Hospice Support in Portsmouth, NH: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Portsmouth, NH: the local picture

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Portsmouth ZIP codes

592

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

32%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (24% in Rockingham County)

29%

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

Medicare lists 8 hospices whose service area includes Portsmouth ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company in Portsmouth (1.5 mi) and Beth Israel Lahey Health At Home in Exeter (10 mi).

1,493 Portsmouth residents 65 or older live alone (32% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Portsmouth compared with Rockingham County and New Hampshire

Census figure	Portsmouth	Rockingham County	New Hampshire
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	24%	27%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	26%	28%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.5%	3.9%	5.0%
Residents 65 or older	22%	20%	20%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.8%	6.0%	7.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$73,426	$75,258	—

Older residents in towns around Portsmouth

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Kittery, ME	2.9 mi	1,402	38%
South Eliot, ME	5.2 mi	1,380	16%
Newmarket, NH	8.2 mi	756	38%
Hampton, NH	8.4 mi	2,720	34%
York Harbor, ME	8.8 mi	981	27%
Durham, NH	9.2 mi	802	25%

Hospices serving Portsmouth

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Portsmouth, NH	1.5 mi	(603) 433-2480
Beth Israel Lahey Health At Home	Exeter, NH	10 mi	(603) 772-2981
Wentworth Home Care & Hospice, An Amedisys Partner	Somersworth, NH	14 mi	(603) 692-0220
Cornerstone Vna	Rochester, NH	20 mi	(603) 332-1133
Harborside Hospice LLC	Plaistow, NH	22 mi	(800) 331-1044
Brookhaven Hospice Of New Hampshire LLC	Bedford, NH	38 mi	(603) 601-7052

Straight-line miles from the center of Portsmouth. 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 Portsmouth

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,119 monthly median income of Portsmouth households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire'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 Portsmouth: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Portsmouth?

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,119 monthly median income of Portsmouth households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire'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 Portsmouth

More senior care near Portsmouth

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Portsmouth

More for Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth, NH