Stroke Recovery Care in Birch Bay, WA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Birch Bay, WA: the local picture

30 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Anacortes)

13%

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

3.5%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.6% in Whatcom County)

4

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Birch Bay: Island Hospital in Anacortes (30 mi); Peacehealth Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor (31 mi); Peacehealth United General Medical Center in Sedro Woolley (36 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

91 Birch Bay residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (3.5%; 6.6% in Whatcom County), and 342 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Birch Bay compared with Whatcom County and Washington

Census figure	Birch Bay	Whatcom County	Washington
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.5%	6.6%	7.1%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	13%	17%	20%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	7.7%	8.2%	8.5%
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+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Blaine, WA	4.4 mi	1,599	9.7%
Ferndale, WA	8.5 mi	2,516	8.0%
Marietta-Alderwood, WA	13 mi	836	2.6%
Lynden, WA	13 mi	2,947	8.0%
Bellingham, WA	17 mi	15,407	5.7%
Everson, WA	18 mi	447	15%

Hospitals near Birch Bay

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Island Hospital	Anacortes, WA	30 mi	4 of 5	(360) 299-1300
Peacehealth Peace Island Medical Center	Friday Harbor, WA	31 mi	not rated	(360) 378-2141
Peacehealth United General Medical Center	Sedro Woolley, WA	36 mi	3 of 5	(360) 856-6021

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

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 for stroke recovery can help with

Help with bathing, dressing and meals
Safe walking and transfers
Rides to rehabilitation and follow-up appointments
Practising the exercises therapists set

Cost

What stroke recovery support 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 for stroke recovery

More than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke every year, about 610,000 of them for the first time (CDC). Many go home to recover.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone after a stroke? How do you help with one-sided weakness during transfers? Can you drive to rehabilitation appointments? More in our stroke recovery support guide.

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

Questions

Stroke Recovery Support in Birch Bay: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support 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 does a caregiver do after a stroke?

Helps with personal care, meals and moving safely, takes the person to therapy, helps them practise what therapists set, and keeps the family informed. Medical and therapy decisions stay with the care team.

More near Birch Bay

More senior care near Birch Bay

Stroke Recovery Support 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.

Stroke Recovery Support at Home in Birch Bay, WA