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

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Kelso, WA: the local picture

4

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

$22.95

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

2,194

residents 65 or older (17% of Kelso)

45%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Cowlitz County)

4 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Kelso ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 3 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.

Kelso has about 2,194 residents aged 65 or older, 45% of whom report a disability.

Kelso compared with Cowlitz County and Washington

Census figure	Kelso	Cowlitz County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	39%	33%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.0%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	29%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	7.6%	8.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.8%	7.9%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,712	$54,222	—

Older residents in towns around Kelso

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Longview, WA	4.2 mi	7,663	41%
Lexington, WA	5.2 mi	765	39%
Longview Heights, WA	5.4 mi	634	18%
Kalama, WA	7.2 mi	590	46%
Woodland, WA	15 mi	1,246	37%
St. Helens, OR	18 mi	2,253	38%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Kelso

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Peacehealth Southwest Home Health	Vancouver, WA	35 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 759-1500
Assured Home Health And Hospice	Centralia, WA	42 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 330-2640
Eden Home Health	Vancouver, WA	31 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 504-0122
Psa Healthcare Certified	Vancouver, WA	32 mi	not rated	nursing, medical social work	(360) 423-6098

Straight-line miles from the center of Kelso. 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 Kelso

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 $4,476 monthly median income of Kelso 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 Kelso: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Kelso?

Medicare lists 4 certified agencies whose service area includes Kelso ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Peacehealth Southwest Home Health (4.5 of 5), Assured Home Health And Hospice (3.5 of 5), Eden Home Health (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Kelso?

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 $4,476 monthly median income of Kelso 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 Kelso

More senior care near Kelso

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Kelso

More for Kelso 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 Kelso, WA