Hospice Support in Melrose, MN: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Melrose, MN: the local picture

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Melrose ZIP codes

87

residents 85 or older (2.4% of all residents)

57%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in Stearns County)

26%

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

Medicare lists 5 hospices whose service area includes Melrose ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Centracare Hospice in Waite Park (30 mi) and Horizon Public Health in Alexandria (31 mi).

444 Melrose residents 65 or older live alone (57% 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 Stearns County and Minnesota

Census figure	Melrose	Stearns County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	57%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.5%	5.2%	5.4%
Residents 65 or older	23%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	11%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,964	$52,464	—

Older residents in towns around Melrose

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Sauk Centre, MN	7.8 mi	1,171	36%
Albany, MN	13 mi	519	42%
Long Prairie, MN	21 mi	887	23%
Paynesville, MN	21 mi	682	24%
Cold Spring, MN	24 mi	847	54%
St. Joseph, MN	26 mi	787	33%

Hospices serving Melrose

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Centracare Hospice	Waite Park, MN	30 mi	(320) 259-9375
Horizon Public Health	Alexandria, MN	31 mi	(320) 763-6018
Moments Hospice	Saint Cloud, MN	32 mi	(320) 372-4300
St Croix Hospice	St. Cloud, MN	32 mi	(320) 201-5930
St Croix Hospice	Oakdale, MN	102 mi	(651) 735-3656

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 Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 60% of the $2,664 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. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 60% of the $2,664 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. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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, MN