Post-Surgery Care for Seniors
Non-medical help at home in the days and weeks after surgery, a hospital stay or a fall, alongside any nursing or therapy a doctor orders. Post what you need for free and hire a caregiver directly.
What a post-surgery caregiver can help with
- Help getting in and out of bed, chairs and the shower
- Meals, fluids and medication reminders
- Rides to follow-up and therapy appointments
- Help with home exercises the therapist set
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Watching for warning signs and calling family or the doctor
What to know before hiring a post-surgery caregiver
Medicare covers home health care after surgery when a doctor orders it and the person is homebound: part-time skilled nursing and therapy from a Medicare-certified agency. It does not cover round-the-clock help, or personal care when that is the only care needed (Medicare.gov).
A private caregiver fills the gap between those visits. Wound care, injections and other nursing tasks stay with the licensed nurse or agency.
Questions to ask
- Have you cared for someone after this kind of surgery?
- Are you comfortable with transfers, walkers and shower chairs?
- Can you start on the discharge date and cover the first nights?
- Will you follow the hospital’s written instructions and keep notes?
Post-Surgery Care by state
Each state page lists its cities. Each city page shows local Census figures and the Medicare-certified providers nearby.
Post-Surgery Care: common questions
How long do people usually need help after surgery?
It depends on the operation and the person. After a hip or knee replacement many people need daily help for a few weeks, and more at night in the first days. Ask the surgical team for an estimate and plan with some slack.
Can a private caregiver change dressings or give injections?
Those are skilled nursing tasks. They should be done by a licensed nurse or a Medicare-certified home health agency, unless your state allows otherwise and a clinician has trained and delegated the task.
Find post-surgery care for someone you love
Posting is free and takes about ten minutes. Caregivers near you can see it as soon as it is live.
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