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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Ellensburg, WA: the local picture

312

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

2,062

residents 65 or older (9.9% of Ellensburg)

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Kittitas County)

2

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Ellensburg has about 312 residents aged 85 or older among 2,062 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.

41% of residents 65 and older report a disability (34% in Kittitas County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

37% of older Ellensburg 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.

Ellensburg compared with Kittitas County and Washington

Census figure	Ellensburg	Kittitas County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.3%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	9.9%	17%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	21%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.8%	5.6%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	11%	7.8%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,969	$66,458	—

Older residents in towns around Ellensburg

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Gleed, WA	24 mi	553	27
Selah, WA	24 mi	1,237	141
Terrace Heights, WA	28 mi	1,892	146
Yakima, WA	28 mi	16,069	2,392
Ahtanum, WA	31 mi	402	18
Union Gap, WA	31 mi	860	37

Nursing homes near Ellensburg

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Mountain View Post Acute	Ellensburg, WA	1.4 mi	2 of 5	74	(509) 925-4171
Yakima Valley School	Selah, WA	24 mi	3 of 5	112	(509) 698-1300

Hospices serving Ellensburg

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Kittitas Valley Home Health & Hospice	Ellensburg, WA	1.6 mi	(509) 962-7438
Assured Hospice	Moses Lake, WA	60 mi	(509) 766-2580
Puget Sound Hospice	Tumwater, WA	110 mi	(253) 581-9410

Straight-line miles from the center of Ellensburg. 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 Ellensburg

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 45% of the $4,414 monthly median income of Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg: common questions

What nursing homes are near Ellensburg?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Mountain View Post Acute in Ellensburg (1.4 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Yakima Valley School in Selah (24 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Ellensburg?

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 45% of the $4,414 monthly median income of Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg

More senior care near Ellensburg

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ellensburg

More for Ellensburg 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 Ellensburg, WA