Hospice Support in Ithaca, MI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Ithaca, MI: the local picture

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ithaca ZIP codes

61

residents 85 or older (2.2% of all residents)

49%

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

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Gratiot County)

Medicare lists 10 hospices whose service area includes Ithaca ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Mymichigan Home Care in Mount Pleasant (23 mi) and Amara Hospice, LLC in Saginaw (31 mi).

206 Ithaca residents 65 or older live alone (49% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Ithaca compared with Gratiot County and Michigan

Census figure	Ithaca	Gratiot County	Michigan
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.1%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	49%	30%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	34%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.6%	5.2%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.5%	8.9%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,864	$43,153	—

Older residents in towns around Ithaca

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Alma, MI	6.8 mi	1,643	32%
St. Louis, MI	8.2 mi	865	37%
St. Johns, MI	20 mi	1,706	36%
Mount Pleasant, MI	23 mi	1,951	46%
Shields, MI	28 mi	2,121	27%
Freeland, MI	29 mi	761	25%

Hospices serving Ithaca

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mymichigan Home Care	Mount Pleasant, MI	23 mi	(800) 862-5002
Amara Hospice, LLC	Saginaw, MI	31 mi	(989) 200-5000
Heartland Hospice	Midland, MI	31 mi	(989) 667-3340
Optimal Care Hospice	Saginaw, MI	35 mi	(888) 758-5709
Sparrow Hospice Services	Lansing, MI	38 mi	(517) 364-7200
The Care Team Hospice	Flint, MI	48 mi	(888) 483-2273

Straight-line miles from the center of Ithaca. 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 Ithaca

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 61% of the $2,405 monthly median income of Ithaca 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 Ithaca: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Ithaca?

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 61% of the $2,405 monthly median income of Ithaca 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 Ithaca

More senior care near Ithaca

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Ithaca

More for Ithaca 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 Ithaca, MI