CNA Home Care in Palmer, AK: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Palmer, AK: the local picture

2

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

134

certified beds in the 2 nearest nursing homes

$19.11

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

$14.00

Alaska minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Palmer are Maple Springs Of Palmer in Palmer (0.8 mi), Maple Springs Of Wasilla in Wasilla (8.1 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Alaska earn a median $19.11 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Palmer has about 82 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Palmer compared with Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Alaska

Census figure	Palmer	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Alaska
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	0.9%	0.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	34%	35%
Residents 65 or older	16%	14%	14%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	26%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.4%	8.3%
Households with no vehicle	8.0%	3.8%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,641	$63,354	—

Older residents in towns around Palmer

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Farm Loop, AK	2.9 mi	425	24
Gateway, AK	4.1 mi	648	51
Butte, AK	6.0 mi	653	96
North Lakes, AK	6.6 mi	1,321	60
South Lakes, AK	6.6 mi	728	37
Fishhook, AK	11 mi	859	30

Nursing homes near Palmer

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Maple Springs Of Palmer	Palmer, AK	0.8 mi	2 of 5	67	(907) 802-6641
Maple Springs Of Wasilla	Wasilla, AK	8.1 mi	5 of 5	67	(907) 841-1217

Home health agencies serving Palmer

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Ancora Home Health & Hospice	Wasilla, AK	9.2 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(907) 561-0700
Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc	Anchorage, AK	38 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(907) 770-0862

Straight-line miles from the center of Palmer. 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 Palmer

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,887 monthly median income of Palmer households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in Alaska: consumer-directed personal care.

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 Palmer: common questions

What nursing homes are near Palmer?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Maple Springs Of Palmer in Palmer (0.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Maple Springs Of Wasilla in Wasilla (8.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Palmer?

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,887 monthly median income of Palmer households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Palmer

More senior care near Palmer

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Palmer

More for Palmer 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 Palmer, AK