Personal Care in Alturas, CA: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Alturas, CA: the local picture

4.5%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.7% in Modoc County)

30%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (26% in Modoc County)

51

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

1

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Alturas ZIP codes in their service area

About 28 Alturas residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.5%; 8.7% in Modoc County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

189 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (30%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

51 of the 625 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Alturas compared with Modoc County and California

Census figure	Alturas	Modoc County	California
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.5%	8.7%	9.3%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	30%	26%	22%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	4.5%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	28%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.6%	17%	12%

What it covers

What a personal care aide can help with

Bathing or showering, with a shower chair if needed
Dressing and undressing
Toileting and incontinence care
Grooming: hair, shaving and oral care

Cost

What personal care costs in Alturas

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. 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 personal care aide

The Census Bureau asks whether a person has difficulty dressing or bathing, which it calls a self-care difficulty; it is the clearest sign that someone needs personal care. Medicare does not pay for personal care when it is the only care needed (Medicare.gov), but many state Medicaid programs do for people who qualify.

Questions worth asking: How do you protect a client’s dignity during bathing and toileting? Are you trained in safe transfers? Can you keep the same morning or evening hours each day? More in our personal care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Personal Care in Alturas: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Alturas?

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. 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).

What is the difference between personal care and companion care?

Companion care is company and help around the house. Personal care is hands-on help with the body: bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming. Many caregivers offer both; say in your posting which you need.

More near Alturas

More senior care near Alturas

Personal Care in nearby cities

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Other care in Alturas

More for Alturas 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.

In-Home Personal Care in Alturas, CA