Hospice Support in Tama, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Tama, IA: the local picture

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Tama ZIP codes

76

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

23%

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

19%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Tama County)

Medicare lists 7 hospices whose service area includes Tama ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Iowa River Hospice in Marshalltown (18 mi) and Essence Of Life Hospice in Amana (37 mi).

102 Tama residents 65 or older live alone (23% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Tama compared with Tama County and Iowa

Census figure	Tama	Tama County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	3.3%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	27%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	19%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.2%	3.5%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	16%	21%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	9.6%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$57,574	$51,037	—

Older residents in towns around Tama

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Grinnell, IA	18 mi	2,034	31%
Marshalltown, IA	18 mi	4,563	37%
Marengo, IA	29 mi	577	25%
Grundy Center, IA	29 mi	629	44%
Newton, IA	30 mi	3,381	36%
Vinton, IA	31 mi	1,156	51%

Hospices serving Tama

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Iowa River Hospice	Marshalltown, IA	18 mi	(641) 753-7704
Essence Of Life Hospice	Amana, IA	37 mi	(319) 622-3195
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	46 mi	(319) 362-2500
Hospice Of Mercy	Hiawatha, IA	46 mi	(319) 398-6496
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	62 mi	(515) 218-2143
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	64 mi	(515) 557-3100

Straight-line miles from the center of Tama. 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 Tama

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 31% of the $4,798 monthly median income of Tama 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 Tama: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Tama?

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 31% of the $4,798 monthly median income of Tama 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 Tama

More senior care near Tama

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Tama

More for Tama 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 Tama, IA