CNA Home Care in Novato, CA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Novato, CA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

544

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 Novato are Novato Healthcare Center in Novato (1.9 mi), Smith Ranch Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Cente in San Rafael (4.6 mi), Pine Ridge Care Center in San Rafael (5.1 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).

Novato has about 1,453 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Novato compared with Marin County and California

Census figure	Novato	Marin County	California
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	24%	33%
Residents 65 or older	24%	24%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	30%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.7%	7.5%	12%
Households with no vehicle	5.0%	4.9%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$90,361	$107,563	—

Older residents in towns around Novato

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA	3.4 mi	1,763	161
Sleepy Hollow, CA	5.5 mi	788	109
Santa Venetia, CA	6.0 mi	1,238	228
Fairfax, CA	7.1 mi	1,735	73
San Anselmo, CA	7.2 mi	2,745	131
San Rafael, CA	7.5 mi	12,299	2,098

Nursing homes near Novato

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Novato Healthcare Center	Novato, CA	1.9 mi	1 of 5	181	(415) 897-6161
Smith Ranch Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Cente	San Rafael, CA	4.6 mi	3 of 5	80	(415) 499-1000
Pine Ridge Care Center	San Rafael, CA	5.1 mi	5 of 5	101	(415) 479-3610
Northgate Postacute Care	San Rafael, CA	5.1 mi	2 of 5	52	(415) 479-1230
Professional Post Acute Center	San Rafael, CA	5.1 mi	3 of 5	99	(415) 479-5161
Villa Marin	San Rafael, CA	5.7 mi	5 of 5	31	(415) 492-2408

Home health agencies serving Novato

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Truemed, Inc	South San Francisco, CA	30 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(650) 588-8331
Care In Touch Home Health Agency	Fremont, CA	50 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(510) 651-8500
Caringhand Home Health Solutions, Inc	Sacramento, CA	62 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(916) 476-3205
Luxor Care Home Health Services	Vallejo, CA	18 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(707) 561-8008

Straight-line miles from the center of Novato. 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 Novato

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 19% of the $7,530 monthly median income of Novato 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 Novato: common questions

What nursing homes are near Novato?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Novato Healthcare Center in Novato (1.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Smith Ranch Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Cente in San Rafael (4.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Pine Ridge Care Center in San Rafael (5.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Novato?

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 19% of the $7,530 monthly median income of Novato 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 Novato

More senior care near Novato

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Novato

More for Novato 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 Novato, CA