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

Local figures

Personal Care in Downey, CA: the local picture

12%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (11% in Los Angeles County)

25%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (23% in Los Angeles County)

2,274

residents 85 or older (2.0% of all residents)

424

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

About 1,872 Downey residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (12%; 11% in Los Angeles County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

3,845 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

2,274 of the 15,788 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Downey compared with Los Angeles County and California

Census figure	Downey	Los Angeles County	California
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	12%	11%	9.3%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	25%	23%	22%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.9%	1.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	17%	22%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.6%	15%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$67,100	$64,269	—

Older residents in towns around Downey

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Bell Gardens, CA	2.3 mi	3,652	15%
Paramount, CA	3.4 mi	5,236	14%
Norwalk, CA	3.4 mi	14,384	11%
Cudahy, CA	3.5 mi	1,889	8.3%
Bellflower, CA	3.5 mi	9,593	11%
South Gate, CA	3.6 mi	11,344	9.1%

Home health agencies with aides serving Downey

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Excell Home Care Inc	Paramount, CA	3.4 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(562) 988-3370
Reliance Home Health Services	Paramount, CA	3.4 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(562) 630-8783
S N E Home Health Care Services	Whittier, CA	5.5 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(562) 325-5335
Home Care Excellence Health Services, Inc	Cerritos, CA	6.1 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(562) 860-3424
Livingstone Home Health Services, Inc	Buena Park, CA	9.1 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(714) 994-6329
Ace Home Health, Inc.	Los Angeles, CA	13 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(213) 383-9678

Straight-line miles from the center of Downey. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

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 Downey

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 26% of the $5,592 monthly median income of Downey 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 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 Downey: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Downey?

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 26% of the $5,592 monthly median income of Downey 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).

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 Downey

More senior care near Downey

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Downey

More for Downey 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 Downey, CA