Hospice Support in Iowa City, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Iowa City, IA: the local picture

17

Medicare-certified hospices serve Iowa City ZIP codes

1,347

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

34%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in Johnson County)

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Johnson County)

Medicare lists 17 hospices whose service area includes Iowa City ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Iowa City Hospice in Iowa City (2.1 mi) and Essence Of Life Hospice in Amana (22 mi).

3,097 Iowa City 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.

Iowa City compared with Johnson County and Iowa

Census figure	Iowa City	Johnson County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	30%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.8%	3.6%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	12%	13%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.6%	5.5%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,368	$70,562	—

Older residents in towns around Iowa City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Coralville, IA	4.5 mi	3,097	33%
Tiffin, IA	7.2 mi	586	3.1%
North Liberty, IA	7.4 mi	1,513	44%
West Branch, IA	9.7 mi	434	29%
Solon, IA	11 mi	469	54%
Kalona, IA	15 mi	684	30%

Hospices serving Iowa City

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Iowa City Hospice	Iowa City, IA	2.1 mi	(319) 351-5665
Essence Of Life Hospice	Amana, IA	22 mi	(319) 622-3195
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	22 mi	(319) 362-2500
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids, IA	22 mi	(319) 390-4161
Hospice Of Washington County	Washington, IA	26 mi	(319) 653-7321
Suncrest Hospice	Cedar Rapids, IA	26 mi	(319) 451-6300

Straight-line miles from the center of Iowa City. 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 Iowa City

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 27% of the $5,531 monthly median income of Iowa City 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 Iowa City: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Iowa City?

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 27% of the $5,531 monthly median income of Iowa City 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 Iowa City

More senior care near Iowa City

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Iowa City

More for Iowa City 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 Iowa City, IA