Post-Surgery Care in Athens, TX: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Athens, TX: the local picture

1.0 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Athens)

43

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

47%

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

2,563

residents 65 or older (19% of Athens)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is UT Health East Texas Athens Hospital in Athens, about 1.0 mi away in a straight line, followed by UT Health East Texas Tyler Regional Hospital (33 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 43 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Athens. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Athens compared with Henderson County and Texas

Census figure	Athens	Henderson County	Texas
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	38%	35%
Residents 65 or older	19%	23%	13%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	26%	25%
Households with no vehicle	12%	4.6%	5.4%
Residents 85 or older	3.9%	2.5%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	11%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,845	$50,292	—

Older residents in towns around Athens

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Gun Barrel City, TX	20 mi	1,740	41%
Mabank, TX	20 mi	621	49%
Chandler, TX	22 mi	1,368	36%
Shadybrook, TX	24 mi	540	40%
Canton, TX	24 mi	819	31%
Van, TX	25 mi	361	19%

Hospitals near Athens

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
UT Health East Texas Athens Hospital	Athens, TX	1.0 mi	2 of 5	(903) 676-1000
UT Health East Texas Tyler Regional Hospital	Tyler, TX	33 mi	2 of 5	(903) 597-0351
Christus Mother Frances Hospital	Tyler, TX	33 mi	4 of 5	(903) 593-8441
Baylor Scott & White Texas Spine & Joint Hospital	Tyler, TX	33 mi	5 of 5	(903) 525-3300

Home health agencies serving Athens

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Ultimate Plus Home Care	Mesquite, TX	63 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(972) 240-5300
Ultimate Home Health Care	Mesquite, TX	63 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(972) 240-4700
New Vision Home Health Services Inc	Desoto, TX	66 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(972) 227-3000
Lucent Home Health LLC	Plano, TX	78 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(972) 664-0945
A-1 Phoenix Healthcare, LLC	Irving, TX	82 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(214) 591-0110
Centerwell Home Health	Athens, TX	2.5 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy	(903) 675-5184

Straight-line miles from the center of Athens. 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 Athens

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $3,570 monthly median income of Athens households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 STAR+PLUS in Texas: using consumer directed services to pay a family caregiver.

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 Athens: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Athens?

UT Health East Texas Athens Hospital in Athens, about 1.0 mi in a straight line from the center of Athens (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (903) 676-1000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Athens?

Medicare lists 43 certified agencies whose service area includes Athens ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Ultimate Plus Home Care (5 of 5), Ultimate Home Health Care (5 of 5), New Vision Home Health Services Inc (5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Athens?

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $3,570 monthly median income of Athens households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 Athens

More senior care near Athens

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Athens

More for Athens 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 Athens, TX