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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Elma, WA: the local picture

55

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

568

residents 65 or older (16% of Elma)

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Grays Harbor County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Elma has about 55 residents aged 85 or older among 568 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.

42% of residents 65 and older report a disability (40% in Grays Harbor County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

37% of older Elma 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.

Elma compared with Grays Harbor County and Washington

Census figure	Elma	Grays Harbor County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.0%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	16%	23%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	40%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	30%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.1%	10%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	12%	10%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$61,375	$49,629	—

Older residents in towns around Elma

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Montesano, WA	8.3 mi	963	117
Central Park, WA	14 mi	529	20
Aberdeen, WA	19 mi	3,211	433
Shelton, WA	21 mi	1,466	212
Rochester, WA	21 mi	1,061	118
Tumwater, WA	23 mi	4,204	457

Nursing homes near Elma

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Montesano Health-Rehab Center	Montesano, WA	8.5 mi	5 of 5	94	(360) 249-2273
Grays Harbor Health & Rehabilitation Center	Aberdeen, WA	21 mi	4 of 5	105	(360) 532-5122
Fir Lane Care	Shelton, WA	21 mi	2 of 5	135	(360) 426-1651
Shelton Health And Rehabilitation	Shelton, WA	21 mi	2 of 5	76	(360) 427-2575
Pacific Care And Rehabilitation	Hoquiam, WA	21 mi	5 of 5	72	(360) 532-7882
Puget Sound Care	Olympia, WA	22 mi	4 of 5	108	(360) 754-9792

Hospices serving Elma

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Harbors Home Health And Hospice	Hoquiam, WA	22 mi	(360) 532-5454
Puget Sound Hospice	Tumwater, WA	25 mi	(253) 581-9410
Assured Home Health, Hospice & Home Care	Centralia, WA	29 mi	(360) 330-2640
Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South	Lacey, WA	30 mi	(206) 459-8311

Straight-line miles from the center of Elma. 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 Elma

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 39% of the $5,115 monthly median income of Elma 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 Elma: common questions

What nursing homes are near Elma?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Montesano Health-Rehab Center in Montesano (8.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Grays Harbor Health & Rehabilitation Center in Aberdeen (21 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Fir Lane Care in Shelton (21 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Elma?

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 39% of the $5,115 monthly median income of Elma 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 Elma

More senior care near Elma

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Elma

More for Elma 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 Elma, WA