Mobility Assistance in Shafter, CA: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Shafter, CA: the local picture

29%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25% in Kern County)

197

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

12 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Bakersfield)

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kern County)

About 451 Shafter residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (29%; 25% in Kern County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Shafter that list physical therapy include Mercy-Memorial Home Health and Telfair Home Health Care; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Shafter compared with Kern County and California

Census figure	Shafter	Kern County	California
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	29%	25%	22%
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.2%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	9.3%	9.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	23%	23%
Households with no vehicle	4.0%	6.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,438	$51,607	—

Older residents in towns around Shafter

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Rosedale, CA	6.3 mi	2,538	25%
Greenacres, CA	8.1 mi	785	33%
Oildale, CA	10 mi	4,505	28%
Wasco, CA	12 mi	1,692	19%
Old Stine, CA	13 mi	399	29%
Bakersfield, CA	13 mi	46,672	26%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mercy-Memorial Home Health	Bakersfield, CA	12 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(661) 632-5050
Telfair Home Health Care	Glendale, CA	105 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(818) 539-5244
First Signature Home Health Care, Inc.	Glendale, CA	108 mi	5 of 5	—	(760) 254-8460
Hye Nurses Home Health Inc	N Hollywood, CA	101 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(818) 509-1892
Neogen Care Corp	Sherman Oaks, CA	101 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(909) 396-6818
Professional Nursing Inc	Valley Village, CA	101 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(818) 955-5848

Emergency hospitals near Shafter

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital	Bakersfield, CA	12 mi	3 of 5	(661) 327-1792
Mercy Hospital	Bakersfield, CA	12 mi	3 of 5	(661) 632-5000

Straight-line miles from the center of Shafter. 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 Shafter

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 46% of the $3,203 monthly median income of Shafter 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 Shafter: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Shafter?

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 46% of the $3,203 monthly median income of Shafter 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 Shafter

More senior care near Shafter

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Shafter

More for Shafter 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 Shafter, CA