Live-In Caregivers in Kensington, CA: 24-Hour Home Care

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Kensington, CA: the local picture

154

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

768

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (95%)

82%

of Kensington homes have 3 or more bedrooms (52% in Alameda County)

$16.90

California minimum wage per hour

About 154 Kensington 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. 82% of homes in Kensington have three or more bedrooms (52% in Alameda County); the median home has 6.7 rooms.

Of Kensington households headed by someone 65 or older, 768 own their home and 39 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 104 owners and 9 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Kensington compared with Alameda County and California

Census figure	Kensington	Alameda County	California
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	1.9%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	23%	23%
Residents 65+ with a disability	19%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.0%	11%	12%
Residents 65 or older	23%	15%	16%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	15%	47%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$122,639	$80,351	—

Older residents in towns around Kensington

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
El Cerrito, CA	1.4 mi	5,363	718
Albany, CA	2.1 mi	3,063	324
Berkeley, CA	2.8 mi	20,100	2,093
East Richmond Heights, CA	3.2 mi	782	88
Emeryville, CA	4.7 mi	1,440	231
El Sobrante, CA	4.8 mi	2,983	279

Emergency hospitals near Kensington

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp	Berkeley, CA	3.8 mi	4 of 5	(510) 204-4444
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center	Oakland, CA	4.9 mi	5 of 5	(510) 655-4000
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland	Oakland, CA	4.9 mi	not rated	(510) 428-3000

Straight-line miles from the center of Kensington. 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 Kensington

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $16.90 an hour (the California minimum; the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is below it), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,662 a month (36% of the $10,220 monthly median income of Kensington households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $12,303 a month (120% of the $10,220 monthly median income of Kensington households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. 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 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 Kensington: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Kensington?

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp in Berkeley, about 3.8 mi in a straight line from the center of Kensington (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (510) 204-4444. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Kensington?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $16.90 an hour (the California minimum; the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is below it), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,662 a month (36% of the $10,220 monthly median income of Kensington households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $12,303 a month (120% of the $10,220 monthly median income of Kensington households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Live-in or 24-hour care in Kensington?

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 Kensington 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.

More near Kensington

More senior care near Kensington

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Kensington

More for Kensington 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.

Live-In Caregivers in Kensington, CA