Hospice Support in Portland, CT: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Portland, CT: the local picture

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Portland ZIP codes

218

residents 85 or older (3.7% of all residents)

39%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region)

47%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region)

Medicare lists 4 hospices whose service area includes Portland ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Middlesex Health Care At Home & Hospice Program in Middletown (2.7 mi) and Hartford Healthcare At Home in East Hartford (14 mi).

415 Portland residents 65 or older live alone (39% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Portland compared with Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region and Connecticut

Census figure	Portland	Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region	Connecticut
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	3.0%	2.4%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	27%	29%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.2%	5.9%	6.5%
Residents 65 or older	19%	22%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.2%	6.3%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,580	$74,885	—

Older residents in towns around Portland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Middletown, CT	2.8 mi	7,932	36%
Lake Pocotopaug, CT	6.3 mi	1,215	40%
East Hampton, CT	7.0 mi	725	31%
Durham, CT	8.2 mi	639	12%
Kensington, CT	8.4 mi	2,471	33%
Glastonbury Center, CT	8.6 mi	2,284	46%

Hospices serving Portland

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Middlesex Health Care At Home & Hospice Program	Middletown, CT	2.7 mi	(860) 358-5600
Hartford Healthcare At Home	East Hartford, CT	14 mi	(860) 249-4862
Athena Home Health & Hospice	Farmington, CT	16 mi	(203) 234-9355
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic	Middlebury, CT	26 mi	(203) 437-3111

Straight-line miles from the center of Portland. 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 Portland

At the Connecticut median aide wage of $18.75 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,625 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $4,465 monthly median income of Portland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Connecticut's minimum wage is $16.94 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 Portland: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Portland?

At the Connecticut median aide wage of $18.75 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,625 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $4,465 monthly median income of Portland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Connecticut's minimum wage is $16.94 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 Portland

More senior care near Portland

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Portland

More for Portland 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 Portland, CT