The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in San Diego, CA for 2024
San Diego has long been a popular retirement destination for its fantastic year-round weather, lower than average health care costs and relatively low crime rate. Out of 482 municipalities, it ranked 36th on Caring’s 2022 Senior Living Report for providing a great senior environment. It’s home to the extensive UC San Diego Health system and nationally ranked Sharp Memorial Hospital, making it an excellent location for seniors aging in place at home. According to Genworth’s 2022 Cost of Care Survey, San Diego’s average home care cost is $6,387, which is significantly higher than the national average but typical of California. Home care differs from home health care because it doesn’t include skilled nursing services.
Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the San Diego area – 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.
Home Care Agencies in San Diego, CA
100 Results
All Heart Home Care - San Diego, CA
2831 Camino del Rio S, Ste 102A , San Diego, CA, 92108
Aventa Senior Care - San Diego
1455 Frazee Rd Suite 500, San Diego, CA, 92108
"With safe, reliable transportation and accompaniment services, our fully trained caregivers help older adults in San Diego visit any number ..."
READ MORENurse Next Door - Escondido, CA
243 S Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA, 92025
Heritage Senior Care Inc
2755 Jefferson St # 101, Carlsbad, CA, 92008
Brighter Life In Home Health Caregiving
3125 Pasternack Place,, San Diego, CA, 92123
"Brighter Life in-home health caregiving is here to help you or your loved one get their independence and quality of life back. Whether recov..."
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Comforcare Home Care - San Diego, CA
4901 Morena Blvd # 125, San Diego, CA, 92117
"ComForCare Home Care - San Diego provides a full range of senior home care services for our clients. From personal hygiene to light housekee..."
READ MOREFirstlight Home Care Of San Diego
9920 Pacific Heights Blvd Suite 150, San Diego, CA, 92121
SYNERGY HomeCare of La Mesa
7317 El Cajon Blvd., Suite 204A, La Mesa, CA, 91942
Compassionate In-Home Care - San Diego
4252 Strugion Court , San Diego, CA, 92130
AAA Home Care Services
1925 Euclid Avenue Suite 103, San Diego, CA, 92105
All Heart Home Care - Coronado, CA
830 Orange Ave. Suite B-1, Coronado, CA, 92118
"We are an award-winning San Diego Home Care Agency noteworthy. Our agency received the Top Home Care award from SeniorAdvisor.com five years..."
READ MOREGoal Line Home Care, LLC - San Diego, CA
8880 Rio San Diego Dr Suite 800, San Diego, CA, 92108
ComForCare Home Care - North San Diego, CA
9747 Business Park Avenue Suite 206 , San Diego, CA, 92131
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Paying for Home Care in San Diego, CA
The Cost of Home Care in San Diego, CA
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.
San Diego
$6,387
California
$6,101
United States
$4,481
El Centro
$3,432
Los Angeles
$5,911
Santa Maria
$6,673
San Luis Obispo
$7,150
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in San Diego, CA
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.
Home Care
$6,387
Home Health Care
$6,473
Adult Day Health
$2,058
Assisted Living
$5,475
Nursing Home Care (semi-private room)
$9,384
Financial Assistance for Home Care in San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA
San Diego seniors wishing to age in place at home often need additional services and supports to do so safely. Several nonprofit and governmental programs help aging adults by assisting with rising utility costs, making homes safer or more energy efficient and delivering nutritious food at no or low cost to those who qualify.
Resource | Contact | Service |
---|---|---|
Meals on Wheel San Diego | (619) 260-6110 | Meals on Wheels San Diego delivers meals to seniors aged 60 or older, veterans of any age and caregivers of current clients. Participants may choose one or two meals seven days a week, with Sunday meals delivered on Saturdays. It also delivers on holidays and provides free pet food. |
Rebuilding Together San Diego | (619) 231-7873 | RTSD provides home repair and maintenance at no cost to low-income seniors and disabled persons through its year-round “Safe at Home” program. It primarily performs minor repairs and safety and energy efficiency modifications. Applicants must own and live in their own single-family home and fall beneath income limits. |
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program | (866) 675-6623 | LIHEAP helps low-income households pay their heating or cooling bills, including those that heat with wood, oil or propane. Eligibility is based on place of residence, income, household size and other factors. Preference is given to residents aged 60 or older, disabled persons and households with children. |
Low-Income Weatherization Program | (916) 576-7109 | California’s LIWP provides low-income households with free solar photovoltaic systems and energy efficiency upgrades. The program reduces greenhouse gases while saving seniors and other residents on their household energy costs. It also provides energy-efficient air conditioning and improved insulation to protect seniors from health impacts caused by high temperatures. |
Property Tax Postponement | (800) 952-5661 | The PTP program allows seniors who are disabled, blind or aged 62 or older to postpone their property taxes until they sell their home or pass away. To qualify, seniors must own and occupy the home, meet income limits, not have a reverse mortgage and have at least 40% equity. They must reapply each year. |
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.