Hospice Support in Hilo, HI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Hilo, HI: the local picture

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Hilo ZIP codes

2,020

residents 85 or older (4.0% of all residents)

26%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (22% in Hawaii County)

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Hawaii County)

Medicare lists 5 hospices whose service area includes Hilo ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Dba Hawai'i Care Choices in Hilo (1.2 mi) and North Hawaii Hospice, Inc in Kamuela (46 mi).

2,794 Hilo residents 65 or older live alone (26% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Hilo compared with Hawaii County and Hawaii

Census figure	Hilo	Hawaii County	Hawaii
Residents 85 or older	4.0%	2.3%	2.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	22%	20%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	33%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	7.9%	6.6%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	23%	24%	20%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.1%	11%	9.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$67,894	$69,877	—

Older residents in towns around Hilo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Kurtistown, HI	7.1 mi	833	4.9%
Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI	10 mi	3,062	17%
Orchidlands Estates, HI	10 mi	450	30%
Hawaiian Acres, HI	11 mi	664	42%
Mountain View, HI	13 mi	651	36%
Ainaloa, HI	13 mi	993	20%

Hospices serving Hilo

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Dba Hawai'i Care Choices	Hilo, HI	1.2 mi	(808) 969-1733
North Hawaii Hospice, Inc	Kamuela, HI	46 mi	(808) 885-7547
Hospice Of Kona	Kailua Kona, HI	58 mi	(808) 324-7700
St Francis Hospice	Honolulu, HI	213 mi	(808) 595-7566
Kauai Hospice	Lihue, HI	319 mi	(808) 245-7277

Straight-line miles from the center of Hilo. 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 Hilo

At the Hawaii median aide wage of $18.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,588 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,658 monthly median income of Hilo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Hawaii's minimum wage is $16.00 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 Hilo: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Hilo?

At the Hawaii median aide wage of $18.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,588 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,658 monthly median income of Hilo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Hawaii's minimum wage is $16.00 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 Hilo

More senior care near Hilo

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Hilo

More for Hilo 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 Hilo, HI