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4.8
(62 reviews)
"Medina was wonderful. She had John exercise which he hadn’t done in weeks. She cooked a delicious meal for us and was great with John...."
READ MOREThe 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Palo Alto, CA for 2025
Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in Palo Alto, CA, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies 4.8 out of 5 stars across the 100 options below.
Home Care Services in Palo Alto, California
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4.9
(34 reviews)
"Starlight Caregivers has been wonderful—-caring and professional and able to anticipate needs for our loved one. In a stressful time, they stepped in with supportive care. The caregivers are skilled and Cindy has been absolutely amazing to work with...."
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5.0
(32 reviews)
"My personal Interaction with the care staff is wonderful. Great communication! Always available if I have any questions for my love one. The Care Plus agency is awesome always updating me with my grandpas health and providing new ways of the care smo..."
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4.8
(19 reviews)
" We have, my wife Bonnie and I, been contracted to Essential Care since August 2020, are ongoing clients, and are very satisfied with the services received. Any problems with cover have been rapidly resolved and all the Caregivers have been kind, co..."
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5.0
(6 reviews)
"Our family has been utilizing Home Instead for the care of our mother for many years now. We have found Home Instead to be consistently very responsive to our needs & always reliable. Their staff goes "above & beyond" to ensure caregiving schedule is..."
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4.7
(24 reviews)
"We had an excellent service with Gentiva Personal Care. We called them on a Sunday afternoon and asked for a caregiver for my spouce with very little notice. They were able to assist us and bring us someone the following morning. The caretaker was t..."
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4.8
(11 reviews)
"I chose Senior Helpers of San Francisco and the Peninsula for my husband and they're really good. I am very pleased. The communication is excellent and the caregivers are very good. The scheduling was perfect and they accommodated what I needed. They..."
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4.5
(12 reviews)
"We hired Care Indeed and that's been great. Mostly, they care for my dad, like transferring, feeding, bathing, and grooming. The caregiver comes 6 hours a day. She is very kind, competent, and caring. She listens to my mom. She's there to help my mom..."
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5.0
(3 reviews)
"We have been using their home care services for over 2 years in the care of my wife. Two shifts of 3 hours in the morning to get her cleaned up, dressed , and fed along with some exercises . Then the reverse of 3 hours in the evening to get her re..."
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5.0
(2 reviews)
"We ended up hiring Companion Care Services, and we had a positive experience with them. The owner was very compassionate, caring, and asked really good questions because we were new to this and didn't know what questions to ask. She interacted with m..."
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5.0
(1 reviews)
"We were in a tough situation and needed caregivers for my dad on very short notice. He needed pretty involved care since he had later stage Parkinsons. Their team was able to work with all of our requests and matched us with a caregiver in less than ..."
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5.0
(1 reviews)
"My parents are using FirstLight Home Care Silicon Valley. They've helped us on and off for the last month. They've been great and very flexible in terms of timing and working with my parents. They've been very good. They're providing transportation s..."
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"Specialized care for clients with Alzheimer's, dementia, and diabetes Hospice care, pain control and management care Transportation for do..."
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"Family Love Homecare aims to provide the best in home care service to clients in need at their comfort of their homes. Our professional trai..."
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"Trusted Non-Medical In-Home Care Service Provider Across California Golden Hope Services LLC provides high-quality, non-medical in-home c..."
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"For nearly 20 years, TheKey—formerly Home Care Assistance—has delivered quality in-home care, supporting older adults with a wide range of n..."
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5.0
(1 reviews)
"Mom was in excellent hands with the women of CareAmerica. Constantly by her side making sure she was comfortable. Couldn’t have done the last two weeks of Moms life without them. And my mission of having Mom pass away at home was accomplished. Extre..."
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5.0
(6 reviews)
"Whenever we need a caregiver for my dad, Venus at Stanford Senior Care is always there to provide support on short notice. She and her team are wonderful, compassionate, and truly dedicated to caring for him. If you're looking for reliable, family-li..."
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"Seeing a loved one struggle can be heartbreaking. We understand the challenges of caring for an aging loved one, especially when juggling wo..."
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Paying for Home Care in Palo Alto, CA
The Cost of Home Care in Palo Alto, CA
According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, seniors in Palo Alto pay about $6,864 for home care, which is higher than California's statewide average of $6,101 and the national median of $4,957. However, it's a cheaper option than nearby San Jose, where home care costs 3.5% more. Prices drop in Sacramento, which offers care for about 9.1% less than Palo Alto. Los Angeles and Fresno are also more affordable home care options at $5,911 and $5,529, respectively.
Palo Alto
$6,864
California
$6,101
The United States
$4,957
San Jose
$7,102
Sacrametno
$6,292
Los Angeles
$5,911
Fresno
$5,529
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Palo Alto, CA
In Palo Alto, seniors can access nonmedical services with home care at $6,864 per month or skilled nursing services through home health care for a 4.2% price increase. For a more economical senior care option, adult day health care offers services for $1,950 per month. Seniors who are mostly independent but can't live alone safely can access assisted living, a residential care option providing daily living support, for about 8.7% less than home care. Meanwhile, nursing homes offer 24-hour skilled medical services for a higher rate of $11,566.
Home Care
$6,864
Home Health Care
$7,150
Adult Day Health Care
$1,950
Assisted Living
$6,319
Nursing Home Care (semiprivate room)
$11,566
Note: Data for Palo Alto was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, San Francisco, was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Palo Alto, CA
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 to pay 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 nonmedical 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 services 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 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 tax-free portion of your home's equity in cash. 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 have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.
Palo Alto Home Care Resources
Home care services are only one of the pieces needed for seniors to gracefully age in place. There are many services and programs that are low-cost or free, that enable seniors to enjoy an independent lifestyle in the comfort of their own home, such as help with home modifications, meal delivery services, and more. Below, we’ve compiled a few of the most helpful resources in Palo Alto:
| Resource | Contact | Address | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Utility Rate Assistance Program | (650) 329-2333 | 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301 | Senior citizens who earn no more than 50% of the area median income or who have a medical condition that requires increased energy use for climate controls or medical equipment may qualify for a 25% discount on their gas and electric bills and a 20% discount on wastewater fees. For a one-person household, applicants must earn no more than $36,300 per year. Seniors who are claiming a medical need must provide a certification from a physician. Individuals who need one-time emergency assistance can apply for help from the city through ProjectPLEDGE. |
| Santa Clara County Senior Nutrition Program | (408) 975-4860 | 353 W. Julian, San Jose, CA 95110 | Adults who are unable to shop for groceries or prepare their own meals due to a physical limitation or isolation may sign up for Meals on Wheels or congregate meals offered by the Senior Nutrition Program. In 2019, the State Clara Department of Social Services served 1.2 million hot meals to local seniors. Individuals who are unable to visit congregate dining sites may qualify for home-delivered Meals on Wheels provided by Sourcewise or The Health Trust. A nominal contribution is expected although financial assistance is available to low-income residents. |
| Parcel Tax Exemptions | (650) 329-3980 | 25 Churchill Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306 | Seniors who live in Santa Clara County may qualify for an exemption that eliminates parcel taxes that are used to support the school system. The Palo Alto Unified School District is one of 23 school systems in the county that offers this exemption. Homeowners who are 65 or older, have a disability or receive SSI may qualify. Since the exemption began in 2001, it has saved local taxpayers more than $15 million. Homeowners must apply for an exemption or refund annually. |
Determining Your Loved One’s Need for In-Home Care
Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help – often times it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.
Guidelines for Talking About In-Home Care
If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviews of Care Providers Nearby
Home Care
Janelle L_1
5.0
Review of Right at Home - Palo Alto
They were constantly checking in on what his needs were. The trained the caregivers in great detail. The final caregiver we had was very supportive.
Provider response
Thank you, Janelle! It means a lot to us to know that our team’s dedication and attention to detail made a difference. At Right at Home, we believe in continuous support, thorough training, and...
Home Care
Stephen D_3
5.0
Review of Right at Home - Palo Alto
The have helped me the most by being very professional. I like the caregiver and the way the treated my mom.
Provider response
Thank you for your kind words, Stephen! At Right at Home, we truly believe that professionalism and compassionate care go hand-in-hand. It's an honor to be part of your family's journey, and we’re...
Home Care
Genevieve P_2
5.0
Review of Right at Home - Palo Alto
I like that the caregivers give me the ability to get out and go shopping and visit friends and go to a show or whatever I need to do. I like that the people that have come are competent.
Provider response
Thank you for sharing your experience, Genevieve! We’re happy to hear that our caregivers have given you the freedom to enjoy time for yourself while providing the quality care needed. At Right at...