CNA Home Care in Bellingham, WA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Bellingham, WA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

495

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$22.95

median hourly wage of home care aides in Washington (BLS, May 2025)

$17.13

Washington minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Bellingham are Rock Hill Health & Rehabilitation in Bellingham (0.3 mi), Avalon Healthcare Bellingham in Bellingham (1.3 mi), Alderwood Park Health And Rehab Of Cascadia in Bellingham (2.3 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Washington earn a median $22.95 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Bellingham has about 1,758 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Bellingham compared with Whatcom County and Washington

Census figure	Bellingham	Whatcom County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.7%	1.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	30%	33%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	29%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	8.5%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	9.5%	6.4%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,801	$63,400	—

Older residents in towns around Bellingham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	4.6 mi	836	41
Sudden Valley, WA	6.1 mi	1,581	149
Ferndale, WA	8.8 mi	2,516	268
Everson, WA	12 mi	447	5
Lynden, WA	14 mi	2,947	504
Birch Bay, WA	17 mi	2,626	198

Nursing homes near Bellingham

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Rock Hill Health & Rehabilitation	Bellingham, WA	0.3 mi	2 of 5	52	(360) 733-9161
Avalon Healthcare Bellingham	Bellingham, WA	1.3 mi	5 of 5	105	(360) 734-6760
Alderwood Park Health And Rehab Of Cascadia	Bellingham, WA	2.3 mi	5 of 5	102	(360) 733-2322
MT Baker Care Center	Bellingham, WA	2.8 mi	5 of 5	70	(360) 734-4181
Highland Health And Rehabilitation Of Cascadia	Bellingham, WA	3.0 mi	3 of 5	44	(360) 734-4800
North Cascades Health And Rehabilitation	Bellingham, WA	4.3 mi	2 of 5	122	(360) 398-1966

Home health agencies serving Bellingham

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Alpha Home Health	Everett, WA	61 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 299-1302
Peacehealth Southwest Home Health	Vancouver, WA	215 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 759-1500
Eden Home Health	Bellingham, WA	3.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 734-5410
Peacehealth Home Health Of Whatcom County	Bellingham, WA	0.9 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 788-8143

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

What it covers

What a nursing assistant can help with

Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
Safe transfers, repositioning and walking
Help with eating and fluids
Taking and noting vital signs if asked

Cost

What CNAs costs in Bellingham

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 41% of the $4,900 monthly median income of Bellingham 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 nursing assistant

To be certified, a nurse aide completes a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and passes a competency exam (42 CFR 483.152). The state then lists them on its nurse aide registry, which you can search online in most states.

Questions worth asking: Which state certified you, and is it current? Where have you worked as a CNA? Are you comfortable with lifts, catheters and incontinence care? More in our nursing assistants guide.

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

Questions

Nursing Assistants in Bellingham: common questions

What nursing homes are near Bellingham?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Rock Hill Health & Rehabilitation in Bellingham (0.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Avalon Healthcare Bellingham in Bellingham (1.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Alderwood Park Health And Rehab Of Cascadia in Bellingham (2.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Bellingham?

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 41% of the $4,900 monthly median income of Bellingham 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 CNA give medication?

Generally no. A CNA can remind someone to take medication. Giving medication is usually reserved for licensed nurses, or for aides with a separate state medication certification.

More near Bellingham

More senior care near Bellingham

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Bellingham

More for Bellingham 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.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in Bellingham, WA