Hospice Support in Los Altos, CA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Los Altos, CA: the local picture

27

Medicare-certified hospices serve Los Altos ZIP codes

839

residents 85 or older (2.7% of all residents)

18%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (19% in Santa Clara County)

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Santa Clara County)

Medicare lists 27 hospices whose service area includes Los Altos ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Gold Star Hospice, LLC in Sunnyvale (4.5 mi) and Pathways Home Health And Hospice in Sunnyvale (4.5 mi).

1,088 Los Altos residents 65 or older live alone (18% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Los Altos compared with Santa Clara County and California

Census figure	Los Altos	Santa Clara County	California
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.0%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	18%	19%	23%
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.2%	9.0%	9.3%
Residents 65 or older	21%	15%	16%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.0%	9.4%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$144,952	$92,440	—

Older residents in towns around Los Altos

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Loyola, CA	1.3 mi	806	13%
Los Altos Hills, CA	2.3 mi	2,590	9.0%
Mountain View, CA	2.4 mi	10,012	32%
Palo Alto, CA	3.2 mi	13,369	27%
Sunnyvale, CA	4.0 mi	19,985	21%
Cupertino, CA	4.4 mi	8,923	20%

Hospices serving Los Altos

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gold Star Hospice, LLC	Sunnyvale, CA	4.5 mi	(650) 814-0056
Pathways Home Health And Hospice	Sunnyvale, CA	4.5 mi	(408) 730-5900
Universal Hospice Care LLC	Menlo Park, CA	7.0 mi	(408) 807-1984
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Hospice-Santa Clara	Santa Clara, CA	7.6 mi	(408) 342-6699
Sutter Care At Home	Saratoga, CA	7.8 mi	(408) 559-5600
Prohealth Home Care, Inc	San Jose, CA	9.0 mi	(408) 451-9090

Straight-line miles from the center of Los Altos. 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 Los Altos

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 12% of the $12,079 monthly median income of Los Altos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Los Altos: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Los Altos?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 12% of the $12,079 monthly median income of Los Altos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (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 Los Altos

More senior care near Los Altos

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Los Altos

More for Los Altos 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 Los Altos, CA