Hospice Support in Waycross, GA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Waycross, GA: the local picture

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Waycross ZIP codes

355

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

45%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (35% in Ware County)

49%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Ware County)

Medicare lists 16 hospices whose service area includes Waycross ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Hospice Satilla Of Mem Hosp in Waycross (0.9 mi) and Affinis Hospice in Waycross (0.9 mi).

973 Waycross residents 65 or older live alone (45% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Waycross compared with Ware County and Georgia

Census figure	Waycross	Ware County	Georgia
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.1%	1.4%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	35%	26%
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	40%	34%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	10%	10.0%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	18%	17%	15%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	27%	18%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,232	$39,008	—

Older residents in towns around Waycross

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Blackshear, GA	8.3 mi	727	61%
Alma, GA	24 mi	714	37%
Nicholls, GA	27 mi	263	39%
Folkston, GA	33 mi	528	33%
Douglas, GA	36 mi	1,671	40%
Jesup, GA	38 mi	2,417	25%

Hospices serving Waycross

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Satilla Of Mem Hosp	Waycross, GA	0.9 mi	(912) 285-2340
Affinis Hospice	Waycross, GA	0.9 mi	(912) 590-0121
Hospice Of South Georgia, Inc.	Jesup, GA	39 mi	(912) 588-0080
Coastal Hospice Of Georgia	Brunswick, GA	49 mi	(912) 434-9810
Hearth Hospice Of Brunswick, LLC	Brunswick, GA	49 mi	(912) 574-5882
Hospice Of The Golden Isles	Brunswick, GA	49 mi	(912) 265-4735

Straight-line miles from the center of Waycross. 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 Waycross

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 54% of the $2,269 monthly median income of Waycross households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Waycross: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Waycross?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 54% of the $2,269 monthly median income of Waycross households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Waycross

More senior care near Waycross

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Waycross

More for Waycross 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 Waycross, GA