CNA Home Care in Rochester, WA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Rochester, WA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

509

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 Rochester are Sharon Care Center in Centralia (6.9 mi), South Creek Post Acute in Centralia (8.3 mi), Three Rivers Care in Centralia (8.3 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).

Rochester has about 118 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Rochester compared with Thurston County and Washington

Census figure	Rochester	Thurston County	Washington
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.9%	1.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	34%	33%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	25%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.4%	7.4%	8.9%
Households with no vehicle	1.9%	4.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,327	$74,569	—

Older residents in towns around Rochester

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Grand Mound, WA	2.9 mi	543	21
Centralia, WA	8.1 mi	3,901	541
Chehalis, WA	12 mi	1,019	233
Tumwater, WA	14 mi	4,204	457
Olympia, WA	17 mi	11,040	1,299
Lacey, WA	20 mi	11,337	1,893

Nursing homes near Rochester

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sharon Care Center	Centralia, WA	6.9 mi	3 of 5	42	(360) 736-0112
South Creek Post Acute	Centralia, WA	8.3 mi	4 of 5	128	(360) 736-9384
Three Rivers Care	Centralia, WA	8.3 mi	5 of 5	83	(360) 754-9792
Puget Sound Care	Olympia, WA	16 mi	4 of 5	108	(360) 754-9792
Lacey Post Acute & Rehabilitation	Lacey, WA	17 mi	4 of 5	120	(360) 491-9890
Regency Olympia Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Olympia, WA	17 mi	5 of 5	28	(360) 943-0910

Home health agencies serving Rochester

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Assured Home Health And Hospice	Centralia, WA	8.1 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 330-2640
Harbors Home Health / Hospice	Hoquiam, WA	40 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 532-5454
Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South	Lacey, WA	19 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 459-8311
Multicare Good Samaritan Home Health	Tacoma, WA	42 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(253) 301-6400

Straight-line miles from the center of Rochester. 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 Rochester

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 $4,944 monthly median income of Rochester 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 Rochester: common questions

What nursing homes are near Rochester?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Sharon Care Center in Centralia (6.9 mi, 3 of 5 overall); South Creek Post Acute in Centralia (8.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Three Rivers Care in Centralia (8.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Rochester?

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 $4,944 monthly median income of Rochester 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 Rochester

More senior care near Rochester

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Rochester

More for Rochester 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 Rochester, WA