The Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Oakland, CA for 2025
Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in Oakland, CA, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies 4.7 out of 5 stars across the options below.
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Paying for Home Care in Oakland, CA
The Cost of Home Care in Oakland, CA
The 2024 Genworth Cost of Care Survey reports a monthly median rate of $7,531 for home care in Oakland. This runs hundreds of dollars over California’s baseline rate of $6,864, as well as costs in nearby cities such as Stockton, where seniors pay around $6,101 for care. However, Oakland compares competitively with Santa Rosa, where fees track about $760 higher.
Oakland
$7,531
California
$6,864
United States
$5,720
Stockton
$6,101
San Jose
$8,008
Santa Rosa
$8,294
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Oakland, CA
In Oakland, seniors pay around $7,531 monthly for nonmedical in-home care. By contrast, seniors who live independently and obtain services through adult day health care facilities pay more cost-effective rates of around $1,842. Even so, home care offers affordability compared to nursing home care, which comes in at around $12,471 for 24-hour support with semi-private accommodations.
Home Care
$7,531
Home Health Care
$8,580
Adult Day Health Care
$1,842
Assisted Living Facility
$7,495
Nursing Home Care (semi-private room)
$12,471
Note: Data for Oakland was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, San Francisco, was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Oakland, CA
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.
Free & Low-Cost Home Care Resources in Oakland, CA
Oakland seniors who want to remain at home can get support through a number of community-based and government programs and services, including barrier-free transportation, home meal delivery and support for LGBTQ+ elders.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) | (510) 238-3762 | The Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) is a state-funded, city-operated program for Medi-Cal beneficiaries aged 65 and older who are at risk of institutionalization, and who want to continue living in their own home. This program provides eligible seniors with a host of in-home and community-based services that may include personal care, an emergency response system, respite care, ongoing case management and referrals to other senior services. |
| Oakland Paratransit for the Elderly and Disabled (OPED) | (510) 238-3036 | Oakland Paratransit for the Elderly and Disabled provides seniors with low-cost, door-to-door rides within the city. Eligible seniors can use this program to book a taxi or wheelchair van to travel to and from non-urgent medical appointments, social engagements and shopping trips. |
| Medical Baseline Energy Program | (800) 743-5000 | Seniors who use life-support equipment, as well as those with medical conditions that make seniors especially vulnerable to temperature-related medical issues, may qualify for the Medical Baseline program. This energy relief program gives eligible seniors discounts on their first 500 kilowatt hours of electricity, and/or their first 25 therms of gas each month. |
| Habitat for Humanity of East Bay/Silicon Valley | (866) 450-4432 | Low-income seniors who need help completing safety-critical home repairs may be eligible for assistance through Habitat for Humanity's Home Repair program. Homeowners can request accessibility upgrades, help with electrical, plumbing and roofing repairs, exterior repairs and repairs to a mobile home. |
| Lavender Seniors of the East Bay | (510) 736-5428 | Lavender Seniors is a senior services organization that offers a variety of programs for older adults who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. Services include the Friendly Visitors program that matches trained and screened volunteer visitors with housebound or isolated seniors who need social support. The organization also hosts monthly lunches for seniors, and advocates for improvements in LGBTQ+ senior care. |
Determining Your Loved One’s Need for In-Home Care
Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help – oftentimes it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.


Guidelines for Talking About In-Home Care
If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.


Frequently Asked Questions
Reviews of Care Providers Nearby
Home Care
cat lover
2.0
Review of Home Instead - Oakland, CA
the agency made a $2 an hour mistake on the service contract and won't respond to my requests for a refund of the erroneous charges. i've been with home inswtead since feb 3, 224. yje associates...
Home Care
Frank Lee
5.0
Review of Practical Home Care - Oakland, CA
I hired Practical Home Care in 2017 to care for my Father till he passed away in 2020 then my Mother needed the help so we continue with the ladies. They are wonderful people, great customer...
Home Care
Looking out for Mom and Dad
1.0
Review of Home Care Assistance
Hide anything of any value. We had a nightmare experience with Home Care Assistance. During the few months that my parents had care givers, items (including my Mom's wedding rings) disappeared from...