Parkinson's Care in Bellingham, WA: In-Home Caregivers

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Bellingham, WA: the local picture

16%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17% in Whatcom County)

6.7%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (8.2% in Whatcom County)

15,407

residents 65 or older (16% of Bellingham)

6

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Bellingham ZIP codes in their service area

2,389 Bellingham residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16%; 17% in Whatcom County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

989 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (6.7%).

Medicare lists 6 home health agencies serving Bellingham ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Bellingham compared with Whatcom County and Washington

Census figure	Bellingham	Whatcom County	Washington
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	16%	17%	20%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	6.7%	8.2%	8.5%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.7%	6.6%	7.1%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	29%	26%
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+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	4.6 mi	836	9.6%
Sudden Valley, WA	6.1 mi	1,581	13%
Ferndale, WA	8.8 mi	2,516	19%
Everson, WA	12 mi	447	24%
Lynden, WA	14 mi	2,947	17%
Birch Bay, WA	17 mi	2,626	13%

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
Signature Healthcare At Home	Bellingham, WA	3.2 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(866) 390-3869
Alpha Home Health, King County	Everett, WA	61 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(206) 452-0058

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

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 caregiver experienced with Parkinson’s can help with

Medication reminders on the schedule the doctor set
Help walking, turning and getting up safely
Dressing and buttons when hands are stiff or shaky
Meals prepared the way the care team advises

Cost

What Parkinson’s care 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 caregiver experienced with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease affects more than 1.1 million people in the U.S., and nearly 90,000 are diagnosed each year, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Its Helpline, 1-800-473-4636, answers questions from people with Parkinson’s and their families.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone with Parkinson’s? What helped most? How do you keep medication reminders exactly on time? How do you help someone who freezes while walking? More in our parkinson’s care guide.

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

Questions

Parkinson’s Care in Bellingham: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care 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).

What should a Parkinson’s caregiver know?

Look for someone who has helped people with stiffness, slowness or tremor, keeps a strict routine, and knows safe transfers. Ask for a reference from a family of someone with Parkinson’s.

More near Bellingham

More senior care near Bellingham

Parkinson’s Care 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.

In-Home Parkinson’s Care in Bellingham, WA