Mobility Assistance in Palo Alto, CA

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Palo Alto, CA: the local picture

17%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20% in Santa Clara County)

3,034

residents 85 or older (4.5% of all residents)

2.1 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Stanford)

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Santa Clara County)

About 2,237 Palo Alto residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17%; 20% in Santa Clara County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

3,034 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving Palo Alto that list physical therapy include Grace Community Home Health Inc. and National Home Health Services-West, Inc; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Palo Alto compared with Santa Clara County and California

Census figure	Palo Alto	Santa Clara County	California
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	17%	20%	22%
Residents 85 or older	4.5%	2.0%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	7.6%	9.0%	9.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	19%	23%
Households with no vehicle	8.5%	6.0%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$135,313	$92,440	—

Older residents in towns around Palo Alto

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Los Altos Hills, CA	2.1 mi	2,590	15%
Stanford, CA	2.5 mi	692	10%
Los Altos, CA	3.2 mi	6,377	13%
Mountain View, CA	3.5 mi	10,012	19%
Loyola, CA	4.0 mi	806	9.9%
West Menlo Park, CA	4.2 mi	476	16%

Home health agencies serving Palo Alto (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Grace Community Home Health Inc.	Mountain View, CA	3.7 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(650) 784-0082
National Home Health Services-West, Inc	Fremont, CA	13 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(415) 812-2955
Care In Touch Home Health Agency	Fremont, CA	13 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(510) 651-8500
Silverline Staff Home Health	Fremont, CA	13 mi	5 of 5	—	(925) 476-5350
Helenium Home Health, Inc.	San Jose, CA	15 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(408) 326-2971
American Carequest	Burlingame, CA	17 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(415) 885-9100

Emergency hospitals near Palo Alto

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Stanford Health Care	Stanford, CA	2.1 mi	5 of 5	(650) 723-4000
El Camino Health	Mountain View, CA	3.1 mi	4 of 5	(650) 940-7000

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

What it covers

What a caregiver for mobility help can help with

Steadying walks inside and outside the home
Transfers: bed, chair, toilet, shower and car
Help with walkers, canes and wheelchairs
The home exercises a physical therapist set

Cost

What mobility assistance costs in Palo Alto

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 13% of the $11,276 monthly median income of Palo Alto 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 caregiver for mobility help

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and over 14 million, or 1 in 4, older adults report falling every year (CDC).

Questions worth asking: Which transfers are you trained to do safely? Have you used a gait belt, walker or wheelchair with clients? What would you do if my parent started to fall? More in our mobility assistance guide.

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

Questions

Mobility Assistance in Palo Alto: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Palo Alto?

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 13% of the $11,276 monthly median income of Palo Alto 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 does a caregiver do to help with mobility?

Walks beside the person, helps them stand and sit, transfers them to bed, chair, toilet, shower or car, and keeps walkways clear. They do not replace a physical therapist.

More near Palo Alto

More senior care near Palo Alto

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Palo Alto

More for Palo Alto 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.

Mobility Assistance at Home in Palo Alto, CA