California, Missouri

Live-In Caregivers in California, MO

A caregiver who lives in the home, for someone who needs help across the day and a person nearby at night. Post what you need in California for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

A smiling caregiver with her arm around an older woman in a bright room at home
Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in California, MO: the local picture

142
residents 85 or older (3.1% of all residents)
403
households headed by someone 65+ own their home (62%)
70%
of California homes have 3 or more bedrooms (71% in Moniteau County)
$15.00
Missouri minimum wage per hour

About 142 California residents are 85 or older. Live-in care is most often arranged for this age group, when help is needed through the day and someone should be close at night.

A live-in caregiver needs a private room. 70% of homes in California have three or more bedrooms (71% in Moniteau County), while 7.9% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 6 rooms.

Of California households headed by someone 65 or older, 403 own their home and 242 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 68 owners and 55 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

California compared with Moniteau County and Missouri

Census figureCaliforniaMoniteau CountyMissouri
Residents 85 or older3.1%2.4%2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone56%40%30%
Residents 65+ with a disability44%37%34%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)21%12%10%
Residents 65 or older19%17%18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home11%11%6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$24,383$37,173—

Older residents in towns around California

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
Tipton, MO12 mi415110
Eldon, MO19 mi1,058192
Versailles, MO20 mi715130
Jefferson City, MO22 mi7,4261,034
Ashland, MO22 mi73329
Holts Summit, MO25 mi75829

Emergency hospitals near California

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Ssm Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson CityJefferson City, MO18 mi3 of 5(573) 681-3000
University Of Missouri Health CareColumbia, MO25 mi3 of 5(573) 882-4141
Boone Hospital CenterColumbia, MO26 mi4 of 5(573) 815-8000

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

What it covers

What a live-in caregiver can help with

  • Help across the day: meals, housekeeping, personal care
  • Someone in the home overnight if help is needed
  • Medication reminders and appointment rides
  • Companionship and a steady routine
Cost

What live-in care costs in California

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $15.90 an hour (the Missouri median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,445 a month (170% of the $2,032 monthly median income of California households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $11,575 a month (570% of the $2,032 monthly median income of California households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a live-in caregiver

Put the arrangement in writing: hours on duty, sleep time, days off, the room and pay (federal rules: DOL Fact Sheet 79B).

Questions worth asking: Have you lived in with a client before, and for how long? What days off and sleep time do you need? How do you handle being woken at night? More in our live-in caregivers guide.

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

Questions

Live-In Caregivers in California: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to California?

Ssm Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City in Jefferson City, about 18 mi in a straight line from the center of California (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (573) 681-3000. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in California?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $15.90 an hour (the Missouri median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,445 a month (170% of the $2,032 monthly median income of California households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $11,575 a month (570% of the $2,032 monthly median income of California households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Live-in or 24-hour care in California?

A live-in caregiver sleeps in the home and has protected sleep and break time. 24-hour care uses two or three caregivers in shifts so someone is always awake; in California it costs more than three times as much a month (see the cost section above). Choose shifts if help is needed several times a night.

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.

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