Post-Surgery Care in Atlanta, GA: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Atlanta, GA: the local picture

2.1 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Atlanta)

37

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

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Fulton County)

62,059

residents 65 or older (12% of Atlanta)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, about 2.1 mi away in a straight line, followed by Emory University Hospital Midtown (2.8 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 37 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Atlanta. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Atlanta compared with Fulton County and Georgia

Census figure	Atlanta	Fulton County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	30%	34%
Residents 65 or older	12%	13%	15%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	34%	26%
Households with no vehicle	14%	10%	5.9%
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.3%	1.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	19%	13%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,877	$60,089	—

Older residents in towns around Atlanta

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Druid Hills, GA	5.6 mi	1,503	20%
North Druid Hills, GA	6.8 mi	2,208	48%
East Point, GA	7.0 mi	4,035	34%
Hapeville, GA	7.1 mi	587	38%
Vinings, GA	7.1 mi	1,684	14%
Decatur, GA	7.3 mi	3,597	29%

Hospitals near Atlanta

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Grady Memorial Hospital	Atlanta, GA	2.1 mi	2 of 5	(404) 616-1000
Emory University Hospital Midtown	Atlanta, GA	2.8 mi	2 of 5	(404) 686-2450
Emory University Hospital	Atlanta, GA	6.0 mi	4 of 5	(404) 686-8500
Athur M Blank Hospital	Atlanta, GA	7.2 mi	not rated	(404) 785-4577

Home health agencies serving Atlanta

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Central Home Health Care, An Amedisys Company	Tucker, GA	14 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(770) 938-9611
Centerwell Home Health	Atlanta, GA	16 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(770) 998-1393
Central Home Health Care, An Amedisys Company	Douglasville, GA	19 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(770) 942-1609
Centerwell Home Health	Kennesaw, GA	21 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(470) 795-7907
A Care Connection Home Health	Jacksonville, FL	297 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(904) 899-5520
Sarasota Memorial Homecare	Sarasota, FL	465 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(941) 917-7730

Straight-line miles from the center of Atlanta. 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 Atlanta

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,740 monthly median income of Atlanta households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Atlanta: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Atlanta?

Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, about 2.1 mi in a straight line from the center of Atlanta (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (404) 616-1000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Atlanta?

Medicare lists 37 certified agencies whose service area includes Atlanta ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Central Home Health Care, An Amedisys Company (4.5 of 5), Centerwell Home Health (4.5 of 5), Central Home Health Care, An Amedisys Company (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Atlanta?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,740 monthly median income of Atlanta households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Atlanta

More senior care near Atlanta

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Atlanta

More for Atlanta 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 Atlanta, GA