Hospice Support in Osage, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Osage, IA: the local picture

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Osage ZIP codes

108

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

28%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Mitchell County)

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Mitchell County)

Medicare lists 4 hospices whose service area includes Osage ZIP codes, the nearest offices being St Croix Hospice in Charles City (16 mi) and Mercyone North Iowa Hospice in Mason City (21 mi).

228 Osage residents 65 or older live alone (28% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Osage compared with Mitchell County and Iowa

Census figure	Osage	Mitchell County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	3.0%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	10%	6.6%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	25%	22%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.6%	12%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,200	$50,551	—

Older residents in towns around Osage

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Charles City, IA	17 mi	1,702	41%
Mason City, IA	22 mi	6,215	33%
Austin, MN	28 mi	4,489	29%
New Hampton, IA	30 mi	695	39%
Clear Lake, IA	30 mi	2,089	22%
Cresco, IA	35 mi	828	22%

Hospices serving Osage

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice	Charles City, IA	16 mi	(641) 394-2700
Mercyone North Iowa Hospice	Mason City, IA	21 mi	(641) 428-6268
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, IA	56 mi	(319) 232-6148
Lee County Health Department	Fort Madison, IA	198 mi	(319) 372-5225

Straight-line miles from the center of Osage. 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 Osage

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,517 monthly median income of Osage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 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 Osage: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Osage?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,517 monthly median income of Osage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Osage

More senior care near Osage

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Osage

More for Osage 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 Osage, IA