Hospice Support in Maine, WI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Maine, WI: the local picture

0

Medicare-certified hospices serve Maine ZIP codes

61

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

21%

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

17%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Marathon County)

107 Maine residents 65 or older live alone (21% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Maine compared with Marathon County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Maine	Marathon County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	21%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	17%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	0.6%	6.4%	5.3%
Residents 65 or older	20%	19%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.8%	9.2%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,500	$53,258	—

Older residents in towns around Maine

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Wausau, WI	6.9 mi	7,741	38%
Merrill, WI	8.5 mi	2,041	35%
Rib Mountain, WI	11 mi	1,821	19%
Rothschild, WI	13 mi	999	33%
Weston, WI	13 mi	3,060	29%
Kronenwetter, WI	17 mi	1,040	24%

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 Maine

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,375 monthly median income of Maine households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Maine: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Maine?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,375 monthly median income of Maine households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Maine

More senior care near Maine

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Maine

More for Maine 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 Maine, WI