Post-Surgery Home Care in Atlantic, IA

Local figures

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

0.8 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Atlantic)

6

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

37%

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

1,632

residents 65 or older (24% of Atlantic)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, about 0.8 mi away in a straight line, followed by Myrtue Medical Center (23 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 6 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Atlantic. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Atlantic compared with Cass County and Iowa

Census figure	Atlantic	Cass County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	24%	23%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	33%	31%
Households with no vehicle	7.3%	5.7%	5.4%
Residents 85 or older	3.6%	3.3%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	11%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,848	$47,609	—

Older residents in towns around Atlantic

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Harlan, IA	24 mi	1,170	24%
Red Oak, IA	28 mi	1,021	48%
Creston, IA	41 mi	1,464	28%
Glenwood, IA	44 mi	1,116	28%
Council Bluffs, IA	44 mi	10,951	39%
Clarinda, IA	45 mi	1,227	32%

Hospitals near Atlantic

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Cass County Memorial Hospital	Atlantic, IA	0.8 mi	5 of 5	(712) 243-3250
Myrtue Medical Center	Harlan, IA	23 mi	3 of 5	(712) 755-5161
Audubon County Memorial Hospital	Audubon, IA	24 mi	not rated	(712) 563-2611
Montgomery County Memorial Hospital	Red Oak, IA	29 mi	not rated	(712) 623-7000

Home health agencies serving Atlantic

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Angels Care Home Health Of Iowa	Council Bluffs, IA	43 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(712) 352-3640
Aveanna Home Health	Council Bluffs, IA	46 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 325-8989
Carroll Area Nursing Services	Carroll, IA	48 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 792-1111
Wesley Life Home Health	Urbandale, IA	69 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 978-2777
Guthrie County Phns	Guthrie Center, IA	34 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 747-3972
Home Sweet Home Care	Atlantic, IA	0.8 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(712) 243-5343

Straight-line miles from the center of Atlantic. 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 Atlantic

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 41% of the $3,654 monthly median income of Atlantic 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 Atlantic: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Atlantic?

Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, about 0.8 mi in a straight line from the center of Atlantic (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (712) 243-3250. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Atlantic?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes Atlantic ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Angels Care Home Health Of Iowa (4 of 5), Aveanna Home Health (4 of 5), Carroll Area Nursing Services (3.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Atlantic?

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 41% of the $3,654 monthly median income of Atlantic 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 Atlantic

More senior care near Atlantic

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Atlantic

More for Atlantic 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 Atlantic, IA