Hospice Support in Merrill, WI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Merrill, WI: the local picture

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Merrill ZIP codes

347

residents 85 or older (3.7% of all residents)

35%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Lincoln County)

35%

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

Medicare lists 11 hospices whose service area includes Merrill ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Interim Hospice And Palliative Care in Wausau (15 mi) and Aspirus At Home in Wausau (15 mi).

662 Merrill residents 65 or older live alone (35% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Merrill compared with Lincoln County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Merrill	Lincoln County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	2.9%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	6.4%	5.3%
Residents 65 or older	22%	24%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	12%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,153	$51,661	—

Older residents in towns around Merrill

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Maine, WI	8.5 mi	519	21%
Wausau, WI	15 mi	7,741	38%
Rib Mountain, WI	20 mi	1,821	19%
Tomahawk, WI	21 mi	659	44%
Weston, WI	21 mi	3,060	29%
Rothschild, WI	22 mi	999	33%

Hospices serving Merrill

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Interim Hospice And Palliative Care	Wausau, WI	15 mi	(715) 842-7707
Aspirus At Home	Wausau, WI	15 mi	(715) 847-2424
St Croix Hospice Wausau	Wausau, WI	15 mi	(715) 318-6607
Le Royer Hospice	Antigo, WI	27 mi	(715) 623-2331
Heartland Hospice Central Wisconsin	Stevens Point, WI	44 mi	(715) 344-4541
Compassus Northern Wisconsin	Arbor Vitae, WI	51 mi	(715) 301-7200

Straight-line miles from the center of Merrill. 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 Merrill

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $3,096 monthly median income of Merrill households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Merrill: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Merrill?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $3,096 monthly median income of Merrill households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Merrill

More senior care near Merrill

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Merrill

More for Merrill 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 Merrill, WI