Personal care aides (PCAs) in Seattle provide hands-on help with the activities of daily living — bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers, eating, mobility — for seniors who need physical assistance beyond what companion caregivers can provide. Seattle-area rates run $28–$45 per hour (22 to 35 percent above the national average of national average). PCAs typically hold Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) credentials in Washington, plus additional training for specific care needs.
What personal care aides do
The six ADLs:
- Bathing — showering, sponge bathing, hair washing
- Dressing — choosing and putting on clothes, including buttons and shoes
- Toileting and continence care — getting to and using the toilet, hygiene afterward
- Transferring — bed to chair, chair to toilet, lying to sitting
- Eating — feeding assistance once food is prepared
- Walking and mobility — safe ambulation around the home
PCAs in Seattle also support IADLs (meal prep, light housekeeping, medication reminders, errands).
PCA credentials in Washington
Washington typically credentials personal care aides through:
- Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA): 75–120 hours of state-mandated training + competency exam
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): similar training, more common in facility settings
- State-specific PCA credentials: some states have separate personal care attendant certifications
Verify caregiver credentials individually — agency licensing doesn’t automatically certify each caregiver.
Cost of PCA services in Seattle
- Hourly: $28–$45 (22 to 35 percent above the national average of national average)
- 20 hours/week: $2,400–$3,870 monthly
- 40 hours/week: $4,816–$7,740 monthly
- Live-in: $9,000–$14,000/month for CHHA-credentialed live-in care
Who pays for PCA in Seattle
- Private pay (most common)
- Long-term care insurance after ADL trigger
- Washington’s Community First Choice (CFC) and COPES waiver for income-eligible Seattle seniors
- VA H/HHA program for eligible veterans through the VA Puget Sound Health Care System
- Medicare home health (only as part of short-term episodes ordered by physician)
How to vet a Seattle PCA agency
- Washington home care license verification
- Caregiver background checks (multi-state criminal, sex offender, MVR)
- CHHA/CNA credentialing for individual caregivers
- Consistency — same caregiver per visit, 80%+ goal
- Reference calls with 2 current Seattle clients
A free 15-minute call with a senior care advisor can identify Seattle-area PCA agencies that match your parent’s specific ADL needs. Talk to an ElderCareServicesNearMe advisor when you’re ready.
