Home Health Aides in Arcata, CA: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Arcata, CA: the local picture

3

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Arcata ZIP codes in their service area

$16.50

median hourly wage of home care aides in California (BLS, May 2025); now below the $16.90 minimum

2,643

residents 65 or older (14% of Arcata)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Humboldt County)

3 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Arcata ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 2 of those list home health aide services. Agency aides are usually part of care a doctor orders. For help beyond those visits, families hire an aide directly.

Home health and personal care aides in California earn a median $16.50 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $16.50 and $17.57. That May 2025 figure is below today's $16.90 California minimum wage, so current pay starts at least there.

Arcata has about 2,643 residents aged 65 or older, 27% of whom report a disability.

Arcata compared with Humboldt County and California

Census figure	Arcata	Humboldt County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	35%	33%
Residents 65 or older	14%	20%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.7%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	29%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.0%	13%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	12%	11%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$70,729	$57,764	—

Older residents in towns around Arcata

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Myrtletown, CA	5.9 mi	1,218	37%
Eureka, CA	6.1 mi	4,340	37%
McKinleyville, CA	6.2 mi	3,271	29%
Cutten, CA	7.6 mi	706	44%
Bayview, CA	8.6 mi	592	37%
Pine Hills, CA	10 mi	934	38%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Arcata

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Triza Home Health Care	Hayward, CA	247 mi	4.5 of 5	—	(510) 603-4744
Providence At Home With Compassus Home Health, Humboldt	Eureka, CA	6.4 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(707) 443-9332
Bay Nation Home Health Services Inc	Newark, CA	255 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(925) 771-9776

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

What it covers

What a home health aide can help with

Bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting
Transfers, walking and positioning
Meals and help with eating
Medication reminders

Cost

What home health aides costs in Arcata

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 25% of the $5,894 monthly median income of Arcata 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 home health aide

Federal rules require home health aides who work for Medicare-certified agencies to complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, or pass a competency evaluation (42 CFR 484.80). Many states add their own requirements.

Questions worth asking: Where did you train, and can I see the certificate? Have you worked for a home health agency? Which transfers and equipment are you trained on? More in our home health aides guide.

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

Questions

Home Health Aides in Arcata: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Arcata?

Medicare lists 3 certified agencies whose service area includes Arcata ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Triza Home Health Care (4.5 of 5), Providence At Home With Compassus Home Health, Humboldt (4 of 5), Bay Nation Home Health Services Inc (2.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Arcata?

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 25% of the $5,894 monthly median income of Arcata 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 is the difference between a home health aide and a CNA?

Both are trained in personal care. A certified nursing assistant (CNA) has passed a state exam and is on the state nurse aide registry, and often works in nursing homes and hospitals. A home health aide is trained for care in the home. Neither does skilled nursing.

More near Arcata

More senior care near Arcata

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Arcata

More for Arcata 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.

Home Health Aides in Arcata, CA