I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara is a western suburb of San Jose and sits about an hour southeast of San Francisco. U.S. census data reports that 127,151 people live here, with seniors representing 11.1% of that population. The city is notably more expensive than most in America, with an overall cost of living that’s 150% higher than the U.S. average and housing costs that are over four times as expensive as the U.S. average.
There are many benefits which counterbalance the high costs, though. Santa Clara residents enjoy 260 sunny days a year, much higher than the national average of 205, and see little rain and no snow to speak of. Daytime temperatures are in the high 50s to low 80s all year round, and nighttime lows remain above freezing nearly all year long. The violent crime rate is also exceptionally low in the area.
Santa Clara is primarily served by Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center, ranked by U.S. News and World Report as high-performing in multiple procedures relating to cardiology and lung surgery. An hour to the north in San Francisco is UCSF Medical Center, ranked by U.S. News as the top hospital in the entire nation for neurology and neurosurgery.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Santa Clara, CA
According to the 2021 Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey, in-home care costs $6,864 a month in Santa Clara and home health care costs $7,007 a month. In some markets, average costs are the same for both types of care. In places where they differ, home health care is usually the more expensive option since it involves more robust medical support.
Genworth’s price figures are based on an assumption that you’ll want 44 hours of care a week, a number that may differ depending on your personal schedule and needs. Consider the hourly rate when trying to estimate your specific costs; that hourly rate is $36 for in-home care and $36.75 for home health care.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Statewide, averages are considerably lower at $6,101 a month for either in-home care or home health care. Nationally, averages drop even lower to $4,957 monthly for in-home care and $5,148 monthly for home health care. Residents of San Jose pay even more than those of Santa Clara at $7,102 monthly for either type of care, while seniors in Los Angeles pay $5,911 for either type. San Diego’s prices come in at $6,387 monthly for in-home care and $6,473 monthly for home health care.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
You have a few other options for long-term care in this area. Assisted living is the cheapest option at $5,550 a month, and is usually a good option for social seniors. Nursing home care is much more expensive, with a semiprivate room costing $10,646 a month, but it does provide a higher level of medical support. In most markets, adult day care is the least expensive option of all, but Genworth reports no price data specific to this kind of care in the Santa Clara area.
III. How to Find Home Care in Santa Clara, 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 Santa Clara, CA.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Santa Clara, CA
HealthTrust Food and Nutrition Services
What You Should Know
This organization provides a wide variety of food-related services for homebound and low-income residents of Santa Clara County. Its primary offering is the Meals on Wheels program, through which you can receive hot meals delivered to your door up to five days a week. Meals on Wheels deliveries can double as wellness checks, with volunteer drivers giving participants a useful connection to their community.
The Friends from Meals on Wheels program extends the main program’s social support and is designed to combat isolation. Volunteers stop by for longer home visits and can help you with basic low- or no-impact exercise; there’s also a larger community aspect through group calls, virtual games and online discussion forums.
Who Is Eligible?
As long as you live in Santa Clara County, are unable to leave your home and are unable to prepare your own meals, you qualify for the Meals on Wheels program. There’s no charge for qualified participants, but you can choose to donate toward the cost of the meals.
The Friends from Meals on Wheels program is specifically intended for adults who are at least 75 years old and live alone.
How to Get Started
Call (408) 961-9870 or apply via the online form.
Rate Assistance Program
What You Should Know
This program allows certain low-income, homebound or disabled residents of Santa Clara to lower their monthly energy bills by 25%. If you qualify and apply, you’ll also see a 25% reduction in your water and your sewer bills, in addition to a flat $10 discount on garbage collection.
Who Is Eligible?
You can qualify under financial or medical criteria; the RAP has no age-based restrictions. By Santa Clara’s 2022 guidelines, the maximum monthly income starts at $6,870.83 for a household with a single resident and goes up by roughly $1,000 for each additional resident. For a household with four members, for example, the maximum monthly combined income is $9,812.59; for a household of six, it’s $11,383.33.
If your household income exceeds these levels but you have documented physician’s confirmation that you have a medical need that requires the support of an electric device, you may also qualify for the RAP.
How to Get Started
Contact Central Coast Energy Services at (888) 728-3637, apply via the online portal, or mail a hard copy of your application to F.R.A.P. c/o Central Coast Energy Services, P.O. Box 2707, Watsonville, CA 95077
Senior Adults Legal Assistance
What You Should Know
This nonprofit provides its services completely free of charge and specializes in elder law topics. More specifically, this firm can help you resolve housing issues such as disputed foreclosure proceedings, protect yourself from various kinds of elder abuse, plan for future legal issues by drafting advance directives and transferring powers of attorney, help you write up simple wills and more.
Who Is Eligible?
SALA’s services are not income-restricted and are available for all residents of Santa Clara County who are at least 60 years old.
How to Get Started
Call (408) 295-5991 to speak to a SALA lawyer. Urgent and emergency cases, such as those involving imminent eviction, ongoing abuse or impending loss of benefit income, can be partially handled by phone. For issues that aren’t as immediate, you can set up an appointment at your home.
Weatherization Assistance Program
What You Should Know
You can save money on your home heating and cooling bills through the home upgrade options of this federally funded and state-run program. In addition to making your home a cheaper and more comfortable place to live, it can also make it safer as well. Weatherization services include window replacement, insulation installation, repair of faulty HVAC systems and more.
Who Is Eligible?
As of 2022, you’ll need to have a total household income no higher than $2,146.67 per month if your household has only one resident. The maximum monthly income for eligibility goes up by roughly $750 per additional household member. A household of two must have a combined income of less than $2,903.33 per month to qualify, while a household of six would need a combined income of less than $5,930 per month.
There’s no age-based restriction on this program, and in some circumstances you may be able to qualify if you exceed the above income totals.
How to Get Started
Apply online or download a copy of the application through the California Department of Community Services and Development. Contact Silicon Valley Power’s customer service at (408) 615-2300 or email [email protected] if you have questions specific to income eligibility.
Ability Tools Device Lending Libraries
What You Should Know
Contact this nonprofit organization to take advantage of its medical-device lending library. Ability Tools offers short-term loans that allow you to either get the temporary assistance you need while recovering from a medical issue or try out a few options before making a permanent purchase. The library includes high-tech help such as speech-generation communication devices as well as more basic assistance such as portable walking ramps.
Who Is Eligible?
All California residents who live with disabilities are eligible for Ability Tools’ services.
How to Get Started
Call (408) 894-9041 to speak to representatives of the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center, home of Ability Tools’ Santa Clara-area Device Lending and Demonstration Center. It’s located at 25 N. 14th Street, Suite 1000 in San Jose.