In-Home Care for Veterans in Ketchikan, AK

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Ketchikan, AK: the local picture

231

veterans aged 65 or older (19% of residents 65+)

1,226

residents 65 or older (15% of Ketchikan)

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Ketchikan Gateway Borough)

43%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Ketchikan Gateway Borough)

About 231 Ketchikan residents aged 65 or older are veterans (19% of that age group; 18% in Ketchikan Gateway Borough), out of 476 veterans of all adult ages in town.

38% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (36% in Ketchikan Gateway Borough); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Ketchikan compared with Ketchikan Gateway Borough and Alaska

Census figure	Ketchikan	Ketchikan Gateway Borough	Alaska
Residents 65+ who are veterans	19%	18%	21%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	36%	35%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	14%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	28%	27%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	25%	21%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.7%	5.6%	8.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,813	$76,563	—

Hospitals near Ketchikan

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Peacehealth Ketchikan Medical Center	Ketchikan, AK	1.1 mi	4 of 5	(907) 225-5171

Straight-line miles from the center of Ketchikan. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for a veteran can help with

Company and help around the house
Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting
Rides to VA and other appointments
Meals and medication reminders

Cost

What veterans’ home care costs in Ketchikan

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 33% of the $4,984 monthly median income of Ketchikan 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 for a veteran

The VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program sends a trained aide, supervised by a registered nurse, to help eligible veterans with daily activities at home. The Aid and Attendance benefit adds monthly payments to a VA pension for veterans who need help with daily activities. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for veterans before? Can you drive to the VA medical center or clinic? Are you comfortable with the paperwork VA programs need? More in our veterans’ home care guide.

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

Questions

Veterans’ Home Care in Ketchikan: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Ketchikan?

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 33% of the $4,984 monthly median income of Ketchikan 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).

Does the VA pay for in-home care?

For eligible veterans, VA programs such as Homemaker and Home Health Aide care can provide help at home, and Aid and Attendance can add to a VA pension. Ask the VA about eligibility; the Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (caregiver.va.gov).

More near Ketchikan

More senior care near Ketchikan

Other care in Ketchikan

More for Ketchikan 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.