Post-Surgery Care in Arab, AL: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Arab, AL: the local picture

17 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Cullman)

10

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Marshall County)

1,347

residents 65 or older (16% of Arab)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Cullman Regional Medical Center in Cullman, about 17 mi away in a straight line, followed by Marshall Medical Centers (20 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 10 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Arab. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Arab compared with Marshall County and Alabama

Census figure	Arab	Marshall County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	38%	38%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	27%	29%
Households with no vehicle	4.3%	4.4%	5.4%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.5%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.3%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,987	$48,069	—

Older residents in towns around Arab

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Guntersville, AL	14 mi	1,892	37%
New Hope, AL	15 mi	291	35%
Albertville, AL	17 mi	3,464	43%
Owens Cross Roads, AL	18 mi	339	33%
Boaz, AL	22 mi	1,337	45%
Cullman, AL	22 mi	3,585	38%

Hospitals near Arab

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Cullman Regional Medical Center	Cullman, AL	17 mi	2 of 5	(256) 737-2000
Marshall Medical Centers	Boaz, AL	20 mi	3 of 5	(256) 593-8310
Huntsville Hospital	Huntsville, AL	28 mi	3 of 5	(256) 265-1000
Crestwood Medical Center	Huntsville, AL	28 mi	3 of 5	(256) 429-4000

Home health agencies serving Arab

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Prohealth Home Health, LLC	Huntsville, AL	23 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(256) 945-9100
Centerwell Home Health	Rainbow City, AL	36 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(256) 442-1138
Cullman Regional Home Care	Cullman, AL	17 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(256) 737-2831
Amedisys Home Health	Cullman, AL	17 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(205) 429-4919
Medical Centers Homecare	Albertville, AL	17 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(256) 878-5811
Aveanna Home Health	Huntsville, AL	30 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—

Straight-line miles from the center of Arab. 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 Arab

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $3,416 monthly median income of Arab households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Arab: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Arab?

Cullman Regional Medical Center in Cullman, about 17 mi in a straight line from the center of Arab (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (256) 737-2000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Arab?

Medicare lists 10 certified agencies whose service area includes Arab ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Prohealth Home Health, LLC (4.5 of 5), Centerwell Home Health (4.5 of 5), Cullman Regional Home Care (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Arab?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $3,416 monthly median income of Arab households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Arab

More senior care near Arab

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Arab

More for Arab 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 Arab, AL