Hospice Support in Southside, AR: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Southside, AR: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Southside ZIP codes

97

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

20%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Independence County)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Independence County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Southside ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Arkansas Hospice Inc in Batesville (4.3 mi) and Caring Hands Hospice, Inc in Batesville (4.3 mi).

121 Southside residents 65 or older live alone (20% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Southside compared with Independence County and Arkansas

Census figure	Southside	Independence County	Arkansas
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.1%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	40%	40%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	9.7%	9.2%	8.5%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,083	$45,653	—

Older residents in towns around Southside

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Batesville, AR	3.4 mi	1,802	41%
Newport, AR	23 mi	1,488	28%
Heber Springs, AR	27 mi	1,764	38%
Bald Knob, AR	28 mi	400	49%
Mountain View, AR	29 mi	939	37%
Searcy, AR	34 mi	3,936	28%

Hospices serving Southside

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Arkansas Hospice Inc	Batesville, AR	4.3 mi	(501) 748-3333
Caring Hands Hospice, Inc	Batesville, AR	4.3 mi	(870) 698-0505
Gentiva	Batesville, AR	4.3 mi	(870) 376-5571
Elite Hospice	Searcy, AR	33 mi	(501) 279-2048
Legacy Hospice Of North Arkansas	Salem, AR	47 mi	(870) 895-2651
Hospice Home Care LLC	Little Rock, AR	81 mi	(501) 296-9043

Straight-line miles from the center of Southside. 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 Southside

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $3,840 monthly median income of Southside households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Southside: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Southside?

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $3,840 monthly median income of Southside households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Southside

More senior care near Southside

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Southside

More for Southside 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 Southside, AR