Top Home Care Agencies in San Diego, CA
San Diego seniors can get support and assistance with personal care tasks at home from an in-home caregiver. San Diego has 91 home care agencies, and the average hourly cost of home care is $33. Home care is a good option for seniors who wish to age in place, or who need a little assistance while they’re choosing a senior living option. It’s also a great way to supplement care from a family caregiver. Home care agencies offer care that’s personalized to your loved one’s needs. This page provides listings for San Diego’s home care agencies as well as helpful information on home care costs and how to pay. We also provide client reviews and licensing and regulation information for San Diego home care agencies.
Home Care Agencies near San Diego, CA
BrightStar Care of Escondido and San Marcos, CA
504 West Mission Avenue Suite 206, Escondido, CA 92025
I have used the BrightStar of Escondido team for 3 months , have found all care staff very supporting & compassionate. They took a very personal interest in my mother’s mental & physical well being. The non...
They are very caring. They take her out on a lot of outings. The coordinator is very good in making sure she goes to her eye doctor and taking her to plays and musicals. I really feel like I get my money's...
Our care giver was wonderful. Her name is [name removed]. I was grateful to have [name removed]'s help until December 1st when he went into a memory care facility. She helped him so much while I had to work...
I gave a 4 for quality bc one of the caregivers had noticeable body odor which was unpleasant for me, although my mother's sense of smell was poor so she probably didn't notice. And there were very minimal...
Things with Home Care Assistance are working out very well. The person that we have coming out really extends himself and goes out of his way to really help out. He is very personable and friendly, able to...
It's been very good. I priced around and it seems to be a good value. I have to go out of town on Saturday mornings so a woman comes in from 8-12 and watches over my wife. She gives her breakfast and...
I was in a real pinch to find the right care giver and "home manager" for my parents. Mom suffers from dementia and suddenly Dad, her main caregiver, had a stroke. Almost overnight, we needed immediate...
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Friendly professional office staff. Most CG’s are great. I only worked with 1 CG whom needed more handholding by family. Many were willing to use translation apps to communicate with my non-English...
Had very good experience with the owner/operator of ComForCare services. The two home health aides who came into my home did a wonderful caring for my husband who has Parkinson's disease. I was very...
Anytime I’m around my husband, he needs me to do things for him so it can be hard trying to get the housework and things like that done. I needed help in the house and with him, which is why I chose this...
The friendliness of the care takers have been really really good
I am happy with this service. The care taker is great. She is helping with being a great companion. She does some errans that he is. needing. Some laudry needs from time to time. This serivces comes highly...
I recently moved states for work and was concerned for my mother because she's a senior who needs additional home care. I stumbled upon All Heart Home Care and the rest is history. I'm very happy with the...
After experiencing the exceptional care provided by Golden Years, the idea of trying another home care agency is inconceivable. The caregivers' genuine love for their work, coupled with their kindness and...
The caregiver was excellent and was truly a blessing for my dad. She was very caring and was a great addition to Hospice. She made recommendations for things that were of great benefit to us. We were very...
I would recommend them. We love our care giver. He has been a big help. After I spoke with [name removed] I felt comfortable with using them. Wasn't sure about having strangers in my home taking care of...
They keep in contact with family to see how things are going and if there is anything more they can do for your loved one. It has been a great experience.
Costs of home care in San Diego, California
Average cost of home care in San Diego, CA
Average monthly cost of home care vs. senior living in San Diego, CA
Compare the costs of aging in place against senior living
Use our cost calculator to compare your loved one’s current living and home care expenses against the cost of senior living in San Diego.
Paying for home care in San Diego, California
Many families rely on private pay options to cover any remaining costs. This includes things like a long-term care insurance policy, health savings account (HSA), retirement savings, personal income, or funds from converting a life insurance policy. Qualifying seniors and adults with disabilities also look for public pay programs to cut down on home care costs. These often come from Medicare and Medicaid. A veteran or spouse of a veteran may qualify for veterans benefits that can be put toward the cost of home care.
Paying for home care
Get an overview of all payment options for home care.
VA home care benefits
See how VA benefits can help veterans and their spouses pay for home care.
Home care and LTC insurance
Learn how to use long-term care (LTC) insurance to cover home care costs.
Does Medicare pay for home care in San Diego?
Yes, Medicare pays for home care if it includes medical services prescribed by a doctor.[01] Home health services range from simple at-home assistance to medical care services provided by a medical professional.
California offers Medicare savings programs that can help with some costs of home care. To be eligible, seniors must meet the income requirements. Seniors and adults with disabilities can apply online through Benefits Cal. The following Medicare savings programs help cover the costs of Medicare Part A and/or Part B premiums:[02]
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
- Specified Low-Income Beneficiary
- Qualifying Individual
- Qualified Disabled and Working Individual
For assistance accessing these programs, visit the San Diego Area Agency on Aging office. Area agencies on aging can help seniors find a variety of programs to help them remain living at home.
Does Medicaid pay for home care in San Diego?
Yes. Medicaid, known in California as Medi-Cal, can help pay for home care in a couple of ways. One is through the in-home supportive services program (IHSS). IHSS helps pay for home care for eligible seniors or adults who are blind or disabled. Applicants must be eligible for Medi-Cal and complete a health care certification form.
IHSS will send a social worker to assess eligibility, and persons accepted into the program can hire an individual home care provider for care services. IHSS will send checks for provider payments. Individuals can fill in the application for IHSS and submit it to the San Diego county IHSS office.
The IHSS program can provide the following to eligible individuals:[03]
- Assistance with bathing, grooming, and dressing
- Housework
- Laundry
- Meal preparation
- Shopping
San Diego seniors and adults with disabilities can also apply for the home and community-based alternatives (HCBA) waiver. It’s important to note that the HCBA waiver has a waiting list for services. The HCBA waiver provides the following:
- Care management services provided by a care management team (CMT) that includes a nurse and social worker
- State plan services coordinated by the CMT, including medical, behavioral health, and in-home supportive services
- Arrangements for long-term services and supports in the individual’s community
California provides additional Medicaid assistance for seniors through their local Area Agencies on Aging office. The San Diego Aging and Independence office has a variety of helpful programs that can benefit seniors as they age in place.
Where do I get information about veterans benefits in San Diego?
Veterans or the surviving spouse of a veteran may be eligible for disability benefits that can help pay for home care. Many eligible veterans may not know the full number of benefits they’re eligible for or confused by the application process, which can be lengthy. However, benefits counseling can make the process easier. Counselors are available through the VA or through veterans service organizations (VSOs).
The following veterans service organizations in San Diego can help veterans understand which benefits they may be eligible for.
San Diego County Office of Military and Veterans Affairs
5055 Ruffin Rd
San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: 1-866-726-8831
San Diego Veterans Resource Center
San Diego Central Library, room 316
330 Park Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-236-5800
San Diego VA Regional Benefit Office
8810 Rio San Diego Drive
San Diego, CA 92108
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
8810 Rio San Diego Drive, #1122
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: 619-400-5322
Email: scott.mckee1@va.gov
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
VA Regional Office
8810 Rio San Diego Drive, Ste 1160
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone: 619-299-6916
American Legion Post 460
7815 Armour Street
San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: 858-277-1052
California also has a veteran services program called CalVet. This program encourages low-income veterans to transition from Medi-Cal to CalVet’s Veterans Benefit Enhancement Program (VBE). The VBE is part of VA health care and offers some benefits that Medi-Cal doesn’t, including specialized care, coverage outside of California, and mailed prescriptions.
What families are saying about home care in San Diego
Recent reviews for home care in San Diego
Green Tree Home Care - San Diego in Santee, CA
All Heart Home Care in San Diego, CA
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How to choose the right San Diego home care agency
As you review home care agencies, certain factors are important to consider. You’ll want to look into how a home care agency hires their caregivers, and what requirements they have for them. It’s also key to research whether the home care agency is licensed and accredited. Also, each agency may assess care fees slightly differently, which may affect your selection process. Comparing these aspects of home care agencies below can help you as you choose an option.
Licensure and accreditation
Home care agencies in California are licensed through California’s Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division in the Home Care Services branch. Home care organizations must be licensed as part of California’s Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act.
To be licensed, home care organizations must meet the following requirements:[04]
- File the home care organization application
- Pay required licensing fees
- Submit proof of liability insurance of at least one million dollars
- Submit proof of employee theft insurance
- Have the owner of the agency submit to a background check
- Provide a list of associated home care aides
In California, accreditation is voluntary for home care agencies. However, you’ll find that many home care organizations do hold an accreditation to show their commitment to a high standard of care. Common accreditation agencies used by home care agencies in San Diego include The Joint Commission and the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.
Hiring practices
Licensed San Diego home care agencies must provide training for the home care aides they hire. They must also make sure that home care aides meet the necessary requirements to maintain their license. These requirements include the following:[05]
- Testing prospective home care aides for tuberculosis within seven days of starting employment
- Reviewing the home care aide’s criminal offender record
- Providing the necessary entry level and ongoing training for home care aides
Additionally, home care aides will need to register as a home care aide through California’s Department of Social Services. You can look up a home care aide through California’s home care aide online registry.
Fees and minimums
Many San Diego home care agencies use an hourly rate to calculate the cost of care to clients. However, sometimes home care agencies have minimum hourly requirements or additional fees. Ask about the following topics to make sure you have an accurate understanding of how much care will cost:
- Hourly minimums that caregivers may be required to work
- Rates for overnight or weekend care
- Whether the agency charges for a care assessment or consultation
- Whether the agency requires a deposit to start receiving care
Other questions to ask San Diego home care agencies
Ask these 10 questions to help you find the right home care agency.
Frequently asked questions about home care in San Diego
All Heart Home Care, Golden Years Home Care Solutions Inc - San Diego and Premier Senior Care - Southern CA are the top-rated Home Care facilities near San Diego, CA. These Home Care facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Home Care in San Diego is {{ zipAverageCost }} per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Home care is provided by an aide who comes to a senior’s home to help with daily chores and activities of daily living. It can be offered anywhere a senior calls home — including a house, senior apartment, independent living, or assisted living. Learn more about home care.
Home care services are customizable to a senior’s unique needs. Services can include companionship, help with chores like cooking and housekeeping, or assistance with activities of daily living, like toileting and bathing. Explore home care services in more detail.
Home care provides nonmedical services for seniors who require assistance with daily tasks like housework, bathing, dressing, and transportation. In contrast, home health care is prescribed by a doctor and includes services like skilled nursing care and therapies, health monitoring, and medication administration that are provided by licensed medical professionals. Read more about home care vs. home health care.
References
Medicare.gov. Home health services.
California Department of Health Care Services. (2024). Medicare savings programs in California.
San Diego County Aging and Independence Services. In-home supportive services (IHSS). SanDiegoCounty.gov.
California Legislative Information. Health and Safety Code – HSC. Division 2. Licensing Provisions [1200-1796.70]. Chapter 13. Home Care Services [1796.10-1796.70]. Article 6. Licensure of home care organizations [1796.32 – 1796.41].
California Legislative Information. Health and Safety Code – HSC. Division 2. Licensing Provisions [1200-1796.70]. Chapter 13. Home Care Services [1796.10-1796.70]. Article 8. Affiliated home care aides [1796.44 – 1796.45].
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