Hospice Support in Portales, NM: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Portales, NM: the local picture

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Portales ZIP codes

156

residents 85 or older (1.3% of all residents)

46%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (35% in Roosevelt County)

55%

of residents 65+ report a disability (48% in Roosevelt County)

Medicare lists 4 hospices whose service area includes Portales ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Excelacare Hospice in Clovis (18 mi) and Plains Regional Medical Center Hospice in Clovis (18 mi).

635 Portales residents 65 or older live alone (46% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Portales compared with Roosevelt County and New Mexico

Census figure	Portales	Roosevelt County	New Mexico
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	2.1%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	35%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	55%	48%	38%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.0%	5.6%	8.0%
Residents 65 or older	12%	15%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	26%	19%	13%

Older residents in towns around Portales

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Clovis, NM	20 mi	4,888	36%
Muleshoe, TX	36 mi	1,113	27%
Friona, TX	48 mi	875	11%
Littlefield, TX	61 mi	885	35%
Dimmitt, TX	65 mi	816	24%

Hospices serving Portales

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Excelacare Hospice	Clovis, NM	18 mi	(575) 763-9728
Plains Regional Medical Center Hospice	Clovis, NM	18 mi	(575) 769-7399
Family Hospice Ltd Dba Gentiva	Hobbs, NM	101 mi	(575) 392-2060
Compassus Hospice Albuquerque South	Albuquerque, NM	195 mi	(505) 881-5342

Straight-line miles from the center of Portales. 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 Portales

At the New Mexico median aide wage of $13.71 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,188 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Mexico's minimum wage is $12.00 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 Portales: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Portales?

At the New Mexico median aide wage of $13.71 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,188 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Mexico's minimum wage is $12.00 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 Portales

More senior care near Portales

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Portales

More for Portales 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 Portales, NM