Most families researching home care hit the same wall: nobody will tell them the price. They call three agencies, get three vague answers, and end up no closer to a decision. We would rather just tell you.
Our Rates
Companion care: starting at $39 per hour
Personal care and hands-on support: up to $45 per hour
What determines your rate is the type of support your loved one needs, not a sales conversation. Companion care, conversation, light help, errands, presence, starts at $39 per hour. Personal care, which includes bathing, dressing, mobility assistance, and other hands-on help, runs up to $45 per hour. We will tell you exactly which tier applies to your situation during the free consultation, before any commitment, so there are no surprises later.
Which Tier Applies to You
Companion care, starting at $39/hour
For seniors who are managing daily tasks and are fully mobile (without an assistance device like a walker) but would benefit from regular company, conversation, and someone checking in. This is often the right starting point for a senior who is otherwise independent but isolated, or for families easing into care for the first time.
Personal care, up to $45/hour
For seniors who need hands-on help: light errands, light housekeeping, light maintenance, bathing, dressing, grooming, mobility support, medication reminders, or meal preparation tied to physical assistance. This tier is common after a fall, a hospital discharge, or as needs increase over time.
Many families start in the companion care tier and move into personal care as needs change, and your rate adjusts to match, nothing locks you into a higher tier you do not need.
What Affects Your Total Cost
Beyond the tier, your total monthly cost depends on how many hours of care your family needs. A few examples to make this concrete:
A few hours a week for companionship and light help
Roughly 6 to 10 hours weekly at the companion care rate. Often used for socially isolated seniors who are otherwise managing well, or as a starting point for families easing into care.
Daily visits for personal care and routine support
Roughly 15 to 25 hours weekly at the personal care rate. Common for seniors who need help with bathing, dressing, meals, and medication reminders but do not require constant supervision.
Full-time or live-in care
40 or more hours weekly, including overnight coverage where needed. Used for advanced dementia, significant fall risk, or post-hospital recovery requiring close monitoring.
There is no minimum commitment beyond our scheduling minimums, and care can scale up or down as needs change.
Why Hourly Care Is Often Less Than a Facility
It is a common assumption that in-home care costs more than moving to a facility. For families who need part-time to moderate support, that is usually backwards.
Assisted living in Southern California typically runs $4,000 to $7,000 a month, regardless of how much actual hands-on help a resident needs that month. You pay the same whether your parent needs minimal assistance or significant daily care.
In-home care is billed only for the hours used, at the rate that matches the actual support provided. A family starting in the companion care tier at 15 to 20 hours a week often spends meaningfully less per month than a facility placement, while their parent stays in the home and neighborhood they know.
How Families Pay for Care
Medicare does not cover non-medical in-home care. That surprises a lot of families, so it is worth saying plainly upfront. Here is what does help:
Long-term care insurance
Many policies cover non-medical home care. We can help you understand what your specific policy covers and provide documentation for claims.
Veterans Aid and Attendance benefits
A VA pension benefit available to qualifying wartime veterans and surviving spouses that can help offset the cost of in-home care. We can point you toward the right resources to apply.
Medi-Cal HCBS waiver programs
Home and Community-Based Services waivers may cover some in-home care costs for those who qualify financially and medically. Eligibility varies, and we are glad to help you understand whether this applies to your situation.
Private pay
The most common way families cover care, whether through personal savings, retirement income, or family members sharing the cost.
Most families use some combination of these. We walk through your specific situation during the free consultation so you are not guessing.
What You Are Actually Paying For
A lower hourly rate from an unlicensed, independent caregiver might look appealing on paper, but it usually means no background check oversight, no insurance coverage if something goes wrong, no backup if your caregiver is sick or unavailable, and potential legal exposure for you as a household employer.
Our rates include a background-checked, insured, bonded caregiver, matched to your loved one’s personality and needs, with backup coverage if your regular caregiver is out, and a licensed agency standing behind the care provided. We hold California Home Care Organization license number 194701171.
FAQs regarding payment and rates:
Q: What is your hourly rate for in-home senior care?
A: Companion care starts at $39 per hour. Personal care, which includes hands-on support like bathing and dressing, runs up to $45 per hour. We will confirm exactly which rate applies during your free consultation.
Q: What is the difference between companion care and personal care pricing?
A: Companion care covers conversation, light help, and presence, starting at $39 per hour. Personal care covers hands-on assistance like bathing, dressing, and mobility support, up to $45 per hour. The rate matches the type of support provided, not a sales tier.
Q: Is there a minimum number of hours required?
A: We work with families starting as low as a few hours a week. There is no large minimum commitment, and many families start small and increase hours as needs change.
Q: Does Medicare cover in-home senior care?
A: No. Medicare does not cover non-medical in-home care. Long-term care insurance, Veterans Aid and Attendance benefits, Medi-Cal HCBS waivers, and private pay are the common ways families cover the cost.
Q: Is in-home care cheaper than assisted living?
A: For families needing part-time to moderate support, often yes. Assisted living runs $4,000 to $7,000 a month regardless of actual care needed that month. In-home care is billed only for hours used, at the applicable rate.
Q: Will my rate change after the free consultation?
A: No. We confirm your tier and rate during the consultation based on the actual support your loved one needs, and that is the rate you pay. There is no separate assessment fee or hidden markup.
Q: Can I get a custom quote for my situation?
A: Yes. Call us at (310) 722-2872 for a free consultation. We will talk through your loved one’s needs, confirm which tier applies, and give you a clear estimate based on the hours involved.
Ready to talk through your specific situation? Call us at (310) 722-2872 for a free, no-pressure consultation. Learn more about our full range of in-home care services or read real questions South Bay families ask us.
Seniors Helping Seniors® South Bay – Licensed CA HCO 194701171.