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San Diego, California

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

Hands-on personal care at home from a certified nursing assistant, for families who want state-certified training. Post what you need in San Diego for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

Post your care need freeSan Diego at a glance
A younger man supporting an older man's arm as they walk through a bright living room
Local figures

Nursing Assistants in San Diego, CA: the local picture

6+
Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles
811
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 San Diego are Helen Bernardy Center D/P SNF in San Diego (1.3 mi), The Shores Post-Acute in San Diego (1.7 mi), Kearny Mesa Convalescent And Nursing Home in San Diego (2.2 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).

San Diego has about 24,168 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

San Diego compared with San Diego County and California

Census figureSan DiegoSan Diego CountyCalifornia
Residents 85 or older1.7%1.8%1.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability31%31%33%
Residents 65 or older15%15%16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone24%22%23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)10%9.5%12%
Households with no vehicle6.6%5.5%7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$80,124$78,324—

Older residents in towns around San Diego

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
La Mesa, CA7.3 mi9,4371,282
Lemon Grove, CA8.2 mi4,042376
Santee, CA9.1 mi9,812828
El Cajon, CA10 mi15,1611,603
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA10 mi4,223569
La Presa, CA10 mi5,288765

Nursing homes near San Diego

Nursing homeTownDistanceCMS overall ratingCertified bedsPhone
Helen Bernardy Center D/P SNFSan Diego, CA1.3 mi5 of 543(858) 966-5833
The Shores Post-AcuteSan Diego, CA1.7 mi3 of 5305(858) 277-6460
Kearny Mesa Convalescent And Nursing HomeSan Diego, CA2.2 mi5 of 598(858) 278-8121
Hillcrest Heights Healthcare CenterSan Diego, CA4.9 mi5 of 596(619) 297-4086
Mission Hills Post Acute CareSan Diego, CA5.2 mi4 of 575(619) 297-4484
Balboa Nursing & Rehabilitation CenterSan Diego, CA5.3 mi4 of 5194(619) 291-5270

Home health agencies serving San Diego

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Absolute Home Health IncSan Diego, CA1.2 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(858) 541-2000
Health Plus Home Health Care IncSan Diego, CA2.5 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(619) 223-2779
Advantage Health SystemsSan Diego, CA7.0 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(858) 433-0469
Trio Home Health Care Of San Diego IncEncinitas, CA18 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(760) 632-8746

Straight-line miles from the center of San Diego. 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 San Diego

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 22% of the $6,677 monthly median income of San Diego 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 San Diego: common questions

What nursing homes are near San Diego?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Helen Bernardy Center D/P SNF in San Diego (1.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); The Shores Post-Acute in San Diego (1.7 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Kearny Mesa Convalescent And Nursing Home in San Diego (2.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in San Diego?

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 22% of the $6,677 monthly median income of San Diego 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 San Diego

More senior care near San Diego

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in San Diego

More for San Diego 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.

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