Post-Surgery Care in Altoona, IA: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Altoona, IA: the local picture

8.5 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Des Moines)

14

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

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)

3,684

residents 65 or older (17% of Altoona)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi in Des Moines, about 8.5 mi away in a straight line, followed by Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center (8.6 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 14 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Altoona. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Altoona compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Altoona	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	14%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	32%	31%
Households with no vehicle	3.7%	5.8%	5.4%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.6%	7.5%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,263	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Altoona

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bondurant, IA	3.5 mi	577	41%
Pleasant Hill, IA	3.8 mi	2,222	26%
Mitchellville, IA	6.0 mi	263	21%
Saylorville, IA	7.9 mi	705	47%
Ankeny, IA	8.3 mi	8,466	24%
Des Moines, IA	8.6 mi	27,045	36%

Hospitals near Altoona

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi	Des Moines, IA	8.5 mi	3 of 5	(515) 343-1000
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center	Des Moines, IA	8.6 mi	1 of 5	(515) 247-4436
Broadlawns Medical Center	Des Moines, IA	8.6 mi	3 of 5	(515) 282-2200
Va Central Iowa Healthcare System	Des Moines, IA	10 mi	4 of 5	(515) 699-5999

Home health agencies serving Altoona

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Urbandale, IA	13 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 277-0977
Aveanna Healthcare	West Des Moines, IA	17 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 497-7700
Elara Caring	Chariton, IA	44 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 774-2339
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	8.5 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Angels Care Home Health Of Iowa	Des Moines, IA	10 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 252-2847
Unitypoint At Home	Urbandale, IA	13 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 557-3100

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

What it covers

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

Cost

What post-surgery care costs in Altoona

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,022 monthly median income of Altoona households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

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).

Questions worth asking: 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? More in our post-surgery care guide.

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

Questions

Post-Surgery Care in Altoona: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Altoona?

Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi in Des Moines, about 8.5 mi in a straight line from the center of Altoona (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (515) 343-1000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Altoona?

Medicare lists 14 certified agencies whose service area includes Altoona ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Aveanna Healthcare (5 of 5), Elara Caring (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Altoona?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,022 monthly median income of Altoona households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

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.

More near Altoona

More senior care near Altoona

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Altoona

More for Altoona 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.

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Altoona, IA