Hospice Support in Bellingham, WA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Bellingham, WA: the local picture

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Bellingham ZIP codes

1,758

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

40%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Whatcom County)

29%

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

Medicare lists 5 hospices whose service area includes Bellingham ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Whatcom Hospice in Bellingham (0.9 mi) and Eden Hospice in Bellingham (3.2 mi).

5,957 Bellingham residents 65 or older live alone (40% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Bellingham compared with Whatcom County and Washington

Census figure	Bellingham	Whatcom County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.7%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	29%	26%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.7%	6.6%	7.1%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	8.5%	8.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,801	$63,400	—

Older residents in towns around Bellingham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	4.6 mi	836	30%
Sudden Valley, WA	6.1 mi	1,581	24%
Ferndale, WA	8.8 mi	2,516	20%
Everson, WA	12 mi	447	27%
Lynden, WA	14 mi	2,947	32%
Birch Bay, WA	17 mi	2,626	43%

Hospices serving Bellingham

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Whatcom Hospice	Bellingham, WA	0.9 mi	(360) 733-5877
Eden Hospice	Bellingham, WA	3.2 mi	(360) 892-6628
Hospice Of The Northwest	Mount Vernon, WA	25 mi	(360) 814-5550
Whidbeyhealth Hospice And Palliative Care	Coupeville, WA	38 mi	(360) 678-7605
Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South	Lacey, WA	120 mi	(206) 459-8311

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 caregiver for hospice support can help with

Comfort, company and a calm presence
Gentle personal care and repositioning
Small meals and fluids as the person wants
Telling the hospice nurse about changes

Cost

What hospice support 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 caregiver for hospice support

Under Medicare, hospice is for someone whose doctors certify a life expectancy of six months or less and who chooses comfort care instead of treatment to cure the illness. Medicare does not cover room and board for hospice care at home (Medicare.gov).

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone at the end of life? How do you work with a hospice nurse? Can you sit overnight in the last days if needed? More in our hospice support guide.

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

Questions

Hospice Support in Bellingham: common questions

How much does hospice support 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).

Who qualifies for hospice under Medicare?

Someone whose hospice doctor (and regular doctor, if they have one) certifies a life expectancy of six months or less, and who accepts comfort care instead of curative treatment (Medicare.gov).

More near Bellingham

More senior care near Bellingham

Hospice Support 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.

In-Home Hospice Support in Bellingham, WA