Hospice Support in Merrifield, VA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Merrifield, VA: the local picture

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Merrifield ZIP codes

190

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

24%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (22% in Fairfax County)

20%

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

Medicare lists 4 hospices whose service area includes Merrifield ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Capital Hospice in Falls Church (2.5 mi) and Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic in Fairfax (4.9 mi).

424 Merrifield residents 65 or older live alone (24% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Merrifield compared with Fairfax County and Virginia

Census figure	Merrifield	Fairfax County	Virginia
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	22%	27%
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	24%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	9.1%	6.0%	6.7%
Residents 65 or older	8.7%	15%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.8%	5.2%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$101,792	$119,967	—

Older residents in towns around Merrifield

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Dunn Loring, VA	1.6 mi	1,679	12%
Mantua, VA	1.7 mi	1,088	18%
Woodburn, VA	1.7 mi	1,262	19%
Vienna, VA	2.1 mi	2,484	23%
Idylwood, VA	2.3 mi	2,098	31%
West Falls Church, VA	2.8 mi	4,454	15%

Hospices serving Merrifield

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Capital Hospice	Falls Church, VA	2.5 mi	(703) 712-4874
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic	Fairfax, VA	4.9 mi	(703) 270-4300
Blue Ridge Hospice, Inc	Winchester, VA	55 mi	(540) 536-5210
First Choice Hospice	Harrisonburg, VA	89 mi	(540) 434-3916

Straight-line miles from the center of Merrifield. 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 Merrifield

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 15% of the $8,483 monthly median income of Merrifield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Merrifield: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Merrifield?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 15% of the $8,483 monthly median income of Merrifield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Merrifield

More senior care near Merrifield

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Merrifield

More for Merrifield 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 Merrifield, VA