Washington County, RI
Get paid to care for your family member in Washington County, Rhode Island
About 32,800 people in Washington County are 65 or older — 25% of everyone who lives here. That is an older county than Rhode Island overall, so more families here are already doing this work. Roughly 3,220 are 85 or older, the age when daily help usually starts. Agencies operate in Washington County, though families still run into gaps: no weekend coverage, a new aide every few weeks, hours that don't match real life.
Who needs care in Washington
- People 65 and older
- 32,800
- People 85 and older
- 3,220
- Median age
- 45.8
- Rank in Rhode Island
- 3rd
25% of Washington residents
the age daily help usually starts
older than the country as a whole
of 5 counties, by residents 65+
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Population Estimates (Vintage 2024). Washington County is a metro county (USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Code 1). Rhode Island as a whole is 20% aged 65 or older.
What Rhode Island pays family caregivers
$15/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Rhode Island Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Rhode Island's programs at a glance
- Personal Choice Program
- Independent Provider Program
- Spouse paid?
- Not right now
- Parent paid for a child?
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- Some programs have no waitlist.
These rules are set by the state, so they are the same in every county. Read the full Rhode Island guide →
Towns and cities in Washington County
Rhode Island sets eligibility, not your town — so a family in South Kingstown and a family at the far edge of the county apply the same way. The largest communities in Washington County:
- South Kingstown32,094
- North Kingstown27,938
- Westerly23,288
- Narragansett14,407
- Hopkinton8,431
- Richmond8,142
- Charlestown8,052
- Exeter6,568
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Subcounty Population Estimates.
How families in Washington apply
You do not need a county office to start. Families in Washington County start with Rhode Island's program:
Apply for Medicaid LTSS through RI DHS (call 855-697-4347 or The Point at 401-462-4444), then choose the Personal Choice self-directed option through one of the three partner agencies.
Or skip the phone tag — our free 2-minute check tells you which Rhode Island program fits your family, then we help with the forms.
See if you qualify →Washington questions, answered honestly
Can I get paid to care for a family member in Washington County?
Yes. Rhode Island runs real Medicaid programs — like Personal Choice Program — that pay family caregivers, and they cover families in Washington County. We help you enroll, and applying costs you nothing.
How much do family caregivers earn in Washington County?
Reported figures in Rhode Island are around $15/hr, but rates vary — the program sets your exact pay. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Where do families in Washington County apply?
Families in Washington County start with the state, not the county. Apply for Medicaid LTSS through RI DHS (call 855-697-4347 or The Point at 401-462-4444), then choose the Personal Choice self-directed option through one of the three partner agencies.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Washington County?
Not right now — but other family members often can be. The fine print for Rhode Island: no — spouses are prohibited from being hired in both Personal Choice and the IP Program (adult children and other relatives allowed)
How many people in Washington County might need this?
32,800 residents of Washington County are 65 or older and about 3,220 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. Rhode Island's programs exist to pay for exactly that care.
Which towns in Washington do you cover?
All of Washington County — including South Kingstown, North Kingstown, Westerly, Narragansett and Hopkinton. Eligibility is set by Rhode Island, not by your town, so where you live inside the county does not change whether you qualify.
Program facts come from Rhode Island's published Medicaid program rules · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
More Rhode Island counties
The programs are the same statewide — pick your county:
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