Home Care in Sacramento County, CA

As home to just over 1.5 million residents including approximately 225,000 seniors aged 65 and older, it’s easy to see why so many retirees settle down in Sacramento County. Nestled in the scenic Sacramento Valley, the County includes a number of world-class cities such as Sacramento, the state capital, as well as Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove.

The year-round weather in Sacramento County is ideal for older adults who enjoy spending time outdoors. Each year the region has an average of 265 sunny days, 60 more than the nationwide average, and summertime high temperatures run around 93 degrees.

Attractions and events in the area include the California State Railroad Museum, the Sacramento Zoo and the State of California Capitol Museum. Sacramento County maintains thousands of acres of parks, historical sites and green spaces, including the sprawling Gibson Ranch Regional Park, where you can fish the stocked lake, stroll along the Dry Creek Trail or visit the horses at the equestrian center.

Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that home care care costs in Sacramento run an average of $5,863 per month. Rates for home health care, which includes some limited in-home medical care, are also $5,863 monthly. Genworth’s figures are based on 44 hours of care weekly, which works out to just over 6 hours of support daily.

If you’re like many seniors, you may not need this much assistance, in which case, your monthly costs would be significantly lower. To estimate your monthly home care expenses, simply multiply the average hourly rate of $30.75 for either home care or home health case services by the number of hours of support you require each month.

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

Home care and home health care costs in Sacramento County are higher than the statewide average of $5,529 for either type of care. To the north, seniors in Yuba City pay an average of $5,339 a month for both kinds of in-home care, while to the south in Stockton, home care and home health care rates run about $5,243. Rates are significantly higher closer to the Pacific Coast in Napa, where seniors pay around $6,292 per month for either home care or home health care.

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.

Safe at Home Sacramento County

What You Should Know
Volunteers with Rebuilding Together Sacramento help older homeowners and people with disabilities who need minor home repairs and accessibility upgrades. In most cases, requests for service are fulfilled within 28 days or less. The program prioritizes repair requests related to health and safety, such as emergency installation of fall prevention devices and repairs to improve home security for vulnerable seniors.

The Safe at Home program covers the installation of safety equipment such as raised toilets, grab bars, railings, wheelchair ramps and smoke detectors. Volunteers can also make small repairs to your home, such as replacing a broken window, fixing a leaky faucet, installing new door locks or adding weatherstripping around your doors.

Who Is Eligible?
If you have a low income, you can apply for free services through the Safe at Home program. If your income is above the current low-income threshold, you can access the program on a fee-for-service basis. A complimentary home safety inspection is available to all homeowners in Sacramento County, regardless of income.

How to Get Started
To learn more about Safe at Home Sacramento, call (916) 455-1880.

Meals on Wheels by ACC

What You Should Know
Meals on Wheels by ACC helps homebound seniors aged 60 and up maintain healthy, balanced diets by delivering hot or frozen prepared meals to participants’ homes every weekday. The organization also operates AniMeals, a pet food delivery service for housebound pet owners who are Meals on Wheels participants.

Participants can sign up on a long-term basis or on a short-term basis while recovering from illness or injury. In addition to the prepared meals, volunteer drivers deliver meal enhancements such as extra desserts, salads and produce on a biweekly basis, while also performing a friendly wellness check when dropping off the meals.

Who Is Eligible?
If you’re a senior in Sacramento County and you have difficulty shopping for groceries and preparing your own healthy meals at home, you can sign up for the Meals on Wheels service. You’ll be asked to contribute a small per-meal donation towards the program costs. Subsidies are available for seniors who need financial assistance.

How to Get Started
To learn more about Meals on Wheels by ACC, call (916) 444-9533.

Sacramento LGBT Community Center

What You Should Know
The Sacramento LGBT Community Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies. The Center operates a number of free and low-cost programs to promote health, wellness and equality, including mental health counseling, housing assistance and legal information.

Seniors who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community can sign up for Golden Grounds, an informal social group that meets at the Sacramento LGBT Community Center every Saturday morning. Participation is free, as the group is designed to build community and reduce isolation among older queer adults.

Who Is Eligible?
If you’re a senior who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or nonbinary, you’re welcome to join the Golden Grounds group.

How to Get Started
For more information, call the Sacramento LGBT Community Center at (916) 442-0185.

Sacramento County Veterans Service Office

What You Should Know
The Sacramento County Veterans Service Office provides free assistance to veterans, survivors and dependents who need assistance applying for county, state and federal benefits and programs.

Veteran Service Officers can help with applications and appeals to VA pension programs, including Aid and Attendance and Housebound, programs that provide beneficiaries with cash benefits that can be used towards home care costs. VSOs can also obtain service records, register vets for burial benefits, and arrange return transportation to nearby VA medical centers and clinics.

Who Is Eligible?
Any Sacramento County veteran and their family members can access services through the Sacramento County Veterans Service Office.

How to Get Started
To schedule an appointment with a Sacramento County Veterans Service Officer, call (916) 874-6811.

Agency on Aging/Area 4 

What You Should Know
Agency on Aging/Area 4 is the federally-mandated nonprofit organization that’s responsible for planning senior services throughout Sacramento County, as well as six additional counties.

The Agency oversees a wide range of programs and services, including caregiver respite services, health insurance counseling, peer counseling, legal services for seniors, and the regional long-term care ombudsman program.

Who Is Eligible?
If you’re a senior aged 60 or older, or a caregiver or family member of a senior in Sacramento County, you can contact the Agency for help with accessing local services that are designed to help older adults retain their independence. Staff can refer you to a number of community-based partner organizations that can provide free and low-cost assistance to you and your loved ones.

How to Get Started
To learn more about the services and programs supported by the Agency on Aging \ Area 4, call (916) 486-1876.