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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Fox Island, WA: the local picture

47

residents 85 or older (1.4% of all residents)

937

residents 65 or older (27% of Fox Island)

20%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Pierce County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Fox Island has about 47 residents aged 85 or older among 937 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.

20% of residents 65 and older report a disability (36% in Pierce County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

13% of older Fox Island 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.

Fox Island compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Fox Island	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.5%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	27%	15%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	13%	25%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	1.1%	8.8%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.2%	16%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$99,559	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Fox Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Artondale, WA	3.2 mi	2,682	129
Wollochet, WA	3.7 mi	1,739	206
University Place, WA	5.5 mi	6,796	720
Rosedale, WA	5.8 mi	663	28
Gig Harbor, WA	6.0 mi	3,799	575
Longbranch, WA	6.1 mi	1,236	40

Nursing homes near Fox Island

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Gig Harbor Health And Rehabilitation	Gig Harbor, WA	4.3 mi	2 of 5	120	(253) 858-8688
Cottesmore Of Life Care	Gig Harbor, WA	4.5 mi	5 of 5	108	(253) 851-5433
Eliseo	Tacoma, WA	5.9 mi	3 of 5	187	(253) 752-7112
Avamere Transitional Care Of Puget Sound	Tacoma, WA	5.9 mi	4 of 5	60	(253) 671-7300
Agility Health And Rehabilitation	University Place, WA	6.5 mi	3 of 5	120	(253) 566-7166
Park Rose Care Center	Tacoma, WA	7.4 mi	2 of 5	139	(253) 752-5677

Hospices serving Fox Island

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Franciscan Hospice	University Place, WA	5.4 mi	(253) 534-7000
Envision Hospice	Tacoma, WA	8.6 mi	(360) 350-4875
Multicare Hospice	Tacoma, WA	9.7 mi	(253) 301-6400
Kaiser Permanente Washington Hospice	Seattle, WA	31 mi	(206) 326-4545

Straight-line miles from the center of Fox Island. 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 Fox Island

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 24% of the $8,297 monthly median income of Fox Island 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 Fox Island: common questions

What nursing homes are near Fox Island?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Gig Harbor Health And Rehabilitation in Gig Harbor (4.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Cottesmore Of Life Care in Gig Harbor (4.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Eliseo in Tacoma (5.9 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Fox Island?

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 24% of the $8,297 monthly median income of Fox Island 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 Fox Island

More senior care near Fox Island

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fox Island

More for Fox Island 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 Fox Island, WA