CNA Home Care in Palo Alto, CA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Palo Alto, CA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

417

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 Palo Alto are The Terraces At Los Altos Health Facility in Los Altos (1.3 mi), Palo Alto Post-Acute in Palo Alto (3.3 mi), Villa Siena in Mountain View (3.3 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).

Palo Alto has about 3,034 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Palo Alto compared with Santa Clara County and California

Census figure	Palo Alto	Santa Clara County	California
Residents 85 or older	4.5%	2.0%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	31%	33%
Residents 65 or older	20%	15%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	19%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.7%	9.4%	12%
Households with no vehicle	8.5%	6.0%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$135,313	$92,440	—

Older residents in towns around Palo Alto

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Los Altos Hills, CA	2.1 mi	2,590	396
Stanford, CA	2.5 mi	692	105
Los Altos, CA	3.2 mi	6,377	839
Mountain View, CA	3.5 mi	10,012	1,499
Loyola, CA	4.0 mi	806	89
West Menlo Park, CA	4.2 mi	476	103

Nursing homes near Palo Alto

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Terraces At Los Altos Health Facility	Los Altos, CA	1.3 mi	4 of 5	30	(650) 948-8291
Palo Alto Post-Acute	Palo Alto, CA	3.3 mi	4 of 5	66	(650) 327-0511
Villa Siena	Mountain View, CA	3.3 mi	1 of 5	30	(650) 961-6484
Vi At Palo Alto	Palo Alto, CA	3.6 mi	5 of 5	44	(650) 853-5001
Camino Ridge Post-Acute	Mountain View, CA	3.8 mi	1 of 5	102	(650) 968-2990
Webster House	Palo Alto, CA	3.8 mi	5 of 5	145	(650) 328-3300

Home health agencies serving Palo Alto

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Grace Community Home Health Inc.	Mountain View, CA	3.7 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(650) 784-0082
National Home Health Services-West, Inc	Fremont, CA	13 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(415) 812-2955
Care In Touch Home Health Agency	Fremont, CA	13 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(510) 651-8500
Helenium Home Health, Inc.	San Jose, CA	15 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(408) 326-2971

Straight-line miles from the center of Palo Alto. 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 Palo Alto

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 13% of the $11,276 monthly median income of Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto: common questions

What nursing homes are near Palo Alto?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are The Terraces At Los Altos Health Facility in Los Altos (1.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Palo Alto Post-Acute in Palo Alto (3.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Villa Siena in Mountain View (3.3 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Palo Alto?

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 13% of the $11,276 monthly median income of Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto

More senior care near Palo Alto

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Palo Alto

More for Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto, CA