Hospice Support in Kalkaska, MI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Kalkaska, MI: the local picture

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Kalkaska ZIP codes

139

residents 85 or older (5.5% of all residents)

43%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Kalkaska County)

64%

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

Medicare lists 7 hospices whose service area includes Kalkaska ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Munson Hospice And Palliative Care in Traverse City (22 mi) and The Care Team Hospice in Gaylord (32 mi).

208 Kalkaska residents 65 or older live alone (43% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Kalkaska compared with Kalkaska County and Michigan

Census figure	Kalkaska	Kalkaska County	Michigan
Residents 85 or older	5.5%	2.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	64%	36%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	20%	8.0%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	21%	22%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.6%	9.0%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,536	$51,890	—

Older residents in towns around Kalkaska

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Traverse City, MI	21 mi	3,729	39%
Gaylord, MI	32 mi	907	51%
Boyne City, MI	34 mi	943	31%
Cadillac, MI	36 mi	2,207	39%
Houghton Lake, MI	37 mi	1,983	34%
Petoskey, MI	45 mi	1,361	32%

Hospices serving Kalkaska

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Munson Hospice And Palliative Care	Traverse City, MI	22 mi	(616) 935-6520
The Care Team Hospice	Gaylord, MI	32 mi	(989) 447-7445
Advisacare Solutions Of Northern Michigan, LLC	Charlevoix, MI	37 mi	(231) 547-6092
Compassus - Northern Michigan	West Branch, MI	57 mi	(989) 343-2470
Hospice Of Mecosta County	Big Rapids, MI	74 mi	(231) 796-7371
Optimal Care Hospice	Saginaw, MI	106 mi	(888) 758-5709

Straight-line miles from the center of Kalkaska. 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 Kalkaska

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 38% of the $3,795 monthly median income of Kalkaska 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 Kalkaska: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Kalkaska?

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 38% of the $3,795 monthly median income of Kalkaska 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 Kalkaska

More senior care near Kalkaska

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Kalkaska

More for Kalkaska 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 Kalkaska, MI