Hospice Support in New Bedford, MA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in New Bedford, MA: the local picture

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve New Bedford ZIP codes

1,946

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

41%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in Bristol County)

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Bristol County)

Medicare lists 14 hospices whose service area includes New Bedford ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Community Nurse Home Care, Inc in Fairhaven (2.9 mi) and Hospice And Palliative Care in Fairhaven (2.9 mi).

5,962 New Bedford residents 65 or older live alone (41% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

New Bedford compared with Bristol County and Massachusetts

Census figure	New Bedford	Bristol County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	2.1%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	30%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	10%	8.2%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	11%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,345	$54,856	—

Older residents in towns around New Bedford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Acushnet Center, MA	2.3 mi	816	28%
Smith Mills, MA	3.3 mi	976	40%
Bliss Corner, MA	3.9 mi	1,499	27%
Mattapoisett Center, MA	7.2 mi	719	43%
North Westport, MA	9.0 mi	861	27%
Fall River, MA	9.2 mi	15,169	37%

Hospices serving New Bedford

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Community Nurse Home Care, Inc	Fairhaven, MA	2.9 mi	(508) 992-6278
Hospice And Palliative Care	Fairhaven, MA	2.9 mi	(508) 973-3200
Accentcare Hospice Of Massachusetts	Fall River, MA	10 mi	(508) 235-5312
Bristol Hospice LLC	Fall River, MA	10 mi	(774) 379-7232
Continuum Care Of Mass, LLC	Fall River, MA	10 mi	(434) 977-9715
Hospice Services Of Massachusetts	Lakeville, MA	12 mi	(508) 291-0049

Straight-line miles from the center of New Bedford. 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 New Bedford

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $3,279 monthly median income of New Bedford households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 New Bedford: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in New Bedford?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 52% of the $3,279 monthly median income of New Bedford households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 New Bedford

More senior care near New Bedford

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in New Bedford

More for New Bedford 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 New Bedford, MA