Centralia, Missouri

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Centralia, MO

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 Centralia for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Centralia, MO: the local picture

21 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Columbia)
7
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Centralia ZIP codes in their service area
51%
of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Boone County)
986
residents 65 or older (21% of Centralia)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, about 21 mi away in a straight line, followed by Columbia Mo Va Medical Center (21 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 7 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Centralia. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Centralia compared with Boone County and Missouri

Census figureCentraliaBoone CountyMissouri
Residents 65+ with a disability51%29%34%
Residents 65 or older21%13%18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone31%30%30%
Households with no vehicle6.4%5.9%6.6%
Residents 85 or older1.0%1.3%2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)9.6%8.6%10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$49,153$64,058—

Older residents in towns around Centralia

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Mexico, MO14 mi2,17345%
Columbia, MO21 mi14,88330%
Moberly, MO22 mi2,29543%
Fulton, MO26 mi1,89134%
Ashland, MO28 mi73337%
Fayette, MO30 mi35226%

Hospitals near Centralia

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Boone Hospital CenterColumbia, MO21 mi4 of 5(573) 815-8000
Columbia Mo Va Medical CenterColumbia, MO21 mi4 of 5(573) 814-6000
University Of Missouri Health CareColumbia, MO22 mi3 of 5(573) 882-4141
Moberly Regional Medical CenterMoberly, MO22 mi2 of 5(660) 263-8400

Home health agencies serving Centralia

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Centerwell Home HealthColumbia, MO23 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy(573) 256-4705
Elara CaringJefferson City, MO44 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(800) 690-1753
Central Missouri Home HealthJefferson City, MO44 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides(573) 681-3777
Phoenix Home CareJefferson City, MO46 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(573) 635-3900
Angels Care Home HealthMoberly, MO22 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(660) 263-1517
Orthopaedic And Medical Home Health, LLCColumbia, MO21 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides(573) 474-1786

Straight-line miles from the center of Centralia. 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 Centralia

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,096 monthly median income of Centralia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Centralia: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Centralia?

Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, about 21 mi in a straight line from the center of Centralia (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (573) 815-8000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Centralia?

Medicare lists 7 certified agencies whose service area includes Centralia ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Elara Caring (4.5 of 5), Central Missouri Home Health (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Centralia?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,096 monthly median income of Centralia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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.

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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