Dementia Care in Bellingham, WA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Bellingham, WA: the local picture

1,758

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

15,407

residents 65 or older (16% of Bellingham)

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Whatcom County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Bellingham has about 1,758 residents aged 85 or older among 15,407 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

29% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Whatcom County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

40% of older Bellingham residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

Bellingham compared with Whatcom County and Washington

Census figure	Bellingham	Whatcom County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.7%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	29%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	8.5%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	12%	12%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,801	$63,400	—

Older residents in towns around Bellingham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	4.6 mi	836	41
Sudden Valley, WA	6.1 mi	1,581	149
Ferndale, WA	8.8 mi	2,516	268
Everson, WA	12 mi	447	5
Lynden, WA	14 mi	2,947	504
Birch Bay, WA	17 mi	2,626	198

Nursing homes near Bellingham

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Rock Hill Health & Rehabilitation	Bellingham, WA	0.3 mi	2 of 5	52	(360) 733-9161
Avalon Healthcare Bellingham	Bellingham, WA	1.3 mi	5 of 5	105	(360) 734-6760
Alderwood Park Health And Rehab Of Cascadia	Bellingham, WA	2.3 mi	5 of 5	102	(360) 733-2322
MT Baker Care Center	Bellingham, WA	2.8 mi	5 of 5	70	(360) 734-4181
Highland Health And Rehabilitation Of Cascadia	Bellingham, WA	3.0 mi	3 of 5	44	(360) 734-4800
North Cascades Health And Rehabilitation	Bellingham, WA	4.3 mi	2 of 5	122	(360) 398-1966

Hospices serving Bellingham

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Whatcom Hospice	Bellingham, WA	0.9 mi	(360) 733-5877
Eden Hospice	Bellingham, WA	3.2 mi	(360) 892-6628
Hospice Of The Northwest	Mount Vernon, WA	25 mi	(360) 814-5550
Whidbeyhealth Hospice And Palliative Care	Coupeville, WA	38 mi	(360) 678-7605

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 dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care 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 dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

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

Questions

Dementia Care in Bellingham: common questions

What nursing homes are near Bellingham?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Rock Hill Health & Rehabilitation in Bellingham (0.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Avalon Healthcare Bellingham in Bellingham (1.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Alderwood Park Health And Rehab Of Cascadia in Bellingham (2.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care 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).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near Bellingham

More senior care near Bellingham

Dementia Care 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 Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Bellingham, WA