Live-In Caregivers in Bellingham, WA: 24-Hour Home Care

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Bellingham, WA: the local picture

1,758

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

7,151

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (69%)

44%

of Bellingham homes have 3 or more bedrooms (60% in Whatcom County)

$17.13

Washington minimum wage per hour

About 1,758 Bellingham residents are 85 or older. Live-in care is most often arranged for this age group, when help is needed through the day and someone should be close at night.

A live-in caregiver needs a private room. 44% of homes in Bellingham have three or more bedrooms (60% in Whatcom County), while 23% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 4.6 rooms.

Of Bellingham households headed by someone 65 or older, 7,151 own their home and 3,224 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 610 owners and 579 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

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+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	8.5%	8.9%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
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+	Residents 85+
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	4.6 mi	836	41
Sudden Valley, WA	6.1 mi	1,581	149
Ferndale, WA	8.8 mi	2,516	268
Everson, WA	12 mi	447	5
Lynden, WA	14 mi	2,947	504
Birch Bay, WA	17 mi	2,626	198

Emergency hospitals near Bellingham

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Island Hospital	Anacortes, WA	19 mi	4 of 5	(360) 299-1300
Peacehealth United General Medical Center	Sedro Woolley, WA	19 mi	3 of 5	(360) 856-6021
Skagit Valley Hospital	Mount Vernon, WA	31 mi	3 of 5	(360) 424-4111

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 live-in caregiver can help with

Help across the day: meals, housekeeping, personal care
Someone in the home overnight if help is needed
Medication reminders and appointment rides
Companionship and a steady routine

Cost

What live-in care costs in Bellingham

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $22.95 an hour (the Washington median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $4,973 a month (101% of the $4,900 monthly median income of Bellingham households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $16,708 a month (341% of the $4,900 monthly median income of Bellingham households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. 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 live-in caregiver

Put the arrangement in writing: hours on duty, sleep time, days off, the room and pay (federal rules: DOL Fact Sheet 79B).

Questions worth asking: Have you lived in with a client before, and for how long? What days off and sleep time do you need? How do you handle being woken at night? More in our live-in caregivers guide.

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

Questions

Live-In Caregivers in Bellingham: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Bellingham?

Island Hospital in Anacortes, about 19 mi in a straight line from the center of Bellingham (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (360) 299-1300. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Bellingham?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $22.95 an hour (the Washington median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $4,973 a month (101% of the $4,900 monthly median income of Bellingham households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $16,708 a month (341% of the $4,900 monthly median income of Bellingham households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Live-in or 24-hour care in Bellingham?

A live-in caregiver sleeps in the home and has protected sleep and break time. 24-hour care uses two or three caregivers in shifts so someone is always awake; in Bellingham it costs more than three times as much a month (see the cost section above). Choose shifts if help is needed several times a night.

More near Bellingham

More senior care near Bellingham

Live-In Caregivers 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.

Live-In Caregivers in Bellingham, WA