The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in San Mateo County, CA for 2025

"I needed help with a family member and Dan and his staff met with us right away. Dan worked with us on scheduling different shifts and accommodating our needs. The staff were on time, very knowledgeable, and provided excellent care for my aunt while she needed it. I would use this company again and have already recommended them to another family looking for caregiving services. "

"Assisting Hands Home Care - San Carlos is phenomenal. We are beyond thrilled. They help my parents with bathing, cooking, providing companionship, care, and daily tasks. The scheduling and billing are really good. They are trustworthy, open, honest, and upfront. It's easy to schedule and easy to change just for our needs and the prices are very comparable to others. The service is outstanding and thorough."

"The care givers are like a family member. When we need an answer to a certain issue, the office staff has been immediately available."

Founded more than 25 years ago in Omaha, Nebraska, Home Instead provides individualized, compassionate care to aging adults with the goal of helping them live independently for as long as possible. The company has more than 1,200 locations worldwide and employs more than 100,000 Care Professionals. Its team is trained to provide attentive, professional care, including companionship, personal care, medication reminders, transportation, meal prep, and housekeeping assistance. Home Instead Care Pros who specialize in dementia care for seniors living with conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. When a client’s condition begins to decline, Home Instead Care Pros can offer compassionate end-of-life support. Families working with Home Instead are consistently happy with this agency’s service. Many agree that the Care Pros provide pleasant, responsive care and go the extra mile to ensure that Clients feel safe, secure, and independent. What You Need to Know About Home Instead Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska More than 1,000 locations in over 10 countries around the world Offers in-home personal care, nursing care, dementia care and companionship for seniors Home Instead is known for its kind, well-trained Care Pros and individualized care plans Provides a la carte services including meal preparation and transportation who seniors who don’t require comprehensive in-home support Uses technology to keep clients connected with Care Pros and loved ones and to promote in-home safety What Home Care Services Does Home Instead Provide? Personal Care Services With a dedication to preserving the dignity and independence of clients, Home Instead’s Care Pros provide personal care services that include: Help with mobility, including standing, grooming, walking, and getting in and out of bed Medication reminders Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, and toileting Grocery shopping and assistance with other errands Light to moderate housekeeping assistance, including laundry Transportation to and from appointments or visits with loved ones Regular companionship Personalized care plans are provided for every client. These plans include detailed information about the client’s condition and needs, as well as an outline of the services that are to be provided to the client. In some cases, personal care services may be combined with other services, including dementia or nursing care, depending on the clients’ health. Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Home Instead employs experienced, trained Care Pros who are able to provide person- focused dementia care for seniors who are living with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or other forms of dementia. These Care Pros offer personal care services, along with the following: Assistance in establishing a stable daily routine Meal preparation Positive reinforcement Assistance with social skills Transportation to and from appointments, errands, and visits with loved ones Care Pros in this role take time to understand clients’ life histories and to focus on the person they were before dementia. Just as with the company’s personal care services, each dementia care client undergoes a comprehensive assessment and is assigned a care plan. This plan is reviewed regularly and adjusted to meet changing needs. Hospice Support When a senior is nearing the end of their life, hospice support can be there to ensure the comfort of them and their family members. Hospice support Care Pros can help with hygiene, medication administration, and basic housekeeping for seniors, as well as provide nutritious meals and supportive care for family members, enabling loved ones to spend as much time with seniors as possible as they approach their final days or hours. Meal Prep & Home Helper Home Instead offers basic housekeeping and meal preparation services for seniors who require a little extra help around the house. The company’s Meal Prep & Home Helper service can include assistance with tasks such as laundry, dusting, and vacuuming, as well as the preparation of nutritious meals that meet any dietary requirements set forth by clients’ healthcare providers. Transportation Home Instead provides safe transportation to and from clients’ destinations. Aging adults may use this service when they need help running errands such as grocery shopping or picking up a prescription, or when they’d simply like to spend the day shopping or visiting with friends. Transportation services from Home Instead can be arranged at predetermined drop-off and pick-up times, or Care Pros can accompany aging adults on errands and provide assistance and care throughout. Companionship Many aging adults face isolation and loneliness. This is especially true for those who’ve lost a spouse or who don’t have family close by. Home Instead Care Pros strive to build meaningful connections with clients. Companions visit seniors regularly on a schedule that works best for the client. These visits offer seniors a time to enjoy meaningful conversation while engaging in a game of cards, a puzzle, time outdoors, or other activities. What People Are Saying About Home Instead Clients and family members often speak highly of this agency’s dementia Care Pros and the attentive, compassionate care they provide to seniors. One family member provided a five- star review of the company, saying, “They have all been kind, caring, and attentive to my mom’s ever-changing needs that go along with her dementia. They have been with us and for us every step of the way. I would recommend them to anyone.” Other clients point to the meaningful relationships they’ve formed with Care Pros. One client said, “The lady who comes and helps me is wonderful. We get along really well and she is really nice. we also have a lot of fun together,” while another client’s family member provided a raving review of Home Instead, saying, “It was wonderful dealing with the staff. Charlene was extremely helpful and very accommodating to our needs and schedule. She worked very long and hard to make sure that everything was in order and everything would run very smoothly. She is still in contact with us and helping us in any way she can.” How Much Does Home Instead Charge for Home Care? Home care costs vary based on several factors, including the type of services required, how often one needs assistance, and the timing of the services (i.e., overnight vs. daytime care). Where you live also has a significant impact on the cost of home care, as national chains scale their local prices to the cost of living in a given area. When planning for home care costs, keep in mind that the national average cost is about $26 per hour, though prices in your location may be higher or lower. You can contact a Family Advisor to learn more about home care costs and payment options in your area. Who Should Consider Home Instead? Home Instead’s Care Pros are dedicated to preserving the dignity and independence of aging adults who need help managing daily tasks. This company is an excellent care option for those in need of services such as: Personal care: Seniors who need help with ADLs, including medication management, grooming, and mobility, can benefit from the help of Home Instead’s Care Pros. Dementia care: Home Instead Care Pros can provide specialized care for seniors who are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Care Pros have been specially trained to provide personal care and enhanced services that increase the quality of life for these seniors. Companionship: Care Pros are dedicated to helping seniors fend off loneliness by building meaningful, fun relationships through their companionship services. Hospice care: When seniors are nearing the end of their life, Home Instead’s Care Pros can provide support to ensure the comfort of seniors and their family members. How to Get Started with Home Instead Contact a Family Advisor for more information about Home Instead’s offerings in your area and to connect with a local home care provider. Our knowledgeable Family Advisors can provide one-on-one guidance to help you find the best home care service for your needs and budget, all at no cost to you. No matter where you are in the process of choosing a home care provider, a Family Advisor can help.

"Always Best Care was great to work with! I started out with a few hours a day for two days a week for my dad‘s care and in the end we were doing 24 hour care Seven days a week. When the time came that I needed to find a place to put my dad they even provided the service to help me find a home for him to go into. The whole team at Always Best Care were great to work with. Their caregivers were wonderful and Angela and Happiness were good to work with."

"We ended up hiring Companion Care Services, and we had a positive experience with them. The owner was very compassionate, caring, and asked really good questions because we were new to this and didn't know what questions to ask. She interacted with my mother, asked her directly, and did not ignore her. She chose a caregiver for us who was excellent, and has been there for over a month now. My mother liked her very much. She comes in 20 hours a week -- 5 days a week, 4 hours a day. The owner gave enough feedback about how things were going and what happened that week. I felt like there's a lot of interaction between Companion Care and the rest of the family. It has worked out really well. "