Mobility Assistance in San Diego, CA

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in San Diego, CA: the local picture

20%

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

24,168

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

1.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (San Diego)

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in San Diego County)

About 40,196 San Diego residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20%; 20% in San Diego County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

24,168 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving San Diego that list physical therapy include Absolute Home Health Inc and Health Plus Home Health Care Inc; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

San Diego compared with San Diego County and California

Census figure	San Diego	San Diego County	California
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	20%	22%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.4%	8.3%	9.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	22%	23%
Households with no vehicle	6.6%	5.5%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$80,124	$78,324	—

Older residents in towns around San Diego

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
La Mesa, CA	7.3 mi	9,437	19%
Lemon Grove, CA	8.2 mi	4,042	31%
Santee, CA	9.1 mi	9,812	24%
El Cajon, CA	10 mi	15,161	31%
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA	10 mi	4,223	17%
La Presa, CA	10 mi	5,288	22%

Home health agencies serving San Diego (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Absolute Home Health Inc	San Diego, CA	1.2 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(858) 541-2000
Health Plus Home Health Care Inc	San Diego, CA	2.5 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(619) 223-2779
Advantage Health Systems	San Diego, CA	7.0 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(858) 433-0469
Trio Home Health Care Of San Diego Inc	Encinitas, CA	18 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(760) 632-8746
Archer Health Inc	Carlsbad, CA	26 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 689-5049
Big Vine Home Health Services, Inc	Stanton, CA	84 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(714) 622-8338

Emergency hospitals near San Diego

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Sharp Memorial Hospital	San Diego, CA	1.2 mi	4 of 5	(858) 939-3400
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego	San Diego, CA	4.0 mi	4 of 5	(619) 528-5000

Straight-line miles from the center of San Diego. 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 San Diego

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 22% of the $6,677 monthly median income of San Diego 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 San Diego: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in San Diego?

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 22% of the $6,677 monthly median income of San Diego 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 San Diego

More senior care near San Diego

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in San Diego

More for San Diego 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 San Diego, CA