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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Spanaway, WA: the local picture

294

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

3,607

residents 65 or older (11% of Spanaway)

41%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Spanaway has about 294 residents aged 85 or older among 3,607 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.

41% 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.

23% of older Spanaway 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.

Spanaway compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Spanaway	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.5%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	11%	15%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	25%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.7%	8.8%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	24%	16%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$75,833	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Spanaway

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Frederickson, WA	2.9 mi	2,671	175
Parkland, WA	3.1 mi	5,650	511
Clover Creek, WA	3.7 mi	996	67
McChord AFB, WA	4.0 mi	0	0
Summit View, WA	4.3 mi	842	54
Elk Plain, WA	4.7 mi	2,052	67

Nursing homes near Spanaway

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Tacoma Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Tacoma, WA	5.0 mi	5 of 5	150	(253) 581-2514
The Oaks At Lakewood	Tacoma, WA	5.3 mi	5 of 5	80	(253) 581-9002
Avalon Healthcare - Tacoma	Tacoma, WA	6.4 mi	2 of 5	81	(253) 474-8456
Heartwood Extended Healthcare	Tacoma, WA	6.5 mi	1 of 5	120	(253) 472-9027
Alaska Gardens Health And Rehabilitation	Tacoma, WA	7.3 mi	1 of 5	123	(253) 476-5300
Life Care Center Of South Hill	Puyallup, WA	7.9 mi	5 of 5	100	(253) 661-5948

Hospices serving Spanaway

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Pierce County	Tacoma, WA	7.8 mi	(517) 256-0946
Puget Sound Hospice	Tacoma, WA	7.8 mi	(253) 581-9410
Franciscan Hospice	University Place, WA	11 mi	(253) 534-7000
Envision Hospice	Tacoma, WA	11 mi	(360) 350-4875

Straight-line miles from the center of Spanaway. 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 Spanaway

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 31% of the $6,319 monthly median income of Spanaway 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 Spanaway: common questions

What nursing homes are near Spanaway?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Tacoma Nursing And Rehabilitation Center in Tacoma (5.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall); The Oaks At Lakewood in Tacoma (5.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Avalon Healthcare - Tacoma in Tacoma (6.4 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Spanaway?

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 31% of the $6,319 monthly median income of Spanaway 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 Spanaway

More senior care near Spanaway

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Spanaway

More for Spanaway 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 Spanaway, WA