In-Home Hospice Support in Lakeland, GA

Medicare lists 8 hospices whose service area includes Lakeland ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Affinity Hospice in Valdosta (18 mi) and Pruitthealth Hospice-Valdosta in Valdosta (18 mi).

118 Lakeland residents 65 or older live alone (26% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,013 monthly median income of Lakeland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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.