In-Home Hospice Support in North Merritt Island, FL

Local figures

Hospice Support in North Merritt Island, FL: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve North Merritt Island ZIP codes

404

residents 85 or older (4.5% of all residents)

24%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (26% in Brevard County)

35%

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

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes North Merritt Island ZIP codes, the nearest offices being St. Francis Hospice in Titusville (9.9 mi) and Mederi Caretenders Hospice in Viera (18 mi).

614 North Merritt Island 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.

North Merritt Island compared with Brevard County and Florida

Census figure	North Merritt Island	Brevard County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	4.5%	3.0%	2.6%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	26%	25%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	6.8%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	28%	24%	21%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.0%	8.1%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$79,667	$58,980	—

Older residents in towns around North Merritt Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Sharpes, FL	3.2 mi	607	18%
Port St. John, FL	6.0 mi	4,405	19%
Cocoa, FL	6.6 mi	4,259	37%
Cocoa West, FL	7.9 mi	859	30%
Cape Canaveral, FL	8.1 mi	3,590	35%
Rockledge, FL	9.8 mi	7,233	27%

Hospices serving North Merritt Island

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St. Francis Hospice	Titusville, FL	9.9 mi	(321) 269-4240
Mederi Caretenders Hospice	Viera, FL	18 mi	(321) 253-2222
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	23 mi	(321) 751-6671
Hospice Of Health First Inc	West Melbourne, FL	27 mi	(321) 434-1744
Amedisys Hospice Of Brevard	Melbourne, FL	28 mi	(321) 549-0275
Hospice Of Lake & Sumter Inc	Tavares, FL	66 mi	(352) 343-1341

Straight-line miles from the center of North Merritt Island. 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 North Merritt Island

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,639 monthly median income of North Merritt Island households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 North Merritt Island: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in North Merritt Island?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,639 monthly median income of North Merritt Island households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 North Merritt Island

More senior care near North Merritt Island

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in North Merritt Island

More for North Merritt Island 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.