Hospice Support in Spirit Lake, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Spirit Lake, IA: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Spirit Lake ZIP codes

284

residents 85 or older (5.1% of all residents)

46%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (27% in Dickinson County)

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Dickinson County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Spirit Lake ZIP codes, the nearest offices being St Croix Hospice in Spirit Lake (0.7 mi) and Lakes Regional Healthcare Hospice in Spirit Lake (0.7 mi).

490 Spirit Lake residents 65 or older live alone (46% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Spirit Lake compared with Dickinson County and Iowa

Census figure	Spirit Lake	Dickinson County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	5.1%	3.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	27%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.5%	3.2%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	22%	28%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	6.0%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,228	$66,162	—

Older residents in towns around Spirit Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Milford, IA	5.4 mi	802	24%
Estherville, IA	14 mi	1,332	46%
Jackson, MN	16 mi	714	47%
Spencer, IA	19 mi	2,495	37%
Worthington, MN	28 mi	2,256	27%
Emmetsburg, IA	30 mi	934	47%

Hospices serving Spirit Lake

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice	Spirit Lake, IA	0.7 mi	(712) 264-5674
Lakes Regional Healthcare Hospice	Spirit Lake, IA	0.7 mi	(712) 336-8796
Gentiva	Spirit Lake, IA	0.7 mi	(712) 336-2941
Avera At Home	Estherville, IA	15 mi	(712) 362-2631
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital	Spencer, IA	19 mi	(712) 264-6380
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	140 mi	(515) 218-2143

Straight-line miles from the center of Spirit Lake. 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 Spirit Lake

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 48% of the $3,102 monthly median income of Spirit Lake households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Spirit Lake: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Spirit Lake?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 48% of the $3,102 monthly median income of Spirit Lake households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Spirit Lake

More senior care near Spirit Lake

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Spirit Lake

More for Spirit Lake 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 Spirit Lake, IA