Hospice Support in Palmer Town, MA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Palmer Town, MA: the local picture

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Palmer Town ZIP codes

255

residents 85 or older (2.1% of all residents)

33%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (33% in Hampden County)

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Hampden County)

Medicare lists 10 hospices whose service area includes Palmer Town ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Beacon Hospice, An Amyedisys Company in Springfield (11 mi) and Legacy Lifecare Home Health And Hospice Care- West in Longmeadow (16 mi).

852 Palmer Town residents 65 or older live alone (33% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Palmer Town compared with Hampden County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Palmer Town	Hampden County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.3%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	33%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	35%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.6%	9.3%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	21%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	15%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,681	$48,894	—

Older residents in towns around Palmer Town

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Ware, MA	5.2 mi	1,106	31%
Wilbraham, MA	7.8 mi	1,345	28%
North Brookfield, MA	13 mi	370	16%
Springfield, MA	13 mi	20,464	37%
Chicopee, MA	14 mi	10,770	42%
Stafford Springs, CT	15 mi	1,126	38%

Hospices serving Palmer Town

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beacon Hospice, An Amyedisys Company	Springfield, MA	11 mi	(413) 205-1229
Legacy Lifecare Home Health And Hospice Care- West	Longmeadow, MA	16 mi	(978) 471-5146
Overlook Hospice Services	Charlton, MA	18 mi	(508) 765-1515
Baystate Hospice	West Springfield, MA	18 mi	(413) 794-6411
Compassus - Greater Boston	Northampton, MA	19 mi	(508) 845-2379
Compassus - Greater Western Massachusetts	Auburn, MA	24 mi	(508) 845-2379

Straight-line miles from the center of Palmer Town. 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 Palmer Town

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 42% of the $4,057 monthly median income of Palmer Town 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 Palmer Town: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Palmer Town?

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 42% of the $4,057 monthly median income of Palmer Town 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 Palmer Town

More senior care near Palmer Town

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Palmer Town

More for Palmer Town 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 Palmer Town, MA