Hospice Support in West Plains, MO: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in West Plains, MO: the local picture

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve West Plains ZIP codes

381

residents 85 or older (3.1% of all residents)

44%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (31% in Howell County)

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Howell County)

Medicare lists 4 hospices whose service area includes West Plains ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Ozarks Healthcare At Home, Hospice in West Plains (0.7 mi) and Hospice Compassus-South Central Missouri in Mountain Grove (37 mi).

926 West Plains residents 65 or older live alone (44% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

West Plains compared with Howell County and Missouri

Census figure	West Plains	Howell County	Missouri
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.0%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	38%	34%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	10%	7.5%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	16%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,188	$36,839	—

Older residents in towns around West Plains

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Mountain View, MO	20 mi	741	33%
Cherokee Village, AR	35 mi	1,626	22%
Mountain Grove, MO	35 mi	1,069	32%
Horseshoe Bend, AR	37 mi	806	32%
Mountain Home, AR	40 mi	4,330	39%
Ava, MO	47 mi	621	32%

Hospices serving West Plains

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Ozarks Healthcare At Home, Hospice	West Plains, MO	0.7 mi	(417) 256-3133
Hospice Compassus-South Central Missouri	Mountain Grove, MO	37 mi	(417) 926-4146
Three Rivers Hospice South	Mountain Grove, MO	37 mi	(417) 926-3373
Alternative Hospice, LLC	Fenton, MO	144 mi	(636) 343-3839

Straight-line miles from the center of West Plains. 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 West Plains

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,266 monthly median income of West Plains households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 West Plains: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in West Plains?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,266 monthly median income of West Plains households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 West Plains

More senior care near West Plains

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in West Plains

More for West Plains 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 West Plains, MO