Hospice Support in Wakefield, MA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Wakefield, MA: the local picture

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wakefield ZIP codes

657

residents 85 or older (2.4% of all residents)

27%

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

33%

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

Medicare lists 16 hospices whose service area includes Wakefield ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Compassionate Care Hospice in Woburn (5.0 mi) and All Care Hospice Inc in Lynn (6.7 mi).

1,361 Wakefield 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.

Wakefield compared with Middlesex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Wakefield	Middlesex County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.0%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.1%	6.5%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	19%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.1%	9.2%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$81,979	$78,342	—

Older residents in towns around Wakefield

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Lynnfield, MA	2.4 mi	2,338	21%
Stoneham, MA	2.7 mi	4,755	32%
Reading, MA	3.0 mi	5,289	28%
Melrose, MA	3.4 mi	6,106	28%
Saugus, MA	3.6 mi	6,337	22%
Woburn, MA	4.7 mi	6,588	27%

Hospices serving Wakefield

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassionate Care Hospice	Woburn, MA	5.0 mi	(781) 935-5550
All Care Hospice Inc	Lynn, MA	6.7 mi	(781) 586-1608
Visiting Nurse & Community Care	Arlington, MA	7.5 mi	(781) 643-6090
Care Dimensions, Inc	Danvers, MA	7.6 mi	(978) 822-3846
Beth Israel Lahey Health At Home	Danvers, MA	7.6 mi	(781) 756-2488
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Charlestown, MA	8.7 mi	(617) 242-4872

Straight-line miles from the center of Wakefield. 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 Wakefield

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $6,832 monthly median income of Wakefield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Wakefield: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Wakefield?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $6,832 monthly median income of Wakefield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Wakefield

More senior care near Wakefield

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Wakefield

More for Wakefield 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 Wakefield, MA