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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Mercer Island, WA: the local picture

1,233

residents 85 or older (4.9% of all residents)

5,610

residents 65 or older (22% of Mercer Island)

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in King County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Mercer Island has about 1,233 residents aged 85 or older among 5,610 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.

28% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in King County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

22% of older Mercer 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.

Mercer Island compared with King County and Washington

Census figure	Mercer Island	King County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	4.9%	1.7%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	22%	14%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	28%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.3%	9.3%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	26%	31%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$112,679	$76,893	—

Older residents in towns around Mercer Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Newcastle, WA	3.8 mi	2,047	288
Bellevue, WA	4.2 mi	22,404	3,832
Medina, WA	4.4 mi	545	82
Clyde Hill, WA	4.6 mi	715	49
Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA	4.8 mi	3,194	435
Boulevard Park, WA	5.2 mi	519	9

Nursing homes near Mercer Island

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Covenant Shores Health Center	Mercer Island, WA	1.6 mi	5 of 5	43	(206) 316-8042
Kin On Health Care Center	Seattle, WA	2.4 mi	3 of 5	100	(206) 721-3630
Caroline Kline Galland Home	Seattle, WA	2.7 mi	3 of 5	205	(206) 725-8800
Washington Care Center	Seattle, WA	3.3 mi	3 of 5	165	(206) 725-2800
Transitional Care Of Seattle	Seattle, WA	3.9 mi	4 of 5	165	(206) 712-6500
Seattle Medical Post Acute Care	Seattle, WA	4.7 mi	2 of 5	103	(206) 324-8200

Hospices serving Mercer Island

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Kline Galland Hospice Services	Seattle, WA	4.1 mi	(206) 805-1930
Kaiser Permanente Washington Hospice	Seattle, WA	5.5 mi	(206) 326-4545
Providence At Home With Compassus Hospice Care, Puget Sound	Tukwila, WA	6.1 mi	(206) 320-4000
Continuum Care Of King LLC	Tukwila, WA	6.1 mi	(206) 752-1100

Straight-line miles from the center of Mercer 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 Mercer 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 21% of the $9,390 monthly median income of Mercer 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 Mercer Island: common questions

What nursing homes are near Mercer Island?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Covenant Shores Health Center in Mercer Island (1.6 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Kin On Health Care Center in Seattle (2.4 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Caroline Kline Galland Home in Seattle (2.7 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Mercer 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 21% of the $9,390 monthly median income of Mercer 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 Mercer Island

More senior care near Mercer Island

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Mercer Island

More for Mercer 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 Mercer Island, WA