The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Bakersfield, CA for 2024

Bakersfield, California, ranks on the Caring Senior Living Report and is recognized for its affordable housing. Nearly all public transportation stations and vehicles are ADA-accessible, and half of the city’s homes have zero-step entrances. For those who need medical care, Bakersfield is home to Adventist Health Bakersfield, an A-rated hospital in the county. Home care is a long-term option for older adults who want to age in place but need some assistance. These agencies provide nonmedical services including light housekeeping and laundry, meal planning and preparation, medication reminders and personal care. Home care rates in Bakersfield are relatively affordable at $5,506 per month. Home health care offers a wider range of services for the same monthly cost and includes skilled nursing.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Bakersfield– complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey reports that home care agencies in Bakersfield charge $5,506 per month for 44 hours of weekly care. This is several hundred dollars higher than the national rate of $4,957 but $600 below the California rate. Care costs in Visalia are about $170 lower per month, but in Oxnard, fees are $300 higher than in Bakersfield at $5,815. In Santa Maria, rates are over $1,000 higher than in Bakersfield, and in San Luis Obispo, home care agencies charge over $1,600 more per month. 

In Bakersfield, home care agencies charge $5,506 for nonmedical services such as help with daily personal care, transportation and light housekeeping. Home health care agencies charge the same monthly rate for specialized services such as occupational and physical therapies, wound care and medication administration. Seniors who reside in assisted living facilities access the same scope of services home care agencies provide for about $1,800 less per month. Nursing homes charge considerably more for services, with rates starting at $9,155 for semiprivate accommodations. 

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.