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

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Elk Plain, WA: the local picture

67

residents 85 or older (0.5% of all residents)

1,029

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (93%)

92%

of Elk Plain homes have 3 or more bedrooms (65% in Pierce County)

$17.13

Washington minimum wage per hour

About 67 Elk Plain 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. 92% of homes in Elk Plain have three or more bedrooms (65% in Pierce County); the median home has 6.3 rooms.

Of Elk Plain households headed by someone 65 or older, 1,029 own their home and 75 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 33 owners and 0 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Elk Plain compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Elk Plain	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	0.5%	1.5%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	25%	26%
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%	8.9%
Residents 65 or older	14%	15%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	13%	16%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$82,000	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Elk Plain

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Frederickson, WA	3.5 mi	2,671	175
Graham, WA	4.2 mi	3,824	325
Spanaway, WA	4.7 mi	3,607	294
Summit View, WA	6.6 mi	842	54
South Hill, WA	6.6 mi	7,833	1,009
Clover Creek, WA	7.0 mi	996	67

Emergency hospitals near Elk Plain

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
St Clare Hospital	Lakewood, WA	11 mi	4 of 5	(253) 588-1711
Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital	Puyallup, WA	12 mi	2 of 5	(253) 697-2102
Madigan Amc (Ft Lewis)	Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord, WA	15 mi	not rated	(253) 968-1110

Straight-line miles from the center of Elk Plain. 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 Elk Plain

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 (73% of the $6,833 monthly median income of Elk Plain 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 (245% of the $6,833 monthly median income of Elk Plain 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 Elk Plain: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Elk Plain?

St Clare Hospital in Lakewood, about 11 mi in a straight line from the center of Elk Plain (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (253) 588-1711. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Elk Plain?

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 (73% of the $6,833 monthly median income of Elk Plain 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 (245% of the $6,833 monthly median income of Elk Plain 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 Elk Plain?

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 Elk Plain 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 Elk Plain

More senior care near Elk Plain

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Elk Plain

More for Elk Plain 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 Elk Plain, WA