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

San Diego’s average home care cost is over $1,400 more per month than the national average, but it’s less than $300 higher than California’s $6,101 average. Its average is also much higher than El Centro’s $3,432, but it’s nearly $300 less per month than Santa Maria’s average cost. Further north in San Luis Obispo, averages rise to $7,150, more than $750 higher than San Diego’s.

Adult day health care is the lowest-cost senior care option in San Diego at $2,058, about a third the cost of home care. However, it provides limited services in nonresidential settings. Assisted living is also lower at $5,475 but requires seniors to move to residential communities. Nursing home care is the highest-cost option at $9,384, but also requires a move and better suits seniors with extensive health-related needs. Home care covers personal caregiving but doesn’t include medical services provided by registered nurses or therapists like home health care. Home care costs slightly more at $6,473 compared to $6,387.

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.