover, AL	7.5 mi	15,408	26%
Bessemer, AL	8.1 mi	5,601	40%
Pelham, AL	8.3 mi	4,533	18%
McCalla, AL	8.6 mi	2,688	13%
Indian Springs Village, AL	9.3 mi	723	14%

Hospices serving Helena

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Enhabit Hospice Birmingham	Hoover, AL	5.8 mi	(205) 824-8681
Aveanna Hospice Of Pelham	Pelham, AL	6.5 mi	(205) 663-6887
Amedisys Hospice Of Birmingham	Homewood, AL	13 mi	(205) 868-9221
Affinity Hospice	Birmingham, AL	13 mi	(205) 949-0400
Compassus Hospice And Palliative Care-Birmingham	Birmingham, AL	14 mi	(205) 437-8655
Gentiva Birmingham	Birmingham, AL	14 mi	(205) 870-4340

Straight-line miles from the center of Helena. 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 Helena

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $5,524 monthly median income of Helena households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Helena: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Helena?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $5,524 monthly median income of Helena households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Helena

More senior care near Helena

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Helena

More for Helena 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 Helena, AL