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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Friday Harbor, WA: the local picture

84

residents 85 or older (3.1% of all residents)

537

residents 65 or older (20% of Friday Harbor)

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (21% in San Juan County)

1

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Friday Harbor has about 84 residents aged 85 or older among 537 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.

26% of residents 65 and older report a disability (21% in San Juan County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

44% of older Friday Harbor 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.

Friday Harbor compared with San Juan County and Washington

Census figure	Friday Harbor	San Juan County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.8%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	20%	36%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	21%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	24%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	8.6%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	9.5%	6.8%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,000	$75,313	—

Older residents in towns around Friday Harbor

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Anacortes, WA	18 mi	5,751	669
Oak Harbor, WA	24 mi	3,118	589
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	28 mi	836	41
Bellingham, WA	29 mi	15,407	1,758
Ferndale, WA	29 mi	2,516	268
Birch Bay, WA	30 mi	2,626	198

Nursing homes near Friday Harbor

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Soundview Rehabilitation And Health Care Inc	Anacortes, WA	19 mi	2 of 5	44	(360) 293-3174

Hospices serving Friday Harbor

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of The Northwest	Mount Vernon, WA	38 mi	(360) 814-5550

Straight-line miles from the center of Friday Harbor. 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 Friday Harbor

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 $4,417 monthly median income of Friday Harbor 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 Friday Harbor: common questions

What nursing homes are near Friday Harbor?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Soundview Rehabilitation And Health Care Inc in Anacortes (19 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Friday Harbor?

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 $4,417 monthly median income of Friday Harbor 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 Friday Harbor

More senior care near Friday Harbor

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Friday Harbor

More for Friday Harbor 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 Friday Harbor, WA