In-Home Care for Veterans in South Taft, CA

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in South Taft, CA: the local picture

17

veterans aged 65 or older (14% of residents 65+)

121

residents 65 or older (4.1% of South Taft)

62%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kern County)

28%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (23% in Kern County)

About 17 South Taft residents aged 65 or older are veterans (14% of that age group; 13% in Kern County), out of 38 veterans of all adult ages in town.

62% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (37% in Kern County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

South Taft compared with Kern County and California

Census figure	South Taft	Kern County	California
Residents 65+ who are veterans	14%	13%	11%
Residents 65+ with a disability	62%	37%	33%
Residents 65 or older	4.1%	12%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	23%	23%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	45%	25%	22%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	15%	12%

Older residents in towns around South Taft

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Taft, CA	1.9 mi	1,027	12%
Ford City, CA	2.4 mi	341	4.4%
Rosedale, CA	23 mi	2,538	7.8%
Pine Mountain Club, CA	26 mi	714	12%
Greenacres, CA	26 mi	785	14%
Old Stine, CA	28 mi	399	22%

Hospitals near South Taft

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital	Bakersfield, CA	31 mi	3 of 5	(661) 327-1792
Mercy Hospital	Bakersfield, CA	31 mi	3 of 5	(661) 632-5000
Adventist Health Bakersfield	Bakersfield, CA	31 mi	2 of 5	(661) 395-3000

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

What it covers

What a caregiver for a veteran can help with

Company and help around the house
Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting
Rides to VA and other appointments
Meals and medication reminders

Cost

What veterans’ home care costs in South Taft

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 caregiver for a veteran

The VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program sends a trained aide, supervised by a registered nurse, to help eligible veterans with daily activities at home. The Aid and Attendance benefit adds monthly payments to a VA pension for veterans who need help with daily activities. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for veterans before? Can you drive to the VA medical center or clinic? Are you comfortable with the paperwork VA programs need? More in our veterans’ home care guide.

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

Questions

Veterans’ Home Care in South Taft: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in South Taft?

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).

Does the VA pay for in-home care?

For eligible veterans, VA programs such as Homemaker and Home Health Aide care can provide help at home, and Aid and Attendance can add to a VA pension. Ask the VA about eligibility; the Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (caregiver.va.gov).

More near South Taft

More senior care near South Taft

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in South Taft

More for South Taft families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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.