Hospice Support in Merriam, KS: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Merriam, KS: the local picture

31

Medicare-certified hospices serve Merriam ZIP codes

142

residents 85 or older (1.3% of all residents)

38%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (26% in Johnson County)

23%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Johnson County)

Medicare lists 31 hospices whose service area includes Merriam ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hospice Care Of Vna in Overland Park (2.2 mi) and Phoenix Home Care And Hospice in Overland Park (2.2 mi).

756 Merriam residents 65 or older live alone (38% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Merriam compared with Johnson County and Kansas

Census figure	Merriam	Johnson County	Kansas
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	23%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.9%	4.4%	5.6%
Residents 65 or older	19%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.1%	5.6%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,614	$77,643	—

Older residents in towns around Merriam

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Mission, KS	2.1 mi	1,917	27%
Roeland Park, KS	3.3 mi	1,080	43%
Fairway, KS	3.5 mi	510	40%
Prairie Village, KS	3.8 mi	5,101	31%
Mission Hills, KS	4.1 mi	856	15%
Shawnee, KS	6.0 mi	10,385	26%

Hospices serving Merriam

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Care Of Vna	Overland Park, KS	2.2 mi	(913) 888-4596
Phoenix Home Care And Hospice	Overland Park, KS	2.2 mi	(913) 384-2273
Monarch Hospice & Palliative Care	Shawnee, KS	2.2 mi	(913) 730-8080
Prairie Wind Hospice LLC	Shawnee, KS	2.2 mi	(785) 202-8900
Vitas Innovative Hospice Care	Lenexa, KS	3.9 mi	(913) 722-1631
Harbor Hospice Of Kansas LP	Overland Park, KS	4.2 mi	(913) 291-1883

Straight-line miles from the center of Merriam. 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 Merriam

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,218 monthly median income of Merriam households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 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 Merriam: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Merriam?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,218 monthly median income of Merriam households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Merriam

More senior care near Merriam

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Merriam

More for Merriam 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 Merriam, KS