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

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Port Townsend, WA: the local picture

485

residents 85 or older (4.6% of all residents)

2,570

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (82%)

51%

of Port Townsend homes have 3 or more bedrooms (54% in Jefferson County)

$17.13

Washington minimum wage per hour

About 485 Port Townsend 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. 51% of homes in Port Townsend have three or more bedrooms (54% in Jefferson County), while 20% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.3 rooms.

Of Port Townsend households headed by someone 65 or older, 2,570 own their home and 572 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 229 owners and 183 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Port Townsend compared with Jefferson County and Washington

Census figure	Port Townsend	Jefferson County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	4.6%	3.6%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	27%	26%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	8.1%	8.9%
Residents 65 or older	44%	41%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.7%	6.2%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,932	$65,503	—

Older residents in towns around Port Townsend

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Port Hadlock-Irondale, WA	6.2 mi	867	31
Oak Harbor, WA	14 mi	3,118	589
Sequim, WA	14 mi	3,722	541
Port Ludlow, WA	15 mi	1,454	99
Camano, WA	15 mi	5,906	392
Hansville, WA	18 mi	1,670	235

Emergency hospitals near Port Townsend

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Jefferson Healthcare	Port Townsend, WA	1.3 mi	3 of 5	(360) 385-2200
Whidbeyhealth Medical Center	Coupeville, WA	8.3 mi	2 of 5	(360) 678-5151
Island Hospital	Anacortes, WA	27 mi	4 of 5	(360) 299-1300

Straight-line miles from the center of Port Townsend. 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 Port Townsend

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 (98% of the $5,078 monthly median income of Port Townsend 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 (329% of the $5,078 monthly median income of Port Townsend 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 Port Townsend: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Port Townsend?

Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend, about 1.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Port Townsend (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (360) 385-2200. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Port Townsend?

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 (98% of the $5,078 monthly median income of Port Townsend 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 (329% of the $5,078 monthly median income of Port Townsend 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 Port Townsend?

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 Port Townsend 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 Port Townsend

More senior care near Port Townsend

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Port Townsend

More for Port Townsend 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 Port Townsend, WA