Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Altoona, WI
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 in Altoona for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Altoona, WI: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Marshfield Medical Center - Eau Claire in Eau Claire, about 2.6 mi away in a straight line, followed by Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire Hospital (4.4 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 8 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 Eau Claire County and Wisconsin
| Census figure | Altoona | Eau Claire County | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 34% | 29% | 28% |
| Residents 65 or older | 19% | 17% | 19% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 33% | 31% | 30% |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.4% | 6.4% | 6.4% |
| Residents 85 or older | 3.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 7.7% | 7.2% | 9.1% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $66,250 | $58,282 | — |
Older residents in towns around Altoona
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WI | 3.0 mi | 11,454 | 29% |
| Lake Hallie, WI | 6.4 mi | 1,035 | 26% |
| Chippewa Falls, WI | 9.6 mi | 3,042 | 28% |
| Lake Wissota, WI | 11 mi | 640 | 30% |
| Mondovi, WI | 19 mi | 634 | 45% |
| Bloomer, WI | 21 mi | 783 | 29% |
Hospitals near Altoona
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshfield Medical Center - Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI | 2.6 mi | 3 of 5 | (715) 858-8100 |
| Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire Hospital | Eau Claire, WI | 4.4 mi | 5 of 5 | (715) 838-3311 |
| Mayo Clinic Health System Oakridge | Osseo, WI | 20 mi | not rated | (715) 597-3121 |
| Mayo Clinic Health System Chippewa Valley | Bloomer, WI | 21 mi | 4 of 5 | (715) 568-2000 |
Home health agencies serving Altoona
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compassus Home Health | Marshfield, WI | 63 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (715) 301-7260 |
| Aveanna Home Health | Eau Claire, WI | 4.4 mi | 4 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (715) 598-5600 |
| Mayo Clinic Health System In Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI | 4.4 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (715) 831-0100 |
| Lakeland Home Healthcare | Chippewa Falls, WI | 9.7 mi | 3 of 5 | — | (715) 239-2075 |
| Interim Healthcare Of Western Wisconsin | Hudson, WI | 64 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (715) 377-9617 |
| North Shore At Home | Gurnee, IL | 243 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (847) 360-7660 |
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 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
What post-surgery care costs in Altoona
At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,521 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. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.
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.
Post-Surgery Care in Altoona: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Altoona?
Marshfield Medical Center - Eau Claire in Eau Claire, about 2.6 mi in a straight line from the center of Altoona (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (715) 858-8100. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Altoona?
Medicare lists 8 certified agencies whose service area includes Altoona ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Compassus Home Health (4.5 of 5), Aveanna Home Health (4 of 5), Mayo Clinic Health System In Eau Claire (3.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Altoona?
At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,521 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. Wisconsin'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 senior care near Altoona
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Eau Claire, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Lake Hallie, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Chippewa Falls, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Lake Wissota, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Mondovi, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Bloomer, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Menomonie, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Tainter Lake, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Stanley, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Arcadia, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Wabasha, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Black River Falls, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Barron, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Baldwin, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Lake City, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Ladysmith, WI
Other care in Altoona
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.
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