Adult Disability Care in Merced, CA: In-Home Support

Local figures

Disability Care for Adults in Merced, CA: the local picture

12%

of residents aged 18 to 64 have a disability (11% in Merced County)

2,214

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

8.9%

of households have no vehicle (7.3% in Merced County)

62

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Merced ZIP codes in their service area

About 6,669 Merced residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (12%; 11% in Merced County).

2,214 of them have difficulty doing errands such as shopping or visiting a doctor alone, the kind of help a support caregiver gives.

8.9% of Merced households have no vehicle (7.3% in Merced County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

Merced compared with Merced County and California

Census figure	Merced	Merced County	California
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	12%	11%	8.8%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	4.1%	3.9%	3.3%
Households with no vehicle	8.9%	7.3%	7.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	47%	53%	44%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	40%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	16%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,092	$44,830	—

Older residents in towns around Merced

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
Franklin, CA	3.3 mi	1,046	11%
McSwain, CA	6.0 mi	564	6.2%
Atwater, CA	7.4 mi	3,993	12%
Planada, CA	8.7 mi	573	6.6%
Winton, CA	9.4 mi	1,127	7.5%
Livingston, CA	15 mi	1,537	10%

Home health agencies serving Merced

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Atta Home Healthcare	Modesto, CA	36 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(510) 598-6355
Silverline Staff Home Health	Fremont, CA	83 mi	5 of 5	—	(925) 476-5350
Caringhand Home Health Solutions, Inc	Sacramento, CA	100 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(916) 476-3205
Telfair Home Health Care	Glendale, CA	249 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(818) 539-5244
Mercy Home Care	Merced, CA	0.9 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(209) 564-4320

Straight-line miles from the center of Merced. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a disability support caregiver can help with

Personal care, on the person’s terms
Cooking, shopping and housekeeping
Getting to work, school, appointments and activities
Keeping routines the person sets

Cost

What disability care for adults costs in Merced

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $3,674 monthly median income of Merced households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a disability support caregiver

Many state Medicaid programs let adults with disabilities direct their own care: they, or a representative, hire and supervise the caregiver.

Questions worth asking: Have you supported adults with a disability like mine (or my family member’s)? How do you support someone to do things themselves? Can you drive to work, school or day programs? More in our disability care for adults guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Disability Care for Adults in Merced: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in Merced?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $3,674 monthly median income of Merced households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Can an adult with a disability hire their own caregiver?

Yes. Many state Medicaid programs offer self-direction, where the person or a representative hires and supervises the caregiver. Our guide How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave covers California.

More near Merced

More senior care near Merced

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in Merced

More for Merced families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Support for Adults With Disabilities in Merced, CA