Hospice Support in Rusk, TX: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Rusk, TX: the local picture

19

Medicare-certified hospices serve Rusk ZIP codes

50

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

21%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (23% in Cherokee County)

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Cherokee County)

Medicare lists 19 hospices whose service area includes Rusk ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Choice Hospice in Tyler (34 mi) and Heritage Hospice Of East Texas in Tyler (34 mi).

90 Rusk residents 65 or older live alone (21% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Rusk compared with Cherokee County and Texas

Census figure	Rusk	Cherokee County	Texas
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.8%	1.4%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	21%	23%	25%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	33%	35%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.3%	7.1%	8.0%
Residents 65 or older	12%	18%	13%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.5%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,313	$47,312	—

Older residents in towns around Rusk

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Jacksonville, TX	13 mi	1,988	30%
Bullard, TX	26 mi	467	11%
Shadybrook, TX	27 mi	540	20%
Palestine, TX	29 mi	2,907	43%
Whitehouse, TX	30 mi	1,031	28%
Nacogdoches, TX	32 mi	4,195	32%

Hospices serving Rusk

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Choice Hospice	Tyler, TX	34 mi	(903) 509-3015
Heritage Hospice Of East Texas	Tyler, TX	34 mi	(903) 218-6870
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Tyler Ltd	Tyler, TX	34 mi	(903) 593-6619
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Lufkin LLC	Lufkin, TX	36 mi	(936) 569-9143
Harbor Hospice 26 LP	Lufkin, TX	36 mi	(936) 632-5700
Enhabit Hospice	Tyler, TX	37 mi	(903) 405-3853

Straight-line miles from the center of Rusk. 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 Rusk

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $3,776 monthly median income of Rusk households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 STAR+PLUS in Texas: using consumer directed services to pay a family caregiver.

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 Rusk: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Rusk?

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $3,776 monthly median income of Rusk households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 Rusk

More senior care near Rusk

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Rusk

More for Rusk 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 Rusk, TX