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

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Birch Bay, WA: the local picture

13%

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

7.7%

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

2,626

residents 65 or older (24% of Birch Bay)

4

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

342 Birch Bay residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (13%; 17% in Whatcom County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

202 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (7.7%).

Medicare lists 4 home health agencies serving Birch Bay ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Birch Bay compared with Whatcom County and Washington

Census figure	Birch Bay	Whatcom County	Washington
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	13%	17%	20%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	7.7%	8.2%	8.5%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.5%	6.6%	7.1%
Residents 65 or older	24%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	29%	26%
Households with no vehicle	4.5%	6.4%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,676	$63,400	—

Older residents in towns around Birch Bay

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Blaine, WA	4.4 mi	1,599	26%
Ferndale, WA	8.5 mi	2,516	19%
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	13 mi	836	9.6%
Lynden, WA	13 mi	2,947	17%
Bellingham, WA	17 mi	15,407	16%
Everson, WA	18 mi	447	24%

Home health agencies serving Birch Bay

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Alpha Home Health	Everett, WA	75 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 299-1302
Eden Home Health	Bellingham, WA	16 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 734-5410
Signature Healthcare At Home	Bellingham, WA	16 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(866) 390-3869
Peacehealth Home Health Of Whatcom County	Bellingham, WA	17 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 788-8143

Nursing homes near Birch Bay

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Stafholt Health And Rehabilitation Of Cascadia	Blaine, WA	5.2 mi	4 of 5	57	(360) 332-8733
North Cascades Health And Rehabilitation	Bellingham, WA	14 mi	2 of 5	122	(360) 398-1966
Christian Health Care Center	Lynden, WA	14 mi	5 of 5	122	(360) 354-4434

Straight-line miles from the center of Birch Bay. 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 Birch Bay

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 49% of the $4,056 monthly median income of Birch Bay 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 Birch Bay: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Birch Bay?

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 49% of the $4,056 monthly median income of Birch Bay 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 Birch Bay

More senior care near Birch Bay

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Birch Bay

More for Birch Bay 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 Birch Bay, WA