I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Pleasant Hill, CA

Pleasant Hill is a city in Contra Costa County with plenty of good restaurants, malls and parks and a dense suburban feel. As a resident, you’re within minutes of the conveniences of other cities, such as Walnut Creek and Concord, which expand your recreational and leisure options. Consequently, the city offers plenty of options for seniors receiving home care to ensure that they have someone to escort them around the region’s amenities.

Pleasant Hill has significantly lower levels of crime than normal for California and the United States. Its senior-friendly climate offers comfortable temperatures ranging from 39 degrees in January to 88 degrees in July. The 2020 Census reports that the city’s population is just above 34,600 and that seniors comprise about 16.5% of residents, which is just below the national average.

There are a wealth of medical facilities in Pleasant Hill and neighboring cities for seniors who typically receive care at home. Some specialty care providers include STAT MED Urgent Care and John Muir Health, while the region’s general hospitals include Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Walnut Creek Medical Center. If you ever need medical care, you’re only minutes from the nearest facility.

II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Pleasant Hill, CA

Home care fees can vary greatly due to a variety of factors. These include the type of care provided, such as medical or nonmedical care, the number of hours worked and the variety of services delivered. In Pleasant Hill, the median monthly fee for home care, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, is $6,864. Since home health care offers basic medical services, its median fee is a bit higher at $7,150.

Genworth’s figures assume that you receive 44 hours of home care per month, which means costs will be lower if your caregiver is on-site for fewer hours. To help you calculate your likely costs, the median hourly fee is $36 for home care and $37.50 for home health care.

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

Pleasant Hill’s median monthly home care cost is $6,864, which is above the state ($6,101) and national ($4,957) averages. This is also true of its home health care cost of $7,150, which is much higher than the California average of $6,101 and the U.S. average of $5,148. However, the city isn’t as costly as nearby San Jose where fees average $7,102 for both care options. You can find more affordable care nearby in Stockton ($5,482) and Vallejo ($5,958), where both types of home care have identical monthly fees.

The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options

Home care is among Pleasant Hill’s costliest senior living options, but its $6,864 median fee provides seniors with one-on-one care in their homes. Adult day care and assisted living are cheaper at $1,950 and $6,319, respectively, but the former is unsuitable if you’re homebound, while the latter requires relocating to an institution. Home health care’s limited medical services typically cost $7,150, which reflects a basic level of support when compared to the $11,566 typically paid for nursing home care.

Note: Data for Pleasant Hill was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, San Francisco, was used instead.

III. How to Find Home Care in Pleasant Hill, CA

Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Pleasant Hill, CA.

An infographic giving steps to finding a home care provider

IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Pleasant Hill, CA

Program of All-Inclusive Care (PACE)

What You Should Know

PACE is a program funded by the state and federal governments with the purpose of helping seniors receive care at home and avoid institutionalization for as long as possible. The program can cover all services paid through Medicaid and many services provided by Medicare, such as medications, resulting in a full list of services that either program can’t deliver independently. The PACE interdisciplinary team provides all services that you need, including medical care, in-home care and transportation.

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible, you must be aged 55+, reside in an area serviced by a PACE provider, such as Contra Costa County, and qualify for Medicare and/or Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program).

How to Get Started

To get started, you should visit the website of Centers for Elders’ Independence (Pleasant Hill’s PACE provider) and click on the “Find out if you qualify” link to begin the process. Alternatively, you can call the PACE provider at (844) 319-1150.

Weatherization Program

What You Should Know

Contra Costa County’s weatherization program pays for work that makes homes more energy-efficient for income-eligible residents. Costs are covered by funds from the state and federal governments. An inspector assesses your home and determines the scope of work required. This might include the repair or replacement of gas appliances, the installation of insulating materials and the replacement of broken windows and doors. The program can also cover the cost of installing water-saving devices and programmable thermostats.

Who Is Eligible?

The program is open to homeowners, renters and residents living in mobile homes who satisfy the income guidelines that are valid at the time of their application.

How to Get Started

You can download an application packet from the website or call (925) 655-2714 to request one by mail. You should complete the form and return it to the address printed on the form.

Property Tax Postponement

What You Should Know

Adults aged 62+ and people who are blind or have a disability can postpone their current-year property taxes if they satisfy certain qualifying criteria. This is a deferment, so the taxes must be paid eventually, which is typically after the senior passes or sells the property. Seniors with reverse mortgages cannot apply although those who have refinanced or secured a home equity loan can, as long as this doesn’t reduce their equity below 40%.

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible, your household income must be at or below $49,017. You must have at least 40% equity in your home, which must be your primary residence in California.

How to Get Started

To apply, seniors can email the Property Tax Postponement Program or call (800) 952-5661.

Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa

What You Should Know

Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa is a coalition of nonprofits that work together to provide healthy and nutritious meals to homebound seniors throughout the county. The average cost of a meal is $5, so the program asks recipients to donate what they can afford although no senior is ever refused a meal if they cannot pay. Pre-COVID, meals were delivered hot and daily. Currently, frozen meals are delivered once per week. However, hot meals are still delivered, when and where COVID restrictions are relaxed. A typical meal includes either meat or fish, vegetables, fruits, milk, bread and a dessert. Vegetarians are catered for. All meals are low sodium and include no processed food.

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible, you must be aged 60 and older, reside in Contra Costa County and be unable to prepare your own meals or have someone who can assist regularly. The applicant must also have an income below the standards of the Bay Area.

How to Get Started

Seniors should call the Diablo Region branch at (925) 937-8607 to start their application.

Energy and Water Assistance Programs

What You Should Know

Contra Costa County manages energy and water assistance programs to support eligible residents who are struggling to meet their utility costs. The LIHEAP program provides an array of options, each designed to cover a specific concern. Energy crisis assistance helps those who are at risk of being cut off by their energy supplier. Energy and budget reduction takes a longer-term view of the issue by helping residents reduce their monthly payments and create a budget that makes it easier to manage their energy costs going forward. The bill payment assistance option is a one-time benefit to help needy residents cover one bill only.

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible, you must reside in Contra Costa County and have an income of no more than 100% of the Federal Poverty Level for the year of the application.

How to Get Started

You can download an energy and/or water application packet from the website and return a completed copy by mail or in person to 1470 Civic Court, Suite 200, Concord, CA 94520. Alternatively, you can fax a copy to (925) 229-6784.