Hospice Support in Melrose, MA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Melrose, MA: the local picture

15

Medicare-certified hospices serve Melrose ZIP codes

771

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

28%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Middlesex County)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Middlesex County)

Medicare lists 15 hospices whose service area includes Melrose ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Compassionate Care Hospice in Woburn (5.4 mi) and Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company in Charlestown (5.4 mi).

1,690 Melrose residents 65 or older live alone (28% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Melrose compared with Middlesex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Melrose	Middlesex County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.0%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.9%	6.5%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	21%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.6%	9.2%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,929	$78,342	—

Older residents in towns around Melrose

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Malden, MA	1.8 mi	8,581	32%
Stoneham, MA	2.3 mi	4,755	32%
Saugus, MA	2.5 mi	6,337	22%
Wakefield, MA	3.4 mi	5,268	27%
Medford, MA	3.4 mi	9,028	30%
Everett, MA	3.4 mi	5,660	26%

Hospices serving Melrose

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassionate Care Hospice	Woburn, MA	5.4 mi	(781) 935-5550
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Charlestown, MA	5.4 mi	(617) 242-4872
Visiting Nurse & Community Care	Arlington, MA	5.5 mi	(781) 643-6090
All Care Hospice Inc	Lynn, MA	5.7 mi	(781) 586-1608
Beth Israel Lahey Health At Home	Danvers, MA	9.8 mi	(781) 756-2488
Care Dimensions, Inc	Danvers, MA	9.8 mi	(978) 822-3846

Straight-line miles from the center of Melrose. 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 Melrose

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,994 monthly median income of Melrose households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 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 Melrose: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Melrose?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,994 monthly median income of Melrose households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Melrose

More senior care near Melrose

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Melrose

More for Melrose 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 Melrose, MA