CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities in Merced, CA
Agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities in the Merced, CA metro area: 18 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 20-person team.
- Establishments
- 18CBP 2023
- Employees
- 353mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.1U.S. 11.8
- Rank
- 286th of 784areas by count
Agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities in Merced, CA by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 18 agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities (NAICS 624120, Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities) in the Merced, CA metro area for 2023. Together they reported 353 mid-March employees and $10.8 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 286th of the 784 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 297,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 6.1 agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities per 100,000 people, 48.8% below the national rate of 11.8. Establishments average 19.6 employees, 48.3% below the U.S. average of 37.9. Payroll per employee comes to $30,635, 5.3% above the national $29,098.
| Measure | Merced, CA | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 18 | 4,324 | 40,265 |
| Mid-March employees | 353 (moderate noise) | 144,870 | 1,527,355 |
| Annual payroll | $10,814,000 (moderate noise) | $5,010,725,000 | $44,442,733,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.6 | 33.5 | 37.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $30,635 | $34,588 | $29,098 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.1 | 11.0 | 11.8 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities in Merced, CA
Of the agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities in Merced, CA that had employees in March 2023, 26.7% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 35.3%). When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 4 | 26.7% | 35.3% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 15.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 3 | 20.0% | 14.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 8 | 53.3% | 17.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 16.8% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities in Merced, CA
Non-medical home care agencies schedule caregivers across many client homes, so the phone is used constantly for shift changes, call-outs and new inquiries. Families looking for care often call several agencies in one afternoon. That holds for agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities in Merced, CA as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities in Merced, CA:
- A family calls to ask about care for a parent coming home from the hospital.
- A family member calls to adjust the weekly schedule.
- A caregiver calls out sick before a morning shift.
After-hours calls
Caregiver call-outs often come early in the morning or late at night, so after-hours routing to an on-call coordinator is important.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Phone system pricing for a 20-person in-home care agency
The average in-home care agency in Merced, CA has 19.6 employees, so a 20-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $499.00 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $600.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 20 people cost $399.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,412. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $399.00 | $4,788.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $380.00 | $4,560.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $460.00 | $5,520.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $499.00 | $5,988.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $540.00 | $6,480.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $600.00 | $7,200.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Getting a local number in Merced, CA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 209 has the most, with 106 of 120 exchanges (88%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your clients and families recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 209 | 106 | Pacific | 1958 | 350 |
| 350 | 14 | Pacific | 2022 | 209 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
Setting up Callata for an in-home care agency in Merced, CA
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Merced, CA, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities are there in Merced, CA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 18 agencies providing services for the elderly and persons with disabilities in the Merced, CA metro area in 2023. They employed 353 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 20-person in-home care agency?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 20 users cost $600.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $499.00 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $399.00.
What area code should an in-home care agency in Merced, CA use?
Area code 209 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 350. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for an in-home care agency?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.