Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Burlington, IA
Non-medical help at home in the days and weeks after surgery, a hospital stay or a fall, alongside any nursing or therapy a doctor orders. Post what you need in Burlington for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Burlington, IA: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington, about 3.4 mi away in a straight line, followed by Henry County Health Center (25 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 Burlington. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Burlington compared with Des Moines County and Iowa
| Census figure | Burlington | Des Moines County | Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 35% | 35% | 30% |
| Residents 65 or older | 22% | 21% | 18% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 40% | 36% | 31% |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.7% | 7.3% | 5.4% |
| Residents 85 or older | 3.3% | 2.9% | 2.3% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 11% | 10% | 8.4% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $39,835 | $44,970 | — |
Older residents in towns around Burlington
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Burlington, IA | 2.9 mi | 631 | 37% |
| Fort Madison, IA | 17 mi | 2,208 | 40% |
| Mount Pleasant, IA | 25 mi | 1,634 | 35% |
| Monmouth, IL | 26 mi | 1,361 | 36% |
| Keokuk, IA | 31 mi | 2,065 | 34% |
| Hamilton, IL | 31 mi | 542 | 35% |
Hospitals near Burlington
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center | West Burlington, IA | 3.4 mi | 4 of 5 | (319) 768-1000 |
| Henry County Health Center | Mount Pleasant, IA | 25 mi | not rated | (319) 385-3141 |
| Osf Holy Family Medical Center | Monmouth, IL | 26 mi | 4 of 5 | (309) 734-3141 |
| Memorial Hospital | Carthage, IL | 27 mi | 4 of 5 | (217) 357-8500 |
Home health agencies serving Burlington
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Home Health Care Inc | Burlington, IA | 0.4 mi | 4 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (319) 753-6270 |
| Southeast Iowa Regional Home Health | West Burlington, IA | 3.4 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (319) 768-3350 |
| Optimae Home Health Services | Fairfield, IA | 46 mi | 2.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (641) 472-4464 |
| Sunny Brook Home Care | Fairfield, IA | 46 mi | 1.5 of 5 | nursing, home health aides | (641) 472-4808 |
| Nurse At Home | Burlington, IA | 0.4 mi | 1 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides | (319) 208-1353 |
| Des Moines County Health Department | Burlington, IA | 0.4 mi | not rated | nursing, home health aides | (319) 753-8290 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Burlington. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.
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
What post-surgery care costs in Burlington
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 45% of the $3,320 monthly median income of Burlington 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.
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.
Post-Surgery Care in Burlington: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Burlington?
Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington, about 3.4 mi in a straight line from the center of Burlington (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (319) 768-1000. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Burlington?
Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes Burlington ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Advanced Home Health Care Inc (4 of 5), Southeast Iowa Regional Home Health (3 of 5), Optimae Home Health Services (2.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Burlington?
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 45% of the $3,320 monthly median income of Burlington 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 senior care near Burlington
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in West Burlington, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Fort Madison, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Mount Pleasant, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Monmouth, IL
- Post-Surgery Care in Keokuk, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Hamilton, IL
- Post-Surgery Care in Macomb, IL
- Post-Surgery Care in Aledo, IL
- Post-Surgery Care in Bushnell, IL
- Post-Surgery Care in Abingdon, IL
- Post-Surgery Care in Galesburg, IL
- Post-Surgery Care in Muscatine, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Knoxville, IL
- Post-Surgery Care in Washington, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Fairfield, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Canton, MO
Other care in Burlington
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.
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