CNA Home Care in Isla Vista, CA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Isla Vista, CA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

655

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 Isla Vista are Buena Vista Care Center in Santa Barbara (3.3 mi), Valle Verde Health Facility in Santa Barbara (6.4 mi), Channel Islands Post Acute in Santa Barbara (6.6 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).

Isla Vista has about 30 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Isla Vista compared with Santa Barbara County and California

Census figure	Isla Vista	Santa Barbara County	California
Residents 85 or older	0.2%	2.3%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	30%	33%
Residents 65 or older	2.3%	17%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	92%	26%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	9.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	15%	5.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,097	$81,399	—

Older residents in towns around Isla Vista

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA	0.9 mi	79	0
Goleta, CA	1.6 mi	5,293	751
Eastern Goleta Valley, CA	4.8 mi	6,940	990
Santa Barbara, CA	8.4 mi	18,046	3,173
Montecito, CA	13 mi	3,021	471
Santa Ynez, CA	20 mi	1,065	41

Nursing homes near Isla Vista

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Buena Vista Care Center	Santa Barbara, CA	3.3 mi	2 of 5	150	(805) 964-4871
Valle Verde Health Facility	Santa Barbara, CA	6.4 mi	5 of 5	80	(805) 883-4000
Channel Islands Post Acute	Santa Barbara, CA	6.6 mi	3 of 5	156	(805) 687-6651
Mission Park Healthcare Center	Santa Barbara, CA	7.5 mi	5 of 5	138	(805) 682-7443
Samarkand Skilled Nursing Facility	Santa Barbara, CA	7.5 mi	5 of 5	63	(805) 687-0701
The Californian	Santa Barbara, CA	8.1 mi	5 of 5	68	(805) 682-1355

Home health agencies serving Isla Vista

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Assisted Home Health	Santa Barbara, CA	8.7 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(805) 569-2000
Nexus Home Health, Inc	Oxnard, CA	42 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(805) 483-7540
Authentic Home Health Care, Inc	Thousand Oaks, CA	58 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(805) 241-4411
Vna Health	Santa Barbara, CA	10 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(805) 965-5555

Straight-line miles from the center of Isla Vista. 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 Isla Vista

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 55% of the $2,675 monthly median income of Isla Vista 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 Isla Vista: common questions

What nursing homes are near Isla Vista?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Buena Vista Care Center in Santa Barbara (3.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Valle Verde Health Facility in Santa Barbara (6.4 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Channel Islands Post Acute in Santa Barbara (6.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Isla Vista?

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 55% of the $2,675 monthly median income of Isla Vista 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 Isla Vista

More senior care near Isla Vista

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Isla Vista

More for Isla Vista families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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 Isla Vista, CA