Hospice Support in Storm Lake, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Storm Lake, IA: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Storm Lake ZIP codes

295

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

24%

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Buena Vista County)

Medicare lists 6 hospices whose service area includes Storm Lake ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Cherokee Regional Hospice in Cherokee (20 mi) and Gentiva in Carroll (43 mi).

318 Storm Lake residents 65 or older live alone (24% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Storm Lake compared with Buena Vista County and Iowa

Census figure	Storm Lake	Buena Vista County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.7%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	23%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	0.6%	2.3%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	13%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.9%	5.7%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,494	$53,036	—

Older residents in towns around Storm Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Cherokee, IA	20 mi	1,189	45%
Spencer, IA	35 mi	2,495	37%
Emmetsburg, IA	42 mi	934	47%
Carroll, IA	43 mi	2,456	34%
Denison, IA	44 mi	1,109	37%
Milford, IA	48 mi	802	24%

Hospices serving Storm Lake

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Cherokee Regional Hospice	Cherokee, IA	20 mi	(712) 225-6459
Gentiva	Carroll, IA	43 mi	(712) 792-2191
Unitypoint Hospice	Fort Dodge, IA	53 mi	(515) 574-6420
St Croix Hospice	Spirit Lake, IA	54 mi	(712) 264-5674
Care Initiatives Hospice - Sioux City	Sioux City, IA	60 mi	(712) 239-1226
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, IA	140 mi	(319) 232-6148

Straight-line miles from the center of Storm 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 Storm 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 46% of the $3,291 monthly median income of Storm 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 Storm Lake: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Storm 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 46% of the $3,291 monthly median income of Storm 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 Storm Lake

More senior care near Storm Lake

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Storm Lake

More for Storm 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 Storm Lake, IA