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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Kelso, WA: the local picture

277

residents 85 or older (2.2% of all residents)

2,194

residents 65 or older (17% of Kelso)

45%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Cowlitz County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Kelso has about 277 residents aged 85 or older among 2,194 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.

45% of residents 65 and older report a disability (39% in Cowlitz County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

37% of older Kelso 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.

Kelso compared with Cowlitz County and Washington

Census figure	Kelso	Cowlitz County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.0%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	39%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	29%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	7.6%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.8%	7.9%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,712	$54,222	—

Older residents in towns around Kelso

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Longview, WA	4.2 mi	7,663	978
Lexington, WA	5.2 mi	765	164
Longview Heights, WA	5.4 mi	634	8
Kalama, WA	7.2 mi	590	36
Woodland, WA	15 mi	1,246	45
St. Helens, OR	18 mi	2,253	284

Nursing homes near Kelso

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Frontier Rehabilitation And Extended Care	Longview, WA	2.1 mi	4 of 5	140	(360) 423-8800
Americana Health And Rehabilitation	Longview, WA	2.2 mi	4 of 5	74	(360) 425-5910
Beacon Hill Rehabilitation	Longview, WA	4.2 mi	5 of 5	67	(360) 423-4060
Woodland Convalescent Center	Woodland, WA	16 mi	2 of 5	62	(360) 225-9443
Saint Helens Post Acute	Saint Helens, OR	18 mi	2 of 5	92	(503) 397-2713
Avalon Care Center - Scappoose	Scappoose, OR	25 mi	3 of 5	40	(503) 543-7131

Hospices serving Kelso

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Peacehealth Southwest Hospice	Vancouver, WA	35 mi	(360) 696-5100
Assured Home Health, Hospice & Home Care	Centralia, WA	42 mi	(360) 330-2640
Eden Hospice	Oregon City, OR	56 mi	(971) 256-6642
Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South	Lacey, WA	63 mi	(206) 459-8311

Straight-line miles from the center of Kelso. 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 Kelso

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 44% of the $4,476 monthly median income of Kelso 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 Kelso: common questions

What nursing homes are near Kelso?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Frontier Rehabilitation And Extended Care in Longview (2.1 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Americana Health And Rehabilitation in Longview (2.2 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Beacon Hill Rehabilitation in Longview (4.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Kelso?

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 44% of the $4,476 monthly median income of Kelso 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 Kelso

More senior care near Kelso

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Kelso

More for Kelso 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 Kelso, WA