Hospice Support in Shafter, CA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Shafter, CA: the local picture

23

Medicare-certified hospices serve Shafter ZIP codes

197

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

27%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kern County)

Medicare lists 23 hospices whose service area includes Shafter ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Aasta Hospice in Bakersfield (12 mi) and Bakersfield Community Hospice, Inc in Bakersfield (12 mi).

412 Shafter residents 65 or older live alone (27% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Shafter compared with Kern County and California

Census figure	Shafter	Kern County	California
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.2%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	23%	23%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	9.3%	9.3%
Residents 65 or older	7.5%	12%	16%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	15%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,438	$51,607	—

Older residents in towns around Shafter

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Rosedale, CA	6.3 mi	2,538	20%
Greenacres, CA	8.1 mi	785	17%
Oildale, CA	10 mi	4,505	31%
Wasco, CA	12 mi	1,692	28%
Old Stine, CA	13 mi	399	32%
Bakersfield, CA	13 mi	46,672	22%

Hospices serving Shafter

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Aasta Hospice	Bakersfield, CA	12 mi	(661) 523-3686
Bakersfield Community Hospice, Inc	Bakersfield, CA	12 mi	(661) 327-9800
Solace Hospice Care Inc	Bakersfield, CA	12 mi	(661) 843-7643
Gentiva	Bakersfield, CA	13 mi	(661) 324-1232
Lenus Care LLC	Bakersfield, CA	13 mi	(800) 552-6054
Traditions Health	Bakersfield, CA	13 mi	(661) 864-0490

Straight-line miles from the center of Shafter. 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 Shafter

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $3,203 monthly median income of Shafter households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Shafter: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Shafter?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $3,203 monthly median income of Shafter households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 Shafter

More senior care near Shafter

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Shafter

More for Shafter 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 Shafter, CA