Hospice Support in Portland, ME: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Portland, ME: the local picture

14

Medicare-certified hospices serve Portland ZIP codes

1,706

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

39%

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

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Cumberland County)

Medicare lists 14 hospices whose service area includes Portland ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company in So Portland (4.3 mi) and Affinity Care Of Maine, LLC in South Portland (4.3 mi).

4,273 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 Cumberland County and Maine

Census figure	Portland	Cumberland County	Maine
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.2%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	30%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	26%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.4%	4.7%	4.8%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	22%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.1%	7.5%	9.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,471	$67,204	—

Older residents in towns around Portland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
South Portland, ME	5.0 mi	5,580	38%
Oak Hill, ME	8.2 mi	1,653	46%
Westbrook, ME	9.8 mi	3,753	41%
Old Orchard Beach, ME	11 mi	3,098	41%
Cumberland Center, ME	12 mi	306	27%
Yarmouth, ME	12 mi	1,221	39%

Hospices serving Portland

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	So Portland, ME	4.3 mi	(207) 772-0929
Affinity Care Of Maine, LLC	South Portland, ME	4.3 mi	(207) 345-6669
Gentiva I	South Portland, ME	4.3 mi	(207) 245-1648
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice	South Portland, ME	4.3 mi	(800) 757-3326
Andwell Health Partners	Scarborough, ME	8.7 mi	(207) 777-7740
Compassus - Greater Maine	Scarborough, ME	8.7 mi	(207) 761-6967

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 Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,873 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. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,873 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. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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, ME