Hospice Support in Merced, CA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Merced, CA: the local picture

21

Medicare-certified hospices serve Merced ZIP codes

964

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

26%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (24% in Merced County)

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Merced County)

Medicare lists 21 hospices whose service area includes Merced ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Bristol Hospice-California, LLC in Merced (0.9 mi) and Covenant Care Hospice in Turlock (24 mi).

2,411 Merced residents 65 or older live alone (26% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Merced compared with Merced County and California

Census figure	Merced	Merced County	California
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	24%	23%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	40%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	12%	9.3%
Residents 65 or older	10%	12%	16%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	16%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,092	$44,830	—

Older residents in towns around Merced

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Franklin, CA	3.3 mi	1,046	17%
McSwain, CA	6.0 mi	564	14%
Atwater, CA	7.4 mi	3,993	28%
Planada, CA	8.7 mi	573	26%
Winton, CA	9.4 mi	1,127	23%
Livingston, CA	15 mi	1,537	19%

Hospices serving Merced

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bristol Hospice-California, LLC	Merced, CA	0.9 mi	(209) 384-1415
Covenant Care Hospice	Turlock, CA	24 mi	(209) 664-2550
Progressive Hospice Care	Modesto, CA	36 mi	(209) 505-1035
Global Hospice And Pallative Care, Inc	Modesto, CA	36 mi	(310) 784-0422
Community Hospice, Inc - Hospice	Modesto, CA	41 mi	(209) 578-6300
Seva Hospice, Inc	Salida, CA	43 mi	(209) 846-9488

Straight-line miles from the center of Merced. 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 Merced

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 40% of the $3,674 monthly median income of Merced 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 Merced: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Merced?

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 40% of the $3,674 monthly median income of Merced 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 Merced

More senior care near Merced

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Merced

More for Merced 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 Merced, CA