Parkinson's Care in Big Lake, AK: In-Home Caregivers

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Big Lake, AK: the local picture

20%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough)

5.6%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (7.7% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough)

560

residents 65 or older (16% of Big Lake)

3

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

113 Big Lake residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20%; 21% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

31 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (5.6%).

Medicare lists 3 home health agencies serving Big Lake ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Big Lake compared with Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Alaska

Census figure	Big Lake	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Alaska
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	21%	19%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.6%	7.7%	7.8%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.3%	7.2%	6.8%
Residents 65 or older	16%	14%	14%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	26%	27%
Households with no vehicle	2.5%	3.8%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$69,722	$63,354	—

Older residents in towns around Big Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Knik-Fairview, AK	12 mi	2,183	17%
Meadow Lakes, AK	15 mi	1,113	22%
Wasilla, AK	18 mi	1,659	35%
Tanaina, AK	20 mi	964	22%
South Lakes, AK	22 mi	728	15%
North Lakes, AK	23 mi	1,321	16%

Home health agencies serving Big Lake

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Enhabit Home Health	Anchorage, AK	23 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(907) 272-1275
Ancora Home Health & Hospice	Wasilla, AK	20 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(907) 561-0700
St. Agatha Home Healthcare, LLC	Anchorage, AK	23 mi	not rated	—	(907) 302-2462

Nursing homes near Big Lake

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Maple Springs Of Wasilla	Wasilla, AK	21 mi	5 of 5	67	(907) 841-1217
Polaris Transitional Care	Anchorage, AK	22 mi	3 of 5	50	(907) 212-9200
Centennial Post Acute	Anchorage, AK	22 mi	1 of 5	102	(907) 333-8100

Straight-line miles from the center of Big Lake. 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 Big Lake

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 29% of the $5,810 monthly median income of Big Lake 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 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 Big Lake: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Big Lake?

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 29% of the $5,810 monthly median income of Big Lake 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).

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 Big Lake

More senior care near Big Lake

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Big Lake

More for Big Lake 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 Big Lake, AK