Hospice Support in Houghton Lake, MI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Houghton Lake, MI: the local picture

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Houghton Lake ZIP codes

250

residents 85 or older (4.3% of all residents)

34%

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

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Roscommon County)

Medicare lists 13 hospices whose service area includes Houghton Lake ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Compassus - Northern Michigan in West Branch (26 mi) and Heartland Hospice (West Branch) in West Branch (26 mi).

648 Houghton Lake residents 65 or older live alone (34% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Houghton Lake compared with Roscommon County and Michigan

Census figure	Houghton Lake	Roscommon County	Michigan
Residents 85 or older	4.3%	3.1%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	36%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.1%	5.6%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	34%	35%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.4%	8.9%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,567	$50,715	—

Older residents in towns around Houghton Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
St. Helen, MI	17 mi	913	38%
Gladwin, MI	25 mi	781	41%
Clare, MI	33 mi	769	55%
Cadillac, MI	34 mi	2,207	39%
Skidway Lake, MI	36 mi	584	31%
Kalkaska, MI	37 mi	544	43%

Hospices serving Houghton Lake

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus - Northern Michigan	West Branch, MI	26 mi	(989) 343-2470
Heartland Hospice (West Branch)	West Branch, MI	26 mi	(989) 345-0651
The Care Team Hospice	Standish, MI	46 mi	(989) 941-9975
Hospice Of Northeastern Michigan	Gaylord, MI	49 mi	(989) 731-2744
Munson Hospice And Palliative Care	Traverse City, MI	54 mi	(616) 935-6520
Hospice Of Mecosta County	Big Rapids, MI	56 mi	(231) 796-7371

Straight-line miles from the center of Houghton Lake. 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 Houghton Lake

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $3,964 monthly median income of Houghton Lake households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 Houghton Lake: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Houghton Lake?

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $3,964 monthly median income of Houghton Lake households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 Houghton Lake

More senior care near Houghton Lake

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Houghton Lake

More for Houghton Lake 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 Houghton Lake, MI