California has more programs for care at home than most states, which is good news but can feel like a maze. This page lays out the basics and points only to free, official resources. We don't recommend or rank any agency.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimates; CMS Provider Data Catalog Home Health Care Agencies (July 2026 file) and Hospice General Information (August 2026 file). Agency counts are a statistic only, not a recommendation. A count doesn't tell you about quality or whether an agency serves your area.
Three kinds of care, in plain words
Which kind of care fits? A quick guide
- Home health is short-term skilled care at home, like a nurse or therapist, ordered by a doctor. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) licenses home health agencies and hospices, and you can look them up on Cal Health Find.
- In-home care (home care, personal care) is help with daily life: bathing, dressing, meals and company. Families often pay for it themselves. People with Medi-Cal may qualify for IHSS (below).
- Hospice is comfort-focused care for someone with a terminal illness, usually at home.
California at a glance
California had about 6.9 million residents 65 and older in 2025 (17.6% of the state), up from 6.0 million in 2020.
Note: Civilian population. 85+ grew from 723,698 to 809,992. U.S. share 65+: 19.0%.
What care costs in California
Full-time paid in-home help (44 hours a week) had a median cost of about $91,520 a year in California in 2025, vs. $80,080 nationally.
Note: Median of provider-reported rates; 44 hours/week x 52 weeks. Costs vary a lot by city and by hours. Figure taken from published CareScout state data (retrieved Oct. 2, 2026).
Costs vary widely across California's regions.
Medicare: what it covers at home
Medicare's rules are the same in every state. According to Medicare.gov, Medicare covers part-time or intermittent skilled care at home for people who are homebound. A doctor or other provider must see your loved one in person and order the care, and a Medicare-certified agency must provide it. You pay nothing for covered home health visits. Medicare doesn't pay for 24-hour care, meal delivery, or personal care when that's the only help needed. Hospice is covered for people with a terminal illness who choose comfort care (Medicare.gov).
In 2024, 10.6% of California's Original Medicare enrollees used home health (363,556 people) and 2.9% of Medicare Part A enrollees used hospice (196,217 people).
Note: Home health counts cover Original Medicare only (not Medicare Advantage). Hospice counts include all Part A enrollees. Orange = U.S. comparison.
Medi-Cal programs for care at home
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). According to CDSS, IHSS helps pay for services so eligible older, blind or disabled people can stay safely at home. To qualify, you must live in California, have a Medi-Cal eligibility determination, live in your own home (not a hospital or care facility), and turn in a Health Care Certification form. A county social worker visits to assess needs and decide how many hours to authorize. In IHSS, the person receiving care usually hires their own provider and acts as the employer. Apply through your county IHSS office.
Other Medi-Cal home and community options:
- Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP): care management and some services for people 60 and older on Medi-Cal who could otherwise need nursing home care (CDA).
- Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver: care management by a nurse and social worker for people at risk of nursing home placement. It's offered statewide through local waiver agencies (DHCS).
- Assisted Living Waiver (ALW): helps people 21+ with full-scope Medi-Cal (no share of cost) who need nursing-facility-level care live in assisted living or public subsidized housing, in 15 counties (DHCS).
- Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS): a day health program for adults 18+ on Medi-Cal who meet medical criteria (CDA).
Rules, waiting lists and availability vary by county. Your Area Agency on Aging or county social services office can explain your options.
Help for veterans
- VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits add a monthly amount to a VA pension for veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities (VA.gov).
- Ask your VA social worker about VA home-based care and respite. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET).
- CalVet, the California Department of Veterans Affairs, can help connect veterans with benefits (calvet.ca.gov).
Free, official places to call
| What you need | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Local aging services, caregiver support, meals, respite | Your Area Agency on Aging: 1-800-510-2020 (California Department of Aging) |
| Free, unbiased Medicare counseling | HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program): 1-800-434-0222 (shiphelp.org) |
| Check a home health agency's or hospice's license and record | Cal Health Find (CDPH) (cdph.ca.gov) |
| Suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult | Adult Protective Services: 1-833-401-0832 (enter your ZIP code to reach your county) (NAPSA directory; CDSS APS) |
| IHSS | Your county IHSS office (CDSS IHSS) |
| Anywhere in the U.S. | Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116 (eldercare.acl.gov) |
If someone is in danger or has a medical emergency, call 911. For an emotional crisis, call or text 988 (veterans: 988, then press 1).
What this means for your family
- If your loved one has Medi-Cal, ask the county IHSS office about In-Home Supportive Services and who can be the paid provider.
- Ask the doctor whether Medicare home health makes sense right now, and ask for the list of agencies that serve your area.
- Call HICAP (1-800-434-0222) for free Medicare counseling.
- Look up any agency on Cal Health Find and Medicare Care Compare before deciding.
- Call your Area Agency on Aging (1-800-510-2020) about respite, meals and caregiver support.
Sources
- Medicare.gov: Home health services
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services - Medicare.gov: Hospice care
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-care - California Department of Social Services: In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/in-home-supportive-services - DHCS: Assisted Living Waiver
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/long-term-care-alternatives-home-and-community-based-service-options/assisted-living-waiver/ - DHCS: Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/long-term-care-alternatives-home-and-community-based-service-options/home-and-community-based-alternatives-waiver/ - California Department of Aging: Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)
https://www.aging.ca.gov/Programs_and_Services/Multipurpose_Senior_Services_Program/ - California Department of Aging: Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) fact sheet
https://aging.ca.gov/Providers_and_Partners/Community-Based_Adult_Services/Program_Narrative_and_Fact_Sheets/ - California Department of Aging: Find Services in My County (Area Agencies on Aging)
https://www.aging.ca.gov/Find_Services_in_My_County/ - SHIP National Technical Assistance Center: California HICAP
https://www.shiphelp.org/ships/california/ - CDPH: Cal Health Find (licensed home health agencies and hospices)
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/CalHealthFind/Pages/Home.aspx - CDSS: Adult Protective Services
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/adult-protective-services - NAPSA: Adult Protective Services, help in your area
https://www.napsa-now.org/help-in-your-area/ - VA: Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits
https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/ - CalVet (California Department of Veterans Affairs)
https://www.calvet.ca.gov/ - CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey, state data
https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care
This is general information to help you think things through. It isn't medical, legal or financial advice. For your family's situation, please talk with your loved one's doctor or a benefits counselor. In an emergency, call 911.