Hospice Support in Muscle Shoals, AL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Muscle Shoals, AL: the local picture

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Muscle Shoals ZIP codes

294

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

30%

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

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Colbert County)

Medicare lists 11 hospices whose service area includes Muscle Shoals ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Alabama Hospice Of The Shoals in Tuscumbia (4.7 mi) and Amedisys Hospice Of Florence in Florence (6.2 mi).

878 Muscle Shoals residents 65 or older live alone (30% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Muscle Shoals compared with Colbert County and Alabama

Census figure	Muscle Shoals	Colbert County	Alabama
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.0%	1.7%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	41%	38%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.3%	9.6%	7.9%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	13%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,463	$41,996	—

Older residents in towns around Muscle Shoals

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Sheffield, AL	3.7 mi	2,392	31%
Tuscumbia, AL	4.2 mi	1,963	37%
Florence, AL	6.2 mi	7,294	34%
Underwood-Petersville, AL	9.9 mi	787	49%
Russellville, AL	17 mi	1,593	38%
Moulton, AL	27 mi	967	39%

Hospices serving Muscle Shoals

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Alabama Hospice Of The Shoals	Tuscumbia, AL	4.7 mi	(256) 314-1204
Amedisys Hospice Of Florence	Florence, AL	6.2 mi	(256) 760-7877
Preferred Hospice	Florence, AL	6.2 mi	(256) 767-1322
Compassus-Florence	Florence, AL	12 mi	(256) 757-2414
Aveanna Hospice Of Decatur	Decatur, AL	38 mi	(256) 905-0280
Affinity Hospice Madison	Madison, AL	51 mi	(256) 772-8108

Straight-line miles from the center of Muscle Shoals. 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 Muscle Shoals

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,539 monthly median income of Muscle Shoals households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Muscle Shoals: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Muscle Shoals?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,539 monthly median income of Muscle Shoals households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Muscle Shoals

More senior care near Muscle Shoals

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Muscle Shoals

More for Muscle Shoals 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 Muscle Shoals, AL