Hospice Support in Welch, WV: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Welch, WV: the local picture

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Welch ZIP codes

31

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

59%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in McDowell County)

62%

of residents 65+ report a disability (55% in McDowell County)

Medicare lists 3 hospices whose service area includes Welch ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Amedisys Hospice Of Bluefield in Bluefield (23 mi) and Hospice Compassus - Southern West Virginia in Princeton (26 mi).

192 Welch residents 65 or older live alone (59% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Welch compared with McDowell County and West Virginia

Census figure	Welch	McDowell County	West Virginia
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	2.3%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	59%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	62%	55%	39%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.0%	12%	8.2%
Residents 65 or older	11%	22%	21%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	46%	28%	12%

Older residents in towns around Welch

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Tazewell, VA	21 mi	1,062	44%
Bluefield, VA	22 mi	1,257	26%
Bluefield, WV	24 mi	2,061	30%
Richlands, VA	26 mi	1,295	43%
Princeton, WV	27 mi	1,364	33%
Shady Spring, WV	33 mi	688	20%

Hospices serving Welch

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Amedisys Hospice Of Bluefield	Bluefield, WV	23 mi	(304) 327-0600
Hospice Compassus - Southern West Virginia	Princeton, WV	26 mi	(304) 431-2000
Hospice Of Southern West Virginia, Inc	Beckley, WV	33 mi	(304) 255-6404

Straight-line miles from the center of Welch. 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 Welch

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 West Virginia: ADW and Personal Options.

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 Welch: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Welch?

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 Welch

More senior care near Welch

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Welch

More for Welch 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 Welch, WV