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

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Mercer Island, WA: the local picture

1,233

residents 85 or older (4.9% of all residents)

2,312

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

66%

of Mercer Island homes have 3 or more bedrooms (52% in King County)

$17.13

Washington minimum wage per hour

About 1,233 Mercer Island 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. 66% of homes in Mercer Island have three or more bedrooms (52% in King County), while 17% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 7 rooms.

Of Mercer Island households headed by someone 65 or older, 2,312 own their home and 957 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 314 owners and 486 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Mercer Island compared with King County and Washington

Census figure	Mercer Island	King County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	4.9%	1.7%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	28%	26%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.3%	9.3%	8.9%
Residents 65 or older	22%	14%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	26%	31%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$112,679	$76,893	—

Older residents in towns around Mercer Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Newcastle, WA	3.8 mi	2,047	288
Bellevue, WA	4.2 mi	22,404	3,832
Medina, WA	4.4 mi	545	82
Clyde Hill, WA	4.6 mi	715	49
Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA	4.8 mi	3,194	435
Boulevard Park, WA	5.2 mi	519	9

Emergency hospitals near Mercer Island

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Overlake Hospital Medical Center & Clinics	Bellevue, WA	3.7 mi	2 of 5	(425) 688-5000
Seattle Va Medical Center (Va Puget Sound Healthcare System)	Seattle, WA	4.1 mi	4 of 5	(206) 764-2299
Swedish Medical Center / Cherry Hill	Seattle, WA	4.8 mi	4 of 5	(206) 320-2000

Straight-line miles from the center of Mercer Island. 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 Mercer Island

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 (53% of the $9,390 monthly median income of Mercer Island 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 (178% of the $9,390 monthly median income of Mercer Island 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 Mercer Island: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Mercer Island?

Overlake Hospital Medical Center & Clinics in Bellevue, about 3.7 mi in a straight line from the center of Mercer Island (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (425) 688-5000. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Mercer Island?

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 (53% of the $9,390 monthly median income of Mercer Island 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 (178% of the $9,390 monthly median income of Mercer Island 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 Mercer Island?

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 Mercer Island 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 Mercer Island

More senior care near Mercer Island

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Mercer Island

More for Mercer Island 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 Mercer Island, WA