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

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in National City, CA: the local picture

1,503

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

2,251

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (46%)

34%

of National City homes have 3 or more bedrooms (53% in San Diego County)

$16.90

California minimum wage per hour

About 1,503 National City 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. 34% of homes in National City have three or more bedrooms (53% in San Diego County), while 28% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 4 rooms.

Of National City households headed by someone 65 or older, 2,251 own their home and 2,631 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 347 owners and 572 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

National City compared with San Diego County and California

Census figure	National City	San Diego County	California
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	22%	23%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	9.5%	12%
Residents 65 or older	15%	15%	16%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	66%	37%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,701	$78,324	—

Older residents in towns around National City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Coronado, CA	3.5 mi	4,201	804
Bonita, CA	5.3 mi	3,158	758
Chula Vista, CA	5.5 mi	36,991	4,646
Lemon Grove, CA	5.9 mi	4,042	376
La Presa, CA	6.3 mi	5,288	765
Imperial Beach, CA	6.8 mi	3,157	333

Emergency hospitals near National City

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Paradise Valley Hospital	National City, CA	0.8 mi	3 of 5	(619) 470-4321
Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr Ctr	Coronado, CA	4.3 mi	4 of 5	(619) 435-6251
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center	Chula Vista, CA	4.6 mi	4 of 5	(619) 502-5800

Straight-line miles from the center of National City. 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 National City

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 (101% of the $3,642 monthly median income of National City 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 (338% of the $3,642 monthly median income of National City 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 National City: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to National City?

Paradise Valley Hospital in National City, about 0.8 mi in a straight line from the center of National City (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (619) 470-4321. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in National City?

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 (101% of the $3,642 monthly median income of National City 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 (338% of the $3,642 monthly median income of National City 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 National City?

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 National City 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 National City

More senior care near National City

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in National City

More for National City 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 National City, CA