Hospice Support in Osceola, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Osceola, IA: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Osceola ZIP codes

132

residents 85 or older (2.4% of all residents)

35%

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

50%

of residents 65+ report a disability (42% in Clarke County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Osceola ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Care Initiatives Hospice - Greenfield in Greenfield (39 mi) and Wesleylife Hospice in Urbandale (41 mi).

325 Osceola 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.

Osceola compared with Clarke County and Iowa

Census figure	Osceola	Clarke County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.3%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	30%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	50%	42%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	1.6%	1.5%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	9.7%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,405	$50,893	—

Older residents in towns around Osceola

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Winterset, IA	25 mi	1,188	54%
Chariton, IA	25 mi	841	47%
Indianola, IA	25 mi	2,906	42%
Creston, IA	30 mi	1,464	49%
Norwalk, IA	31 mi	2,002	33%
West Des Moines, IA	36 mi	10,723	31%

Hospices serving Osceola

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Care Initiatives Hospice - Greenfield	Greenfield, IA	39 mi	(641) 743-6226
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	41 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	41 mi	(515) 557-3100
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	42 mi	(515) 274-3400
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	49 mi	(515) 276-2700
Care Initiatives Hospice - Albia	Albia, IA	52 mi	(641) 932-3488

Straight-line miles from the center of Osceola. 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 Osceola

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 41% of the $3,700 monthly median income of Osceola 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 Osceola: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Osceola?

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 41% of the $3,700 monthly median income of Osceola 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 Osceola

More senior care near Osceola

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Osceola

More for Osceola 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 Osceola, IA