Post-Surgery Care in Bigfork, MT: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Bigfork, MT: the local picture

14 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Kalispell)

3

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

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Flathead County)

1,831

residents 65 or older (33% of Bigfork)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, about 14 mi away in a straight line, followed by Logan Health - Whitefish (26 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 3 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Bigfork. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Bigfork compared with Flathead County and Montana

Census figure	Bigfork	Flathead County	Montana
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	29%	32%
Residents 65 or older	33%	21%	20%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	30%	29%
Households with no vehicle	5.2%	4.2%	4.7%
Residents 85 or older	4.7%	1.7%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.3%	10.0%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$82,266	$53,171	—

Older residents in towns around Bigfork

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Evergreen, MT	14 mi	1,293	45%
Kalispell, MT	16 mi	5,461	33%
Columbia Falls, MT	21 mi	667	36%
Polson, MT	28 mi	1,348	27%
Whitefish, MT	28 mi	2,043	26%
North Browning, MT	58 mi	282	55%

Hospitals near Bigfork

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Logan Health Medical Center	Kalispell, MT	14 mi	3 of 5	(406) 752-5111
Logan Health - Whitefish	Whitefish, MT	26 mi	3 of 5	(406) 863-3550
Providence St Joseph Medical Center	Polson, MT	28 mi	not rated	(406) 883-5377
St Luke Community Hospital	Ronan, MT	37 mi	not rated	(406) 676-4441

Home health agencies serving Bigfork

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Enhabit Home Health	Helena, MT	139 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(406) 443-4140
Logan Health Home Care	Kalispell, MT	14 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(406) 751-4200
Granite Peak Home Health	Miles City, MT	402 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, home health aides	(406) 874-5134

Straight-line miles from the center of Bigfork. 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 Bigfork

At the Montana median aide wage of $17.61 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,526 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $6,856 monthly median income of Bigfork households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 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 Bigfork: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Bigfork?

Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, about 14 mi in a straight line from the center of Bigfork (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (406) 752-5111. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Bigfork?

Medicare lists 3 certified agencies whose service area includes Bigfork ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Enhabit Home Health (3 of 5), Logan Health Home Care (2 of 5), Granite Peak Home Health (2 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Bigfork?

At the Montana median aide wage of $17.61 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,526 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $6,856 monthly median income of Bigfork households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 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 Bigfork

More senior care near Bigfork

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Bigfork

More for Bigfork 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 Bigfork, MT