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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Wauna, WA: the local picture

52

residents 85 or older (1.1% of all residents)

1,144

residents 65 or older (24% of Wauna)

31%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Wauna has about 52 residents aged 85 or older among 1,144 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.

31% 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.

26% of older Wauna 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.

Wauna compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Wauna	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.5%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	24%	15%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	25%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.4%	8.8%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.8%	16%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,583	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Wauna

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Canterwood, WA	3.2 mi	520	49
Rosedale, WA	3.4 mi	663	28
Gig Harbor, WA	4.5 mi	3,799	575
Maplewood, WA	4.9 mi	1,401	65
Key Center, WA	5.4 mi	712	36
Artondale, WA	5.6 mi	2,682	129

Nursing homes near Wauna

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Heron's Key	Gig Harbor, WA	4.0 mi	5 of 5	30	(253) 313-0800
Gig Harbor Health And Rehabilitation	Gig Harbor, WA	7.1 mi	2 of 5	120	(253) 858-8688
Cottesmore Of Life Care	Gig Harbor, WA	8.5 mi	5 of 5	108	(253) 851-5433
Life Care Center Of Port Orchard	Port Orchard, WA	9.3 mi	5 of 5	125	(360) 876-8035
Avamere Rehabilitation At Ridgemont	Port Orchard, WA	9.3 mi	4 of 5	96	(360) 876-4461
Eliseo	Tacoma, WA	11 mi	3 of 5	187	(253) 752-7112

Hospices serving Wauna

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Franciscan Hospice	University Place, WA	12 mi	(253) 534-7000
Multicare Hospice	Tacoma, WA	14 mi	(253) 301-6400
Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South	Lacey, WA	25 mi	(206) 459-8311
Continuum Care Of Snohomish, LLC	Lynnwood, WA	34 mi	(510) 499-9977

Straight-line miles from the center of Wauna. 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 Wauna

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 $4,549 monthly median income of Wauna 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 Wauna: common questions

What nursing homes are near Wauna?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Heron's Key in Gig Harbor (4.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Gig Harbor Health And Rehabilitation in Gig Harbor (7.1 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Cottesmore Of Life Care in Gig Harbor (8.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Wauna?

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 $4,549 monthly median income of Wauna 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 Wauna

More senior care near Wauna

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wauna

More for Wauna 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 Wauna, WA