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

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Federal Way, WA: the local picture

1,696

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

5,961

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (71%)

57%

of Federal Way homes have 3 or more bedrooms (52% in King County)

$17.13

Washington minimum wage per hour

About 1,696 Federal Way 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. 57% of homes in Federal Way have three or more bedrooms (52% in King County), while 18% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.1 rooms.

Of Federal Way households headed by someone 65 or older, 5,961 own their home and 2,393 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 445 owners and 411 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Federal Way compared with King County and Washington

Census figure	Federal Way	King County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.7%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	28%	26%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	9.3%	8.9%
Residents 65 or older	15%	14%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	42%	31%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$68,824	$76,893	—

Older residents in towns around Federal Way

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Lakeland North, WA	3.1 mi	2,417	424
Lakeland South, WA	3.5 mi	1,710	128
Milton, WA	4.2 mi	1,157	254
Algona, WA	4.6 mi	205	6
Pacific, WA	5.3 mi	853	57
Des Moines, WA	5.4 mi	5,709	1,068

Emergency hospitals near Federal Way

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
St Francis Community Hospital	Federal Way, WA	1.4 mi	4 of 5	(253) 944-8100
Multicare Auburn Medical Center	Auburn, WA	3.4 mi	2 of 5	(253) 833-7711
Madigan Amc (Ft Lewis)	Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord, WA	6.4 mi	not rated	(253) 968-1110

Straight-line miles from the center of Federal Way. 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 Federal Way

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 (87% of the $5,735 monthly median income of Federal Way 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 (291% of the $5,735 monthly median income of Federal Way 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 Federal Way: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Federal Way?

St Francis Community Hospital in Federal Way, about 1.4 mi in a straight line from the center of Federal Way (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (253) 944-8100. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Federal Way?

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 (87% of the $5,735 monthly median income of Federal Way 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 (291% of the $5,735 monthly median income of Federal Way 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 Federal Way?

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 Federal Way 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 Federal Way

More senior care near Federal Way

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Federal Way

More for Federal Way 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 Federal Way, WA