Home Care in Long Beach, CA

With its enviable location along the shores of the Pacific Ocean just 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach is the ideal place to spend your retirement years. The weather is warm and comfortable year-round, and sun lovers will appreciate that Long Beach sees 287 sunny days a year, while the U.S. average is just 205.

The city is home to just over 462,000 people, and 11.4% of Long Beach’s residents are seniors aged 65 and older. There are plenty of public parks and world-famous attractions to enjoy, including the renowned Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, a popular place for walking, fishing and people watching.

If you’re a nature lover, you’ll appreciate the carefully curated exhibits and conservation program at the Aquarium of the Pacific. In downtown Long Beach, you’ll find unique, walkable neighborhoods filled with interesting shops, ethnic eateries and incredible public art. There are also plenty of places to explore throughout Los Angeles County, and the region has an extensive public transit system.

According to Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of home care services in Long Beach is $5,434 per month. Home health care, which adds limited medical care to the services offered through a home care provider, costs around $5,529 per month.

It’s important to know that these rates are based on 44 hours of care each week, which works out to about 6.3 hours a day. If you’re like many seniors, you may not need this much assistance to continue living in your home. To estimate how much you may need to spend on home care, simply multiply the average hourly rate of $28.50 by the number of hours of help you need.

The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities

Long Beach’s home care and home health care rates are similar to California’s state average of $5,529 for either type of care, while the nationwide averages are lower at $4,481 and $4,576, respectively. To the south, seniors in San Diego pay about $5,716 per month for home care and home health care. North of Long Beach, both types of in-home care cost an average of $5,339 in Oxnard and $6,101 per month in Santa Maria.

Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.

Long Beach Senior Center

What You Should Know
Operated by the City of Long Beach’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, the Long Beach Senior Center is open Monday through Saturday. You can participate in a variety of activities at the Center, such as ballroom dancing, yoga classes, organized games and holiday celebrations. There’s an on-site coffee shop, the Friendly Cup Cafe, where you can connect with friends while enjoying a light snack.

The Center is home to the Trinkets ‘N Treasures Gift Shop where you can purchase handcrafted gifts made by seniors, and if you’re a crafter, you can also place your creations on consignment in the shop. The Little Thrift Shop Around The Corner, another store inside the Center, sells low-cost, gently used clothing, books and housewares.

Who Is Eligible?
As a senior aged 50 and older living in Long Beach, you’re eligible to use the Center’s facilities, sign up for programs and activities and shop at the two stores located in the Center. You can also participate in senior’s activities and classes offered at five other city-run recreation centers.

How to Get Started
To learn more, you can drop by the Center anytime between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also call the center at (562) 570-3500 for more information.

Long Beach Meals on Wheels

What You Should Know
Long Beach Meals on Wheels provides over 400 homebound seniors, veterans and people living with disabilities with home-delivered meals. Volunteer drivers drop off one hot dinner and a cold lunch daily to program participants, and the drivers take the time to chat with each client to see if any additional supports are needed.

If you sign up for Meals on Wheels, you’re asked to contribute $8.25 per day toward the cost of your food. If you’re unable to cover your meal costs, you can apply for a subsidy through the program.

Who Is Eligible?
Anyone living in Long Beach who’s housebound and unable to prepare their own healthy, balanced meals can sign up for Meals on Wheels on a temporary or long-term basis. This means you can use Meals on Wheels for a few weeks while recovering from illness or injury, or on an ongoing basis.

How to Get Started
You can apply for Meals on Wheels by completing the online application form, or by phoning (562) 439-5000.

Rebuilding Together Long Beach 

What You Should Know
Rebuilding Together Long Beach is a volunteer-based organization that provides free essential home repair services and energy-saving upgrades to help low-income senior homeowners, veterans and people living with disabilities remain safe and comfortable in their homes. Eligible homeowners only pay for the cost of materials, and volunteers supply the skilled and unskilled labor.

Volunteers can perform electrical and plumbing repairs; install wheelchair ramps and make other modifications to improve accessibility; clean up clutter and deal with rodent infestations.

Who Is Eligible?
If you’re an older homeowner who needs home repairs, but you’re unable to afford the full cost of hiring a handyman or contractor, you may qualify for help from Rebuilding Together Long Beach. Your home must be owner-occupied, and you should plan on continuing to live in your home for at least two years after receiving help from RTLB.

The program operates year-round, and whenever possible, volunteers work to source free or low-cost building materials and supplies.

How to Get Started
To apply for home repair assistance, you can complete RTLB’s online application form or call (540) 490-3802.

Long Beach Transit

What You Should Know
Long Beach Transit provides low-cost public transportation throughout the city, with frequent service to shopping areas and medical clinics, the senior center and other recreation facilities, and residential neighborhoods.

LBT’s Connected Seniors Club program helps seniors discover local museums, restaurants and events while making new friends. As a member, you’re eligible for discounted fares on all LBT buses, and your Senior TAP card can be used throughout Los Angeles to access discounted fares on other transit services.

Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for membership in the CSC, you need to be a senior aged 62 or older.

How to Get Started
You can sign up for a Senior TAP card at LBT’s Transit Information Center located at the corner of 1st Street and Pine Avenue, or call (562) 591-2301.

County of Los Angeles Military & Veterans Affairs 

What You Should Know
LA County Military & Veteran Affairs helps veterans and their families access VA funding that can be used toward home care costs. Veteran service officers also assist vets with transportation to VA healthcare centers, process applications and appeals for VA pension benefits and help with applications for VA burial benefits.

Who Is Eligible?
If you’re a vet, survivor or dependent, you’re eligible for free help through LA County Military & Veteran Affairs.

How to Get Started
To book an appointment with a VSO, call (213) 765-9680.