Mobility Assistance in Taft, CA: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Taft, CA: the local picture

37%

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

80

residents 85 or older (1.1% of all residents)

29 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Bakersfield)

61%

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

About 376 Taft residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (37%; 25% in Kern County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Taft that list physical therapy include Mercy-Memorial Home Health and Good Life Home Health Care Services, Inc; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Taft compared with Kern County and California

Census figure	Taft	Kern County	California
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	37%	25%	22%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.2%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	21%	9.3%	9.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	61%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	23%	23%
Households with no vehicle	11%	6.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,775	$51,607	—

Older residents in towns around Taft

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
South Taft, CA	1.9 mi	121	45%
Ford City, CA	3.3 mi	341	24%
Rosedale, CA	22 mi	2,538	25%
Pine Mountain Club, CA	24 mi	714	16%
Greenacres, CA	25 mi	785	33%
Old Stine, CA	26 mi	399	29%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mercy-Memorial Home Health	Bakersfield, CA	29 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(661) 632-5050
Good Life Home Health Care Services, Inc	Los Angeles, CA	97 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(323) 478-9471
Neogen Care Corp	Sherman Oaks, CA	87 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	88 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(818) 955-5848
Concordia Health Care Provider, Inc	La Verne, CA	117 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(626) 281-7400
Compliance Home Health Care Services, Inc.	San Bernardino, CA	138 mi	4.5 of 5	—	(909) 747-9355

Emergency hospitals near Taft

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital	Bakersfield, CA	29 mi	3 of 5	(661) 327-1792
Mercy Hospital	Bakersfield, CA	29 mi	3 of 5	(661) 632-5000

Straight-line miles from the center of Taft. 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 Taft

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 24% of the $6,065 monthly median income of Taft 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 Taft: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Taft?

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 24% of the $6,065 monthly median income of Taft 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 Taft

More senior care near Taft

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Taft

More for Taft 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 Taft, CA