Hospice Support in Laurel, MS: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Laurel, MS: the local picture

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Laurel ZIP codes

469

residents 85 or older (2.7% of all residents)

36%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (27% in Jones County)

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (45% in Jones County)

Medicare lists 19 hospices whose service area includes Laurel ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Comfortcare Hospice in Laurel (1.4 mi) and Deaconess Hospice in Laurel (1.4 mi).

797 Laurel residents 65 or older live alone (36% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Laurel compared with Jones County and Mississippi

Census figure	Laurel	Jones County	Mississippi
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.4%	1.7%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	45%	41%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	9.7%	8.8%
Residents 65 or older	14%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	12%	15%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,036	$36,332	—

Older residents in towns around Laurel

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Ellisville, MS	7.4 mi	850	41%
Petal, MS	24 mi	1,713	26%
Hattiesburg, MS	28 mi	6,399	33%
West Hattiesburg, MS	30 mi	709	27%
Waynesboro, MS	30 mi	850	50%
Magee, MS	37 mi	514	41%

Hospices serving Laurel

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Comfortcare Hospice	Laurel, MS	1.4 mi	(601) 422-0054
Deaconess Hospice	Laurel, MS	1.4 mi	(601) 261-4010
Heart Of Hospice, LLC - Southern	Hattiesburg, MS	28 mi	(601) 714-1221
Homecare Hospice South, LLC Dba Legacy Hospice Of The South	Hattiesburg, MS	28 mi	(601) 909-6105
Compassus-Hattiesburg	Hattiesburg, MS	28 mi	(601) 705-0360
Wayne General Hospice	Waynesboro, MS	28 mi	(601) 735-7133

Straight-line miles from the center of Laurel. 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 Laurel

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $4,003 monthly median income of Laurel households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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.

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 Laurel: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Laurel?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $4,003 monthly median income of Laurel households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Laurel

More senior care near Laurel

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Laurel

More for Laurel 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 Laurel, MS