CNA Home Care in Downey, CA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Downey, CA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

931

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$16.50

median hourly wage of home care aides in California (BLS, May 2025); now below the $16.90 minimum

$16.90

California minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Downey are Downey Community Health Center in Downey (0.1 mi), Lakewood Healthcare Center in Downey (0.7 mi), Southland in Norwalk (1.9 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in California earn a median $16.50 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). That May 2025 figure is below today's $16.90 California minimum wage, so current pay starts at least there. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Downey has about 2,274 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Downey compared with Los Angeles County and California

Census figure	Downey	Los Angeles County	California
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.9%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	34%	33%
Residents 65 or older	14%	15%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	17%	22%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.6%	15%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.3%	8.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$67,100	$64,269	—

Older residents in towns around Downey

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Bell Gardens, CA	2.3 mi	3,652	287
Paramount, CA	3.4 mi	5,236	441
Norwalk, CA	3.4 mi	14,384	2,116
Cudahy, CA	3.5 mi	1,889	107
Bellflower, CA	3.5 mi	9,593	766
South Gate, CA	3.6 mi	11,344	782

Nursing homes near Downey

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Downey Community Health Center	Downey, CA	0.1 mi	3 of 5	198	(562) 862-6506
Lakewood Healthcare Center	Downey, CA	0.7 mi	1 of 5	290	(562) 869-0978
Southland	Norwalk, CA	1.9 mi	1 of 5	120	(562) 868-9761
Riviera Healthcare Center	Pico Rivera, CA	2.2 mi	1 of 5	154	(562) 806-2576
Downey Post Acute	Downey, CA	2.2 mi	4 of 5	99	(562) 923-9301
Brookfield Healthcare Center	Downey, CA	2.2 mi	5 of 5	70	(562) 869-2567

Home health agencies serving Downey

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Excell Home Care Inc	Paramount, CA	3.4 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(562) 988-3370
Reliance Home Health Services	Paramount, CA	3.4 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(562) 630-8783
S N E Home Health Care Services	Whittier, CA	5.5 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(562) 325-5335
Home Care Excellence Health Services, Inc	Cerritos, CA	6.1 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(562) 860-3424

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

What it covers

What a nursing assistant can help with

Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
Safe transfers, repositioning and walking
Help with eating and fluids
Taking and noting vital signs if asked

Cost

What CNAs costs in Downey

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 26% of the $5,592 monthly median income of Downey 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 nursing assistant

To be certified, a nurse aide completes a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and passes a competency exam (42 CFR 483.152). The state then lists them on its nurse aide registry, which you can search online in most states.

Questions worth asking: Which state certified you, and is it current? Where have you worked as a CNA? Are you comfortable with lifts, catheters and incontinence care? More in our nursing assistants guide.

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

Questions

Nursing Assistants in Downey: common questions

What nursing homes are near Downey?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Downey Community Health Center in Downey (0.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Lakewood Healthcare Center in Downey (0.7 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Southland in Norwalk (1.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Downey?

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 26% of the $5,592 monthly median income of Downey 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).

Can a CNA give medication?

Generally no. A CNA can remind someone to take medication. Giving medication is usually reserved for licensed nurses, or for aides with a separate state medication certification.

More near Downey

More senior care near Downey

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Downey

More for Downey 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.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in Downey, CA