Live-In Caregivers in South San Francisco, CA

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in South San Francisco, CA: the local picture

1,598

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

4,815

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (75%)

55%

of South San Francisco homes have 3 or more bedrooms (54% in San Mateo County)

$16.90

California minimum wage per hour

About 1,598 South San Francisco 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. 55% of homes in South San Francisco have three or more bedrooms (54% in San Mateo County), while 18% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 4.9 rooms.

Of South San Francisco households headed by someone 65 or older, 4,815 own their home and 1,601 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 585 owners and 225 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

South San Francisco compared with San Mateo County and California

Census figure	South San Francisco	San Mateo County	California
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.5%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	17%	21%	23%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	9.0%	12%
Residents 65 or older	19%	18%	16%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	54%	46%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$92,037	$103,766	—

Older residents in towns around South San Francisco

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Brisbane, CA	1.5 mi	798	80
San Bruno, CA	3.6 mi	7,596	864
Millbrae, CA	4.1 mi	4,599	913
Burlingame, CA	4.6 mi	4,983	884
Daly City, CA	5.8 mi	20,856	3,041
Broadmoor, CA	6.3 mi	724	15

Emergency hospitals near South San Francisco

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco	South San Francisco, CA	2.6 mi	4 of 5	(650) 742-3200
Ahmc Seton Medical Center	Daly City, CA	5.8 mi	1 of 5	(650) 992-4000
Peninsula Medical Center	Burlingame, CA	6.1 mi	5 of 5	(650) 696-5400

Straight-line miles from the center of South San Francisco. 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 South San Francisco

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 (48% of the $7,670 monthly median income of South San Francisco 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 (160% of the $7,670 monthly median income of South San Francisco 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 South San Francisco: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to South San Francisco?

Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco in South San Francisco, about 2.6 mi in a straight line from the center of South San Francisco (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (650) 742-3200. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in South San Francisco?

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 (48% of the $7,670 monthly median income of South San Francisco 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 (160% of the $7,670 monthly median income of South San Francisco 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 South San Francisco?

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 South San Francisco 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 South San Francisco

More senior care near South San Francisco

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in South San Francisco

More for South San Francisco 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.