The first thing most families ask me about 24-hour care is what it costs. The second question is usually quieter: can we actually do this? Here is what to expect in our area, why the numbers look the way they do, and what to consider if they don’t work for your family.
What 24-Hour Care Costs Here
Hourly rates vary by agency, and Southern California sits at the high end of a high-cost state. The national median for non-medical home care was $35 an hour in 2025, according to CareScout’s annual Cost of Care Survey. California’s statewide median was already $39 an hour the year before, and Long Beach and Orange County run higher than that.
To estimate around-the-clock care, multiply the hourly rate by 24 for a day and by 720 for a month. Even at $40 an hour, that comes to close to $1,000 a day and almost $29,000 a month.
Why It Costs That Much
When families see the monthly number, they assume someone is padding the bill. Here is where the money actually goes.
- 24 hours of care takes two or three caregivers, not one. Someone awake all night is working a full shift.
- California requires overtime for caregivers after 9 hours in a day or 45 hours in a week. A 12-hour shift has overtime built into it.
- A licensed agency carries payroll, workers’ compensation, liability insurance, background checks, training and supervision. Our caregivers are W-2 employees. When you hire privately, all of that becomes your job.
- Someone has to step in when a caregiver gets sick. That backup is part of the rate.
Hourly Shifts or Live-In Care
Live-in care means one caregiver stays in the home and sleeps there. It is billed as a daily rate and usually costs less than awake shifts.
It works well when your mom sleeps through most nights. It does not work if she is up three or four times, because the live-in caregiver needs real sleep too. If nights are busy, you need awake overnight care, and the hourly math above applies. Call us and we’ll give you the current live-in rate and tell you honestly which one fits.
What Medicare and Medi-Cal Will and Won’t Pay
Medicare does not pay for ongoing 24-hour care, or for help with bathing, dressing and supervision on their own. It covers part-time skilled home health, like a nurse or therapist visiting after a hospital stay, when a doctor orders it.
Medi-Cal’s In-Home Supportive Services program, known as IHSS, can pay for up to 283 hours a month. That is about nine and a half hours a day, so it does not cover 24-hour care. The person receiving care hires and supervises their own caregiver, often a family member, and IHSS generally does not pay a private agency. Some families use IHSS for part of the day and pay privately for the rest.
Other ways families pay for it:
- Long-term care insurance, if your parent has a policy. Most cover in-home care once a doctor documents the need.
- The VA’s Aid and Attendance benefit, for veterans and surviving spouses who qualify.
- A reverse mortgage, for parents who own their home and want to stay in it.
- Converting a life insurance policy into a long-term care benefit.
- Siblings splitting the cost. Most families end up combining two or three of these.
When 24-Hour Care at Home Isn’t the Right Answer
For many families, a small residential care home costs less than 24-hour care at home. A board and care home in Southern California runs about $5,500 to $16,500 a month in 2026, and that includes caregivers around the clock, meals and medication help. Each of our care homes has six residents, so it still feels like a house.
Twenty-four-hour care also doesn’t have to be permanent. After a hospital or rehab stay, many families need it for two to four weeks and then step down to shorter shifts. Our homes also take short stays for people coming out of rehab who aren’t ready to be home alone yet.
How to Keep the Cost Down
- Cover the hours that worry you most first. Many families start with nights and add daytime hours later.
- Get a professional read on what level of care is actually needed. Our Life Care Managers do this every day, and they’ll tell you if 24 hours is more than your parent needs.
- Revisit the plan after a few weeks. Needs change, especially after a hospital stay.
If you want a number for your own situation, call us at (562) 438-5336 or schedule a free care assessment. We’ll tell you straight whether 24-hour care at home is the right fit or whether something else would serve your family better. You can also download our 2026 guide to long-term care costs in Southern California.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does 24-hour home care cost per month in Long Beach?
At California’s median rate of $39 an hour, around-the-clock care comes to more than $28,000 a month, and Long Beach rates run higher. Live-in care usually costs less if your loved one sleeps through the night.
Does Medi-Cal pay for 24-hour home care?
No. Medi-Cal’s IHSS program covers up to 283 hours a month, about nine and a half hours a day. The person receiving care hires their own caregiver, and the rest of the day has to be covered another way.
Does Medicare pay for 24-hour home care?
No. Medicare covers part-time skilled care at home, like nursing or therapy visits, when a doctor orders it. It does not pay for ongoing non-medical care or round-the-clock supervision.
Is live-in care cheaper than 24-hour care?
Usually, yes. Live-in care is billed as a daily rate and assumes the caregiver gets uninterrupted sleep. If your loved one needs help several times a night, awake overnight shifts are the safer choice.
Is a board and care home cheaper than 24-hour home care?
Often. A board and care home in Southern California runs about $5,500 to $16,500 a month in 2026, with caregivers on site around the clock.