24-Hour Home Care in San Diego, CA: Round-the-Clock Care

Local figures

24-Hour Home Care in San Diego, CA: the local picture

8.4%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.3% in San Diego County)

24,168

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in San Diego County)

$80,124

median yearly income of households headed by someone 65+

16,774 San Diego residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.4%; 8.3% in San Diego County), and 40,196 have serious difficulty walking. Round-the-clock care is usually for people who need hands-on help at any hour.

About 24,168 residents are 85 or older (1.7% of the population).

If you are weighing home care against a nursing home, the nearest Medicare-certified ones are Helen Bernardy Center D/P SNF in San Diego (1.3 mi) and The Shores Post-Acute in San Diego (1.7 mi).

San Diego compared with San Diego County and California

Census figure	San Diego	San Diego County	California
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.4%	8.3%	9.3%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	20%	22%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	8.6%	8.4%	9.1%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	22%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	9.5%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$80,124	$78,324	—

Older residents in towns around San Diego

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
La Mesa, CA	7.3 mi	9,437	5.4%
Lemon Grove, CA	8.2 mi	4,042	6.7%
Santee, CA	9.1 mi	9,812	8.1%
El Cajon, CA	10 mi	15,161	17%
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA	10 mi	4,223	6.3%
La Presa, CA	10 mi	5,288	9.3%

Home health agencies serving San Diego

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Absolute Home Health Inc	San Diego, CA	1.2 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(858) 541-2000
Health Plus Home Health Care Inc	San Diego, CA	2.5 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(619) 223-2779
Advantage Health Systems	San Diego, CA	7.0 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(858) 433-0469
Trio Home Health Care Of San Diego Inc	Encinitas, CA	18 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(760) 632-8746
Archer Health Inc	Carlsbad, CA	26 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 689-5049

Nursing homes near San Diego (to compare)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Helen Bernardy Center D/P SNF	San Diego, CA	1.3 mi	5 of 5	43	(858) 966-5833
The Shores Post-Acute	San Diego, CA	1.7 mi	3 of 5	305	(858) 277-6460
Kearny Mesa Convalescent And Nursing Home	San Diego, CA	2.2 mi	5 of 5	98	(858) 278-8121
Hillcrest Heights Healthcare Center	San Diego, CA	4.9 mi	5 of 5	96	(619) 297-4086

Straight-line miles from the center of San Diego. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a 24-hour caregiver can help with

Someone awake and on duty at all hours
Personal care, meals and medication reminders through the day
Help at night without relying on one tired caregiver
Written handover notes between shifts

Cost

What 24-hour home care costs in San Diego

24-hour care is 168 paid hours a week. At $16.90 an hour (the California minimum wage) that is about $12,303 a month in wages before any overtime, 184% of the $6,677 monthly median income of San Diego households headed by someone 65+. Rates are agreed with each caregiver. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a 24-hour caregiver

24-hour care is the most hours a family can arrange at home, and the most costly. Each caregiver works a set shift, often two 12-hour or three 8-hour shifts a day, so nobody works all night after working all day. Minimum wage and overtime rules apply to each caregiver you employ directly; for workers who live in the home see DOL Fact Sheet 79B.

Questions worth asking: How do you hand over to the next caregiver? Can you work fixed shifts on the same days each week? Have you worked on a team caring for one client? More in our 24-hour home care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

24-Hour Home Care in San Diego: common questions

How much does 24-hour home care cost in San Diego?

24-hour care is 168 paid hours a week. At $16.90 an hour (the California minimum wage) that is about $12,303 a month in wages before any overtime, 184% of the $6,677 monthly median income of San Diego households headed by someone 65+. Rates are agreed with each caregiver. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

How many caregivers does 24-hour care take?

A week has 168 hours. If each caregiver works about 40 hours, that is four or five people, plus someone to cover sickness and holidays. Fewer caregivers means very long weeks for each of them.

More near San Diego

More senior care near San Diego

24-Hour Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in San Diego

More for San Diego families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

24-Hour Home Care in San Diego, CA