Veterans' Home Care in Tacoma, WA: Caregivers for Veterans

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Tacoma, WA: the local picture

5,981

veterans aged 65 or older (18% of residents 65+)

33,418

residents 65 or older (15% of Tacoma)

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Pierce County)

30%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (25% in Pierce County)

About 5,981 Tacoma residents aged 65 or older are veterans (18% of that age group; 21% in Pierce County), out of 15,769 veterans of all adult ages in town.

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

Tacoma compared with Pierce County and Washington

Census figure	Tacoma	Pierce County	Washington
Residents 65+ who are veterans	18%	21%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	36%	33%
Residents 65 or older	15%	15%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	25%	26%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	23%	21%	20%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%	8.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,212	$70,061	—

Older residents in towns around Tacoma

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Fircrest, WA	3.0 mi	1,314	18%
University Place, WA	4.8 mi	6,796	21%
Fife, WA	5.3 mi	790	19%
Waller, WA	5.4 mi	1,331	21%
Midland, WA	5.9 mi	1,223	30%
Wollochet, WA	5.9 mi	1,739	15%

Hospitals near Tacoma

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
St Joseph Medical Center	Tacoma, WA	0.3 mi	3 of 5	(253) 627-4101
Tacoma General Allenmore Hospital	Tacoma, WA	0.3 mi	2 of 5	(253) 403-1000
Madigan Amc (Ft Lewis)	Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord, WA	0.7 mi	not rated	(253) 968-1110

Straight-line miles from the center of Tacoma. 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 Tacoma

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 40% of the $5,018 monthly median income of Tacoma 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 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 Tacoma: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Tacoma?

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 40% of the $5,018 monthly median income of Tacoma 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).

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 Tacoma

More senior care near Tacoma

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tacoma

More for Tacoma 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 Care for Veterans in Tacoma, WA