Hospice Support in Rock Falls, IL: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Rock Falls, IL: the local picture

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Rock Falls ZIP codes

207

residents 85 or older (2.4% of all residents)

39%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Whiteside County)

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Whiteside County)

Medicare lists 8 hospices whose service area includes Rock Falls ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Rock River Hospice And Home in Sterling (2.4 mi) and Gaffey Home Nursing & Hospice, Inc in Sterling (2.4 mi).

643 Rock Falls 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.

Rock Falls compared with Whiteside County and Illinois

Census figure	Rock Falls	Whiteside County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.7%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	34%	32%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.9%	6.5%	6.9%
Residents 65 or older	20%	22%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	8.9%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,662	$51,622	—

Older residents in towns around Rock Falls

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Sterling, IL	1.9 mi	3,219	42%
Dixon, IL	12 mi	2,967	47%
Morrison, IL	14 mi	813	30%
Mount Morris, IL	23 mi	897	49%
Fulton, IL	25 mi	826	31%
Oregon, IL	25 mi	877	50%

Hospices serving Rock Falls

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Rock River Hospice And Home	Sterling, IL	2.4 mi	(815) 288-3673
Gaffey Home Nursing & Hospice, Inc	Sterling, IL	2.4 mi	(815) 626-3467
Serenity Hospice And Home	Oregon, IL	24 mi	(815) 732-2499
In-Home Care Connection Hospice Services	Princeton, IL	32 mi	(815) 993-5374
Unity Hospice Of Western Illinois	Rochelle, IL	34 mi	(815) 561-8866
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Illinois	Peru, IL	42 mi	(815) 220-0021

Straight-line miles from the center of Rock Falls. 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 Rock Falls

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $3,222 monthly median income of Rock Falls households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 Rock Falls: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Rock Falls?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $3,222 monthly median income of Rock Falls households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 Rock Falls

More senior care near Rock Falls

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Rock Falls

More for Rock Falls 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 Rock Falls, IL