Hospice Support in Merrick, NY: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Merrick, NY: the local picture

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Merrick ZIP codes

270

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

15%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (20% in Nassau County)

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Nassau County)

Medicare lists 7 hospices whose service area includes Merrick ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Good Shepherd Hospice in Farmingdale (8.3 mi) and Hospice Care Of Long Island, Queens, South Shore in Woodbury (12 mi).

613 Merrick residents 65 or older live alone (15% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Merrick compared with Nassau County and New York

Census figure	Merrick	Nassau County	New York
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	2.6%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	20%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	27%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.2%	6.8%	8.3%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.0%	6.7%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$123,203	$100,301	—

Older residents in towns around Merrick

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Bellmore, NY	1.4 mi	2,428	26%
Freeport, NY	1.7 mi	6,672	24%
Wantagh, NY	2.4 mi	2,921	15%
Roosevelt, NY	2.4 mi	1,965	10%
North Merrick, NY	2.5 mi	2,497	19%
North Bellmore, NY	2.7 mi	3,441	8.3%

Hospices serving Merrick

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Good Shepherd Hospice	Farmingdale, NY	8.3 mi	(631) 465-6300
Hospice Care Of Long Island, Queens, South Shore	Woodbury, NY	12 mi	(516) 832-7100
Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc	East Northport, NY	19 mi	(631) 930-9399
Calvary Home Health Agency And Hospice Care	Bronx, NY	20 mi	(718) 518-2465
Hospice Of New York, LLC	Long Island City, NY	21 mi	(718) 472-1999
M J H S Hospice And Palliative Care, Inc	New York, NY	24 mi	(212) 420-2844

Straight-line miles from the center of Merrick. 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 Merrick

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $10,267 monthly median income of Merrick households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Merrick: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Merrick?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 16% of the $10,267 monthly median income of Merrick households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Merrick

More senior care near Merrick

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Merrick

More for Merrick 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 Merrick, NY