Hospice Support in Wasco, CA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Wasco, CA: the local picture

32

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wasco ZIP codes

78

residents 85 or older (0.3% of all residents)

28%

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

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kern County)

Medicare lists 32 hospices whose service area includes Wasco ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Aasta Hospice in Bakersfield (24 mi) and Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of California in Bakersfield (24 mi).

467 Wasco residents 65 or older live alone (28% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Wasco compared with Kern County and California

Census figure	Wasco	Kern County	California
Residents 85 or older	0.3%	1.2%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	23%	23%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.8%	9.3%	9.3%
Residents 65 or older	6.4%	12%	16%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	15%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$24,773	$51,607	—

Older residents in towns around Wasco

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
McFarland, CA	9.2 mi	1,028	19%
Shafter, CA	12 mi	1,590	27%
Delano, CA	13 mi	5,598	14%
Rosedale, CA	17 mi	2,538	20%
Greenacres, CA	20 mi	785	17%
Earlimart, CA	21 mi	695	19%

Hospices serving Wasco

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Aasta Hospice	Bakersfield, CA	24 mi	(661) 523-3686
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of California	Bakersfield, CA	24 mi	(714) 921-2273
Bakersfield Community Hospice, Inc	Bakersfield, CA	24 mi	(661) 327-9800
Solace Hospice Care Inc	Bakersfield, CA	24 mi	(661) 843-7643
Gentiva	Bakersfield, CA	25 mi	(661) 324-1232
Bristol Hospice - Bakersfield	Bakersfield, CA	25 mi	(661) 716-4000

Straight-line miles from the center of Wasco. 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 Wasco

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 71% of the $2,064 monthly median income of Wasco households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Wasco: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Wasco?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 71% of the $2,064 monthly median income of Wasco households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 Wasco

More senior care near Wasco

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Wasco

More for Wasco 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 Wasco, CA