CNA Home Care in Ridgecrest, CA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Ridgecrest, CA: the local picture

1

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

124

certified beds in the 1 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 Ridgecrest are Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care And Rehabili in Ridgecrest (0.9 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).

Ridgecrest has about 209 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Ridgecrest compared with Kern County and California

Census figure	Ridgecrest	Kern County	California
Residents 85 or older	0.7%	1.2%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	37%	33%
Residents 65 or older	12%	12%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	23%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	15%	12%
Households with no vehicle	6.8%	6.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,118	$51,607	—

Older residents in towns around Ridgecrest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
China Lake Acres, CA	5.8 mi	392	46
California City, CA	35 mi	1,875	204
Boron, CA	42 mi	376	43
Wofford Heights, CA	46 mi	787	156
Lake Isabella, CA	46 mi	757	10
Mojave, CA	52 mi	450	92

Nursing homes near Ridgecrest

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care And Rehabili	Ridgecrest, CA	0.9 mi	3 of 5	124	(760) 446-3551

Home health agencies serving Ridgecrest

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
V & V Home Health Inc	Glendale, CA	108 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(818) 918-1592
Metropolitan Home Health	Valley Village, CA	109 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(818) 508-5801
Dependable Home Health, Inc	Mojave, CA	49 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(661) 824-0133
Brand Home Health Care Inc	Glendale, CA	107 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(747) 215-9133

Straight-line miles from the center of Ridgecrest. 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 Ridgecrest

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 28% of the $5,177 monthly median income of Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest: common questions

What nursing homes are near Ridgecrest?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Ridgecrest Regional Transitional Care And Rehabili in Ridgecrest (0.9 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Ridgecrest?

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 28% of the $5,177 monthly median income of Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest

More senior care near Ridgecrest

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Ridgecrest

More for Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest, CA