Adult Disability Care in Bellingham, WA: In-Home Support

Local figures

Disability Care for Adults in Bellingham, WA: the local picture

13%

of residents aged 18 to 64 have a disability (12% in Whatcom County)

2,739

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

9.5%

of households have no vehicle (6.4% in Whatcom County)

6

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Bellingham ZIP codes in their service area

About 8,077 Bellingham residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (13%; 12% in Whatcom County).

2,739 of them have difficulty doing errands such as shopping or visiting a doctor alone, the kind of help a support caregiver gives.

9.5% of Bellingham households have no vehicle (6.4% in Whatcom County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

Bellingham compared with Whatcom County and Washington

Census figure	Bellingham	Whatcom County	Washington
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	13%	12%	11%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	4.2%	4.1%	4.1%
Households with no vehicle	9.5%	6.4%	7.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	12%	12%	21%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	8.5%	8.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,801	$63,400	—

Older residents in towns around Bellingham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	4.6 mi	836	9.9%
Sudden Valley, WA	6.1 mi	1,581	11%
Ferndale, WA	8.8 mi	2,516	11%
Everson, WA	12 mi	447	6.8%
Lynden, WA	14 mi	2,947	10%
Birch Bay, WA	17 mi	2,626	14%

Home health agencies serving Bellingham

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Alpha Home Health	Everett, WA	61 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 299-1302
Peacehealth Southwest Home Health	Vancouver, WA	215 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 759-1500
Eden Home Health	Bellingham, WA	3.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 734-5410
Peacehealth Home Health Of Whatcom County	Bellingham, WA	0.9 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 788-8143
Signature Healthcare At Home	Bellingham, WA	3.2 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(866) 390-3869

Straight-line miles from the center of Bellingham. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a disability support caregiver can help with

Personal care, on the person’s terms
Cooking, shopping and housekeeping
Getting to work, school, appointments and activities
Keeping routines the person sets

Cost

What disability care for adults costs in Bellingham

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $4,900 monthly median income of Bellingham households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a disability support caregiver

Many state Medicaid programs let adults with disabilities direct their own care: they, or a representative, hire and supervise the caregiver.

Questions worth asking: Have you supported adults with a disability like mine (or my family member’s)? How do you support someone to do things themselves? Can you drive to work, school or day programs? More in our disability care for adults guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Disability Care for Adults in Bellingham: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in Bellingham?

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $4,900 monthly median income of Bellingham households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Can an adult with a disability hire their own caregiver?

Yes. Many state Medicaid programs offer self-direction, where the person or a representative hires and supervises the caregiver. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Washington.

More near Bellingham

More senior care near Bellingham

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in Bellingham

More for Bellingham 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 Support for Adults With Disabilities in Bellingham, WA