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

Local figures

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

52

residents 85 or older (1.1% of all residents)

597

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (87%)

84%

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

$17.13

Washington minimum wage per hour

About 52 Wauna 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. 84% of homes in Wauna have three or more bedrooms (65% in Pierce County); the median home has 6 rooms.

Of Wauna households headed by someone 65 or older, 597 own their home and 90 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 41 owners and 9 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Wauna compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Wauna	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.5%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	25%	26%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.4%	8.8%	8.9%
Residents 65 or older	24%	15%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.8%	16%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,583	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Wauna

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Canterwood, WA	3.2 mi	520	49
Rosedale, WA	3.4 mi	663	28
Gig Harbor, WA	4.5 mi	3,799	575
Maplewood, WA	4.9 mi	1,401	65
Key Center, WA	5.4 mi	712	36
Artondale, WA	5.6 mi	2,682	129

Emergency hospitals near Wauna

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
St Anthony Hospital	Gig Harbor, WA	3.6 mi	5 of 5	(253) 530-2050
St Joseph Medical Center	Tacoma, WA	13 mi	3 of 5	(253) 627-4101
Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital	Tacoma, WA	13 mi	2 of 5	(253) 403-1000

Straight-line miles from the center of Wauna. 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 Wauna

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 (109% of the $4,549 monthly median income of Wauna 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 (367% of the $4,549 monthly median income of Wauna 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 Wauna: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Wauna?

St Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, about 3.6 mi in a straight line from the center of Wauna (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (253) 530-2050. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Wauna?

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 (109% of the $4,549 monthly median income of Wauna 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 (367% of the $4,549 monthly median income of Wauna 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 Wauna?

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 Wauna 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 Wauna

More senior care near Wauna

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Wauna

More for Wauna 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 Wauna, WA