Supporting Hospice Caregivers
Family caregivers in New York face an urgent and often invisible crisis. While insurance provides some home health aide hours for patients receiving hospice care, these hours are never enough—typically covering only daytime support and leaving patients alone at night or caregivers to manage without rest.
This gap in coverage creates devastating burdens: approximately 40% of family caregivers experience clinical symptoms of depression, 41% report low overall well-being, and caregivers spend an average of $7,200 annually from their own pockets to cover care-related expenses.[1] When families cannot afford to hire additional private nursing support, both patients and their loved ones suffer. Philanthropic support can provide the critical care that insurance does not cover, ensuring that caregivers receive the respite they desperately need and patients receive continuous, compassionate care.
The Unsung Heroes Facing Overwhelming Burdens
When we think of hospice care, our minds often go to the patients—their physical needs, emotional well-being and peaceful transition. Yet another crucial group whose journey deserves urgent attention is the family caregivers. These dedicated family members and loved ones stand alongside terminally ill patients, offering unwavering support through some of life’s most challenging moments, while their own well-being often goes overlooked.
Family caregivers of loved ones receiving hospice care face immense physical, emotional and financial burdens. They manage daily care tasks, navigate complex medical decisions and grapple with anticipatory grief, all while often neglecting their own needs. This emotional and logistical strain can be overwhelming, leading to burnout and even serious health problems for caregivers themselves.
Why New York Needs Caregiver Support More Than Ever
New York faces unique challenges in end-of-life care. The state has one of the lowest hospice utilization rates in the nation, with only approximately 26% of Medicare decedents receiving hospice care compared to the national average of 49%.[2] This means thousands of New York families caring for seriously ill loved ones do so with even less support than families in other states, often lacking awareness of available hospice services or facing cultural and logistical barriers to access.
How Philanthropic Support Transforms Caregiver Reality
Programs dedicated to supporting hospice caregivers are not luxuries—they are vital lifelines that determine whether families can sustain caregiving without reaching crisis points.
Here is why donor support for caregiver programs matters urgently:
- Improves well-being for caregivers: Medicare and Medicaid provide some home health aide support for hospice patients, but coverage is strictly limited to patient care and is often insufficient to meet family needs. A typical scenario: insurance covers daytime aide hours, but patients are left alone overnight, and family caregivers receive no respite. Private nursing care can cost hundreds of dollars per day—expenses most families cannot afford.
- Provides essential support resources: Programs offering counseling, support groups, respite care and educational resources receive little to no insurance reimbursement but rely on community support to continue. These services empower caregivers to cope with their emotions, navigate challenges and better care for themselves, ultimately preventing burnout and ensuring they can continue their critical role. When caregivers have access to support, they are better equipped to provide compassionate, patient-centered care to their loved ones, creating a more positive and peaceful experience for both the patient and the caregiver.
Turning Compassion into Action
The urgent need for caregiver support creates immediate opportunities for you to make a real difference:
- Donate to support caregiver programs: Not-for-profit hospice organizations like MJHS rely on donations to fund caregiver support programs that insurance does not cover. Even modest contributions make a measurable impact—$250 can provide a full day of additional home health aide support for a family in crisis, $500 can fund multiple weeks of grief counseling sessions, and sustained monthly giving ensures continuous support for caregivers throughout their journey.
- Raise awareness: Talk to your friends and family about the importance of supporting caregivers. If someone you know is caring for a loved one, offer your help and support. Many New Yorkers remain unaware of the severe caregiver crisis affecting their neighbors and communities.
- Advocate for expanded support: Support initiatives that expand access to caregiver resources and financial assistance, recognizing that the current insurance system leaves devastating coverage gaps for families facing serious illness.
Supporting caregivers isn’t just about end-of-life care—it’s about honoring the human journey at its most vulnerable. It’s about checking in on a neighbor, recognizing the quiet strength of caregivers, and investing in caregiver well-being. When caregivers are supported, the hospice journey becomes one of comfort and connection, not just for patients, but for the selfless heroes who stand beside them.
References
[1] Zen Caregiving Project, “Caregiving Statistics US 2025: Insights for Family Caregivers” (October 2025),
[2] Hospice News, “New York Gov. Hochul Vetos Bill Banning For-Profit Hospices” (December 2025),