Post-Surgery Home Care in Berkeley, CA

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Berkeley, CA: the local picture

2.7 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Berkeley)

94

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

27%

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

20,100

residents 65 or older (17% of Berkeley)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp in Berkeley, about 2.7 mi away in a straight line, followed by Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (2.8 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 94 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Berkeley. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Berkeley compared with Alameda County and California

Census figure	Berkeley	Alameda County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	31%	33%
Residents 65 or older	17%	15%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	23%	23%
Households with no vehicle	21%	10%	7.1%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.9%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.9%	11%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$98,265	$80,351	—

Older residents in towns around Berkeley

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Emeryville, CA	1.9 mi	1,440	24%
Albany, CA	2.0 mi	3,063	20%
Kensington, CA	2.8 mi	1,216	19%
El Cerrito, CA	3.7 mi	5,363	26%
Piedmont, CA	4.8 mi	2,347	24%
East Richmond Heights, CA	5.5 mi	782	17%

Hospitals near Berkeley

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp	Berkeley, CA	2.7 mi	4 of 5	(510) 204-4444
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center	Oakland, CA	2.8 mi	5 of 5	(510) 655-4000
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland	Oakland, CA	2.8 mi	not rated	(510) 428-3000
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/Richmond	Oakland, CA	4.4 mi	2 of 5	(510) 752-1000

Home health agencies serving Berkeley

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
A1 Pro Home Health Inc.	San Leandro, CA	13 mi	5 of 5	—	(510) 738-0888
Care First Home Health, LLC	San Leandro, CA	15 mi	5 of 5	—	(510) 878-9288
American Home Health Care, LLC	Dublin, CA	23 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(510) 574-0390
Neogen Care	Pleasanton, CA	25 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(510) 440-1383
Care In Touch Home Health Agency	Fremont, CA	29 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(510) 651-8500
National Home Health Services-West, Inc	Fremont, CA	29 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(415) 812-2955

Straight-line miles from the center of Berkeley. 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 Berkeley

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $8,189 monthly median income of Berkeley households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Berkeley: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Berkeley?

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp in Berkeley, about 2.7 mi in a straight line from the center of Berkeley (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (510) 204-4444. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Berkeley?

Medicare lists 94 certified agencies whose service area includes Berkeley ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include A1 Pro Home Health Inc. (5 of 5), Care First Home Health, LLC (5 of 5), American Home Health Care, LLC (5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Berkeley?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $8,189 monthly median income of Berkeley households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 Berkeley

More senior care near Berkeley

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Berkeley

More for Berkeley 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 Berkeley, CA