The Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in San Carlos, CA for 2025

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey indicates that San Carlos’s average monthly home care rate is $6,864. That is $763 higher than the statewide median cost and $1,907 higher than the corresponding national rate. However, the difference is smaller between San Carlos and Santa Rosa, which has a median rate of $6,292. Santa Cruz’s average cost matches San Carlos’s, and San Jose’s is slightly more expensive, coming in at $7,102.

San Carlos’s seniors have several options for living arrangements. Nursing homes are the most expensive. Semiprivate rooms cost an average of $11,566 monthly. Assisted living and home care are more affordable, at $6,319 and $6,864, respectively. For a higher average charge of $7,150 per month, home health care providers offer services such as physical therapy and skilled nursing. Adult day health care is the most cost-effective setup, with an average monthly rate of $1,950.

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.