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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Tacoma, WA: the local picture

3,682

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

33,418

residents 65 or older (15% of Tacoma)

38%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Tacoma has about 3,682 residents aged 85 or older among 33,418 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.

38% 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.

30% of older Tacoma 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.

Tacoma compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Tacoma	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.5%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	15%	15%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	25%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	19%	16%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,212	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Tacoma

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Fircrest, WA	3.0 mi	1,314	206
University Place, WA	4.8 mi	6,796	720
Fife, WA	5.3 mi	790	91
Waller, WA	5.4 mi	1,331	152
Midland, WA	5.9 mi	1,223	107
Wollochet, WA	5.9 mi	1,739	206

Nursing homes near Tacoma

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Park Rose Care Center	Tacoma, WA	1.6 mi	2 of 5	139	(253) 752-5677
Avamere At Pacific Ridge	Tacoma, WA	2.3 mi	2 of 5	102	(253) 475-2507
Avamere Transitional Care Of Puget Sound	Tacoma, WA	2.8 mi	4 of 5	60	(253) 671-7300
Eliseo	Tacoma, WA	2.9 mi	3 of 5	187	(253) 752-7112
Orchard Park Health Care & Rehab Center	Tacoma, WA	3.3 mi	1 of 5	147	(253) 475-4611
Alaska Gardens Health And Rehabilitation	Tacoma, WA	3.6 mi	1 of 5	123	(253) 476-5300

Hospices serving Tacoma

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bristol Hospice - Pierce, LLC	Tacoma, WA	0.3 mi	(253) 215-9461
Envision Hospice	Tacoma, WA	0.3 mi	(360) 350-4875
Multicare Hospice	Tacoma, WA	0.9 mi	(253) 301-6400
Pnw Hospice LLC	Tacoma, WA	0.9 mi	(253) 301-6490

Straight-line miles from the center of Tacoma. 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 Tacoma

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 40% of the $5,018 monthly median income of Tacoma 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 Tacoma: common questions

What nursing homes are near Tacoma?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Park Rose Care Center in Tacoma (1.6 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Avamere At Pacific Ridge in Tacoma (2.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Avamere Transitional Care Of Puget Sound in Tacoma (2.8 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Tacoma?

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 40% of the $5,018 monthly median income of Tacoma 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 Tacoma

More senior care near Tacoma

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tacoma

More for Tacoma 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 Tacoma, WA