Hospice Support in Ottumwa, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Ottumwa, IA: the local picture

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Ottumwa ZIP codes

773

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

31%

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

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Wapello County)

Medicare lists 10 hospices whose service area includes Ottumwa ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Good Samaritan Society Home Care And Hospice in Ottumwa (0.9 mi) and Hospice Inc Serving Davis & Wapello Counties in Ottumwa (0.9 mi).

1,218 Ottumwa residents 65 or older live alone (31% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Ottumwa compared with Wapello County and Iowa

Census figure	Ottumwa	Wapello County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.9%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	40%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.5%	5.6%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.2%	10%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,778	$51,144	—

Older residents in towns around Ottumwa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Bloomfield, IA	19 mi	514	34%
Albia, IA	20 mi	812	43%
Oskaloosa, IA	22 mi	2,347	26%
Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2,519	40%
Centerville, IA	31 mi	1,205	35%
Pella, IA	37 mi	2,017	32%

Hospices serving Ottumwa

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Good Samaritan Society Home Care And Hospice	Ottumwa, IA	0.9 mi	(641) 684-9309
Hospice Inc Serving Davis & Wapello Counties	Ottumwa, IA	0.9 mi	(641) 682-0684
Care Initiatives Hospice - Albia	Albia, IA	19 mi	(641) 932-3488
Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Services	Oskaloosa, IA	22 mi	(641) 672-3140
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	70 mi	(515) 274-3400
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	75 mi	(319) 362-2500

Straight-line miles from the center of Ottumwa. 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 Ottumwa

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 39% of the $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Ottumwa?

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 39% of the $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa

More senior care near Ottumwa

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Ottumwa

More for Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa, IA