Home Health Aides in Bellingham, WA: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Bellingham, WA: the local picture

6

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Bellingham ZIP codes in their service area

$22.95

median hourly wage of home care aides in Washington (BLS, May 2025)

15,407

residents 65 or older (16% of Bellingham)

29%

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

6 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Bellingham ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 6 of those list home health aide services. Agency aides are usually part of care a doctor orders. For help beyond those visits, families hire an aide directly.

Home health and personal care aides in Washington earn a median $22.95 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $21.45 and $23.38.

Bellingham has about 15,407 residents aged 65 or older, 29% of whom report a disability.

Bellingham compared with Whatcom County and Washington

Census figure	Bellingham	Whatcom County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	30%	33%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.7%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	29%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	8.5%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	12%	12%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,801	$63,400	—

Older residents in towns around Bellingham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	4.6 mi	836	22%
Sudden Valley, WA	6.1 mi	1,581	23%
Ferndale, WA	8.8 mi	2,516	31%
Everson, WA	12 mi	447	34%
Lynden, WA	14 mi	2,947	35%
Birch Bay, WA	17 mi	2,626	26%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Bellingham

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Alpha Home Health	Everett, WA	61 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 299-1302
Peacehealth Southwest Home Health	Vancouver, WA	215 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 759-1500
Eden Home Health	Bellingham, WA	3.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 734-5410
Peacehealth Home Health Of Whatcom County	Bellingham, WA	0.9 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 788-8143
Signature Healthcare At Home	Bellingham, WA	3.2 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(866) 390-3869
Alpha Home Health, King County	Everett, WA	61 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(206) 452-0058

Straight-line miles from the center of Bellingham. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a home health aide can help with

Bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting
Transfers, walking and positioning
Meals and help with eating
Medication reminders

Cost

What home health aides costs in Bellingham

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 41% of the $4,900 monthly median income of Bellingham 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 home health aide

Federal rules require home health aides who work for Medicare-certified agencies to complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, or pass a competency evaluation (42 CFR 484.80). Many states add their own requirements.

Questions worth asking: Where did you train, and can I see the certificate? Have you worked for a home health agency? Which transfers and equipment are you trained on? More in our home health aides guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Home Health Aides in Bellingham: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Bellingham?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes Bellingham ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Alpha Home Health (5 of 5), Peacehealth Southwest Home Health (4.5 of 5), Eden Home Health (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Bellingham?

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 41% of the $4,900 monthly median income of Bellingham 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).

What is the difference between a home health aide and a CNA?

Both are trained in personal care. A certified nursing assistant (CNA) has passed a state exam and is on the state nurse aide registry, and often works in nursing homes and hospitals. A home health aide is trained for care in the home. Neither does skilled nursing.

More near Bellingham

More senior care near Bellingham

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Bellingham

More for Bellingham 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.

Home Health Aides in Bellingham, WA