Hospice Support in Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Wisconsin Rapids, WI: the local picture

12

Medicare-certified hospices serve Wisconsin Rapids ZIP codes

928

residents 85 or older (5.0% of all residents)

41%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in Wood County)

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Wood County)

Medicare lists 12 hospices whose service area includes Wisconsin Rapids ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Compassus Wausau in Plover (15 mi) and Heartland Hospice Central Wisconsin in Stevens Point (19 mi).

1,412 Wisconsin Rapids residents 65 or older live alone (41% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Wisconsin Rapids compared with Wood County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Wisconsin Rapids	Wood County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	5.0%	3.2%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	31%	28%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.1%	5.2%	5.3%
Residents 65 or older	20%	22%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	10%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,026	$48,632	—

Older residents in towns around Wisconsin Rapids

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Lake Wazeecha, WI	4.1 mi	814	10%
Plover, WI	15 mi	2,051	33%
Stevens Point, WI	16 mi	3,474	36%
Marshfield, WI	25 mi	4,324	38%
Mosinee, WI	28 mi	689	54%
Kronenwetter, WI	32 mi	1,040	24%

Hospices serving Wisconsin Rapids

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus Wausau	Plover, WI	15 mi	(715) 204-3440
Heartland Hospice Central Wisconsin	Stevens Point, WI	19 mi	(715) 344-4541
Compassus Central Wisconsin	Marshfield, WI	25 mi	(715) 301-7270
Interim Hospice And Palliative Care	Wausau, WI	40 mi	(715) 842-7707
Aspirus At Home	Wausau, WI	40 mi	(715) 847-2424
St Croix Hospice Wausau	Wausau, WI	40 mi	(715) 318-6607

Straight-line miles from the center of Wisconsin Rapids. 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 Wisconsin Rapids

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $3,752 monthly median income of Wisconsin Rapids households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a 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 Wisconsin Rapids: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Wisconsin Rapids?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $3,752 monthly median income of Wisconsin Rapids households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Wisconsin Rapids

More senior care near Wisconsin Rapids

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Wisconsin Rapids

More for Wisconsin Rapids 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 Wisconsin Rapids, WI