Hospice Support in Ithaca, NY: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Ithaca, NY: the local picture

2

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ithaca ZIP codes

300

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

39%

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

24%

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

Medicare lists 2 hospices whose service area includes Ithaca ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hospicare & Palliative Care Services in Ithaca (0.4 mi) and Carefirst / Southern Tier Hospice And Palliative in Painted Post (37 mi).

1,209 Ithaca residents 65 or older live alone (39% 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 Tompkins County and New York

Census figure	Ithaca	Tompkins County	New York
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.6%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	30%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	27%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	1.7%	4.5%	8.3%
Residents 65 or older	10%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	7.9%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$76,893	$74,031	—

Older residents in towns around Ithaca

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Cayuga Heights, NY	1.8 mi	1,254	21%
South Hill, NY	2.4 mi	508	42%
Northeast Ithaca, NY	2.6 mi	473	18%
Lansing, NY	3.3 mi	322	43%
Munsons Corners, NY	18 mi	410	45%
Cortland, NY	20 mi	2,194	44%

Hospices serving Ithaca

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospicare & Palliative Care Services	Ithaca, NY	0.4 mi	(607) 272-0212
Carefirst / Southern Tier Hospice And Palliative	Painted Post, NY	37 mi	(607) 962-3100

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 New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,408 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. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,408 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. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 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, NY