Get paid to care for family in Whatcom County
Most of the 46,100 people in Whatcom County who are 65 or older are cared for at home, by a relative. Washington Medicaid can pay you for that work.
Whatcom County at a glance
- Aged 65+
- 46,100
- Aged 85+
- 4,080
- Rank in WA
- 8th
- Median age
- 38.8
20% of residents
when daily help usually starts
of 39 counties, by residents 65+
close to the national average
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Population Estimates (Vintage 2024). Whatcom County is a metro county (Rural-Urban Continuum Code 3).
- 50 + DC
- states covered
- 3,144
- counties with local data
- $0
- it is always free to apply
- 2 min
- to see if you qualify
Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Rules from each state's published Medicaid program
Care in Whatcom
What being a paid caregiver looks like here
About 46,100 people in Whatcom County are 65 or older — 20% of everyone who lives here. That is an older county than Washington overall, so more families here are already doing this work. Roughly 4,080 are 85 or older, the age when daily help usually starts. Agencies operate in Whatcom County, though families still run into gaps: no weekend coverage, a new aide every few weeks, hours that don't match real life.
Statewide, 1.4 million people in Washington are 65 or older — 17% of the state, across 39 counties.
What Washington pays family caregivers
$22.52–$27.28/hr
Source: Washington Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Washington's programs at a glance
- Community First Choice (CFC)
- Medicaid Personal Care (MPC)
- Individual Provider (via CDWA)
- Spouse paid?
- Not right now
- Parent paid for a child?
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- No waitlist.
These rules are set by the state, so they are the same in every county. Read the full Washington guide →
Towns and cities in Whatcom County
Washington sets eligibility, not your town — so a family in Bellingham and a family at the far edge of the county apply the same way. The largest communities in Whatcom County:
- Bellingham95,860
- Lynden16,783
- Ferndale16,706
- Blaine6,371
- Everson3,169
- Sumas1,683
- Nooksack1,675
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Subcounty Population Estimates.
How families in Whatcom apply
You do not need a county office to start. Families in Whatcom County start with Washington's program:
The care recipient applies for Apple Health LTSS through a DSHS Home & Community Services regional intake office and gets a CARE assessment; the family caregiver then applies as an Individual Provider at consumerdirectwa.com.
Or skip the phone tag — our free 2-minute check tells you which Washington program fits your family, then we help with the forms.
See if you qualify →Whatcom questions, answered honestly
Can I get paid to care for a family member in Whatcom County?
Yes. Washington runs real Medicaid programs — like Community First Choice (CFC) — that pay family caregivers, and they cover families in Whatcom County. We help you enroll, and applying costs you nothing.
How much do family caregivers earn in Whatcom County?
Family caregivers in Washington typically earn $22.52–$27.28/hr. The rate is the same across the state, including Whatcom County.
Where do families in Whatcom County apply?
Families in Whatcom County start with the state, not the county. The care recipient applies for Apple Health LTSS through a DSHS Home & Community Services regional intake office and gets a CARE assessment; the family caregiver then applies as an Individual Provider at consumerdirectwa.com.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Whatcom County?
Not right now — but other family members often can be. The fine print for Washington: no — DSHS: 'Spouses cannot be paid to care for each other'; some spouses may qualify via Veteran Directed Care or WA Cares Fund instead
How many people in Whatcom County might need this?
46,100 residents of Whatcom County are 65 or older and about 4,080 are 85 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 population estimates. Most of them are cared for at home by a relative rather than in a facility. Washington's programs exist to pay for exactly that care.
Which towns in Whatcom do you cover?
All of Whatcom County — including Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale, Blaine and Everson. Eligibility is set by Washington, not by your town, so where you live inside the county does not change whether you qualify.
Program facts come from Washington's published Medicaid program rules · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For families in Whatcom County
Start with the Washington caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Nearby
Counties next to Whatcom
The counties Whatcom touches, by Census boundaries — a few of those borders run across water.
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