Hospice Support in Oak Harbor, WA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Oak Harbor, WA: the local picture

3

Medicare-certified hospices serve Oak Harbor ZIP codes

589

residents 85 or older (2.4% of all residents)

32%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (23% in Island County)

39%

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

Medicare lists 3 hospices whose service area includes Oak Harbor ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Whidbeyhealth Hospice And Palliative Care in Coupeville (5.7 mi) and Hospice Of The Northwest in Mount Vernon (22 mi).

960 Oak Harbor residents 65 or older live alone (32% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Oak Harbor compared with Island County and Washington

Census figure	Oak Harbor	Island County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.2%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	23%	26%
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	12%	5.6%	7.1%
Residents 65 or older	13%	27%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.6%	6.4%	8.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,057	$76,740	—

Older residents in towns around Oak Harbor

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Camano, WA	12 mi	5,906	18%
Anacortes, WA	13 mi	5,751	25%
Stanwood, WA	14 mi	1,360	49%
Port Townsend, WA	14 mi	4,551	38%
Warm Beach, WA	16 mi	958	29%
Mount Vernon, WA	17 mi	6,520	34%

Hospices serving Oak Harbor

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Whidbeyhealth Hospice And Palliative Care	Coupeville, WA	5.7 mi	(360) 678-7605
Hospice Of The Northwest	Mount Vernon, WA	22 mi	(360) 814-5550
Kittitas Valley Home Health & Hospice	Ellensburg, WA	133 mi	(509) 962-7438

Straight-line miles from the center of Oak Harbor. 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 Oak Harbor

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 37% of the $5,338 monthly median income of Oak Harbor 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 Oak Harbor: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Oak Harbor?

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 37% of the $5,338 monthly median income of Oak Harbor 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 Oak Harbor

More senior care near Oak Harbor

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Oak Harbor

More for Oak Harbor 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 Oak Harbor, WA