The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in La Jolla, CA for 2024

Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in La Jolla, CA, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies across the 68 options below.

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey doesn’t list senior care costs for La Jolla, but because the neighborhood is located in San Diego, care costs reflect regional norms. Based on this, local home care rates are estimated at $6,387 monthly, which is about 5% higher than the state rate and nearly 30% higher than the national average. Seniors in El Centro pay nearly $3,000 less per month for care, and in Riverside and Los Angeles, rates range from about $300 to $500 less. In Oxnard, rates come in about $600 below La Jolla’s average. 

Home care agencies in La Jolla charge $6,387 for basic services such as companionship and personal care. For seniors who need skilled nursing services, home health care is more expensive at $6,473. Nursing home care, which is the costliest long-term care option in La Jolla, costs $3,000 more than home care. Seniors seeking more economical services may consider assisted living, which costs $900 less than home care, or adult day health care, which costs $4,000 less. 

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.