Companion Care in Altadena, CA: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Altadena, CA: the local picture

9,186

residents 65 or older (22% of Altadena)

20%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (22% in Los Angeles County)

34%

of residents 5+ speak a language other than English at home

3.8%

of households have no vehicle (8.9% in Los Angeles County)

About 1,766 residents of Altadena aged 65 or older live alone, 20% of older residents in households (22% in Los Angeles County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

3.8% of Altadena households have no vehicle (8.9% in Los Angeles County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 9,186 Altadena residents aged 65 or older, 1,291 are 85 or older (14%). Before the first visit with someone in that oldest group, ask the family about hearing, eyesight, walking and any memory changes, so the visit is planned around them.

4,563 Altadena households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 740 rent. A companion visiting a house may also help with mail, light chores and keeping an eye on things; in an apartment building, ask whether visitors sign in.

About 957 older Altadena residents (11%) live below the poverty line (15% in Los Angeles County). For them, Medicaid home and community-based services or the local Area Agency on Aging may cover some companion or homemaker hours, depending on the state program; private pay is not the only route.

About 34% of Altadena residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (8,434), other Indo-European languages (2,663), Chinese (682). If the person you care for is more at ease in one of these languages, say so in your posting; many caregivers list the languages they speak.

Altadena compared with Los Angeles County and California

Census figure	Altadena	Los Angeles County	California
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	22%	23%
Residents 65 or older	22%	15%	16%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	34%	55%	44%
Households with no vehicle	3.8%	8.9%	7.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	15%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	34%	33%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$83,861	$64,269	—

Older residents in towns around Altadena

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Pasadena, CA	2.2 mi	23,798	30%
La Cañada Flintridge, CA	3.9 mi	4,029	12%
San Marino, CA	5.0 mi	2,724	13%
East Pasadena, CA	5.1 mi	1,257	30%
Sierra Madre, CA	5.1 mi	2,281	26%
South Pasadena, CA	5.9 mi	3,467	22%

Hospitals near Altadena (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Huntington Hospital	Pasadena, CA	3.1 mi	not rated	(626) 397-5000
Usc Verdugo Hills Hospital	Glendale, CA	5.7 mi	4 of 5	(818) 790-7100
Glendale Adventist Medical Center	Glendale, CA	6.1 mi	4 of 5	(818) 409-8202

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

What it covers

What a companion caregiver can help with

Conversation, cards, puzzles and shared hobbies
Walks and outings to the park, library or senior center
Company at meals, and help preparing them
Rides or escort to appointments, church and visits

Cost

What companion care costs in Altadena

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,988 monthly median income of Altadena households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. 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 companion caregiver

Isolation is a health risk, not only a mood. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly one in four Americans aged 65 and older living in the community is socially isolated, and linked isolation to higher risks of dementia, heart disease and early death (2020 report).

Questions worth asking: What do you enjoy doing with the people you care for? Are you comfortable driving, and is your car insured for passengers? How do you handle a client who does not want company at first? More in our companion care guide.

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

Questions

Companion Care in Altadena: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Altadena?

About 1,766 residents aged 65 or older, 20% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (22% in Los Angeles County).

How much does companion care cost in Altadena?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,988 monthly median income of Altadena households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Altadena?

A companion keeps an older adult company and helps around the visit: conversation, activities, walks, meals, errands, rides and reminders. It suits someone who is mostly independent but lonely, or a family that wants someone to check in on weekdays.

More near Altadena

More senior care near Altadena

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Altadena

More for Altadena 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.

Companion Care for Seniors in Altadena, CA