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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Des Moines, WA: the local picture

1,068

residents 85 or older (3.3% of all residents)

5,709

residents 65 or older (17% of Des Moines)

36%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Des Moines has about 1,068 residents aged 85 or older among 5,709 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.

36% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in King County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

28% of older Des Moines 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.

Des Moines compared with King County and Washington

Census figure	Des Moines	King County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	3.3%	1.7%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	17%	14%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	28%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.1%	9.3%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	35%	31%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,774	$76,893	—

Older residents in towns around Des Moines

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Normandy Park, WA	3.3 mi	1,423	218
SeaTac, WA	3.9 mi	4,141	416
Lakeland North, WA	3.9 mi	2,417	424
Kent, WA	4.9 mi	16,138	1,496
Federal Way, WA	5.4 mi	14,965	1,696
Burien, WA	6.1 mi	8,213	942

Nursing homes near Des Moines

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Judson Park Health Center	Des Moines, WA	0.1 mi	5 of 5	96	(206) 824-4000
Puget Sound Transitional Care	Des Moines, WA	1.2 mi	2 of 5	165	(206) 824-0600
Wesley Homes Des Moines Health Center	Des Moines, WA	1.3 mi	5 of 5	148	(206) 824-3663
Life Care Center Of Federal Way	Federal Way, WA	4.3 mi	3 of 5	157	(253) 946-2273
Hallmark Manor	Federal Way, WA	5.3 mi	2 of 5	147	(253) 874-3580
Benson Heights Rehabilitation Center	Kent, WA	5.6 mi	3 of 5	91	(253) 852-7755

Hospices serving Des Moines

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Wesley Homes Hospice, LLC	Kent, WA	1.7 mi	(206) 870-1127
Eden Hospice	Tukwila, WA	4.6 mi	(206) 717-8161
Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Puget Sound	Tukwila, WA	7.0 mi	(206) 320-4000
Continuum Care Of King LLC	Tukwila, WA	7.0 mi	(206) 752-1100

Straight-line miles from the center of Des Moines. 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 Des Moines

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 33% of the $5,981 monthly median income of Des Moines 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 Des Moines: common questions

What nursing homes are near Des Moines?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Judson Park Health Center in Des Moines (0.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Puget Sound Transitional Care in Des Moines (1.2 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Wesley Homes Des Moines Health Center in Des Moines (1.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Des Moines?

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 33% of the $5,981 monthly median income of Des Moines 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 Des Moines

More senior care near Des Moines

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Des Moines

More for Des Moines 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 Des Moines, WA