Medication Reminders in Tacoma, WA: Help at Home

Local figures

Medication Reminders in Tacoma, WA: the local picture

12%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (8.9% in Pierce County)

30%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (25% in Pierce County)

15%

of residents 65+ have difficulty doing errands alone (14% in Pierce County)

33,418

residents 65 or older (15% of Tacoma)

About 3,741 Tacoma residents 65 or older have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions (12%; 8.9% in Pierce County). Missed or doubled doses are a common reason families arrange reminder visits.

9,416 older residents live alone (30%), with no one at home to notice a missed dose.

Tacoma compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Tacoma	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	12%	8.9%	8.5%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	25%	26%
Residents 65+ with difficulty doing errands alone	15%	14%	13%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.5%	1.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	19%	16%	21%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%	8.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,212	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Tacoma

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Memory difficulty (65+)
Fircrest, WA	3.0 mi	1,314	2.8%
University Place, WA	4.8 mi	6,796	7.5%
Fife, WA	5.3 mi	790	13%
Waller, WA	5.4 mi	1,331	14%
Midland, WA	5.9 mi	1,223	24%
Wollochet, WA	5.9 mi	1,739	13%

Hospitals near Tacoma

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
St Joseph Medical Center	Tacoma, WA	0.3 mi	3 of 5	(253) 627-4101
Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital	Tacoma, WA	0.3 mi	2 of 5	(253) 403-1000

Straight-line miles from the center of Tacoma. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for medication reminders can help with

Reminders at the times the doctor or pharmacist set
Checking a pill organizer or blister pack
Picking up refills and noticing when one is due
Keeping a simple log the family can see

Cost

What medication reminders costs in Tacoma

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $5,018 monthly median income of Tacoma households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. 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 caregiver for medication reminders

A caregiver reminds; giving medication (putting pills in the person’s hand or mouth, injections, eye drops on someone’s behalf) is generally reserved for licensed nurses or aides with a separate state certification. Ask your pharmacist about pill organizers and blister packs, which make reminders easier to check.

Questions worth asking: How do you remind without taking over? How would you check that a dose was taken? Can you pick up refills on the way? More in our medication reminders guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Medication Reminders in Tacoma: common questions

How much does medication reminders cost in Tacoma?

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $5,018 monthly median income of Tacoma households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Can a caregiver give medication?

Usually not. A caregiver can remind and check; giving medication is generally reserved for licensed nurses or aides with a state medication certification. Ask your state’s rules if you need more.

More near Tacoma

More senior care near Tacoma

Medication Reminders in nearby cities

Other care in Tacoma

More for Tacoma 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.

Medication Reminders at Home in Tacoma, WA