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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Oak Harbor, WA: the local picture

589

residents 85 or older (2.4% of all residents)

3,118

residents 65 or older (13% of Oak Harbor)

39%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Oak Harbor has about 589 residents aged 85 or older among 3,118 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.

39% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Island County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

32% of older Oak 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.

Oak Harbor compared with Island County and Washington

Census figure	Oak Harbor	Island County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.2%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	13%	27%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	23%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.6%	6.4%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	15%	9.4%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,057	$76,740	—

Older residents in towns around Oak Harbor

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Camano, WA	12 mi	5,906	392
Anacortes, WA	13 mi	5,751	669
Stanwood, WA	14 mi	1,360	319
Port Townsend, WA	14 mi	4,551	485
Warm Beach, WA	16 mi	958	207
Mount Vernon, WA	17 mi	6,520	744

Nursing homes near Oak Harbor

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Regency Coupeville Rehab And Nursing Center	Coupeville, WA	5.9 mi	2 of 5	112	(360) 678-2273
Josephine Caring Community	Stanwood, WA	12 mi	5 of 5	160	(360) 629-2126
Life Care Center Of Port Townsend	Port Townsend, WA	14 mi	5 of 5	94	(360) 385-3555
Soundview Rehabilitation And Health Care Inc	Anacortes, WA	14 mi	2 of 5	44	(360) 293-3174
Life Care Center Of Mount Vernon	Mount Vernon, WA	16 mi	1 of 5	121	(360) 424-4258
Mira Vista Care Center	Mount Vernon, WA	17 mi	4 of 5	61	(360) 424-1320

Hospices serving Oak Harbor

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Whidbeyhealth Hospice And Palliative Care	Coupeville, WA	5.7 mi	(360) 678-7605
Hospice Of The Northwest	Mount Vernon, WA	22 mi	(360) 814-5550
Kittitas Valley Home Health & Hospice	Ellensburg, WA	133 mi	(509) 962-7438

Straight-line miles from the center of Oak 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 Oak 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 37% of the $5,338 monthly median income of Oak 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 Oak Harbor: common questions

What nursing homes are near Oak Harbor?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Regency Coupeville Rehab And Nursing Center in Coupeville (5.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Josephine Caring Community in Stanwood (12 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Life Care Center Of Port Townsend in Port Townsend (14 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Oak 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 37% of the $5,338 monthly median income of Oak 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 Oak Harbor

More senior care near Oak Harbor

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Oak Harbor

More for Oak 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 Oak Harbor, WA