Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Charles City, 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 Charles City for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Charles City, IA: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City, about 0.3 mi away in a straight line, followed by Mercy Medical Center-New Hampton (18 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 5 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Charles City. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Charles City compared with Floyd County and Iowa
| Census figure | Charles City | Floyd County | Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 44% | 37% | 30% |
| Residents 65 or older | 24% | 23% | 18% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 41% | 32% | 31% |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.7% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Residents 85 or older | 5.4% | 4.2% | 2.3% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 11% | 7.7% | 8.4% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $45,526 | $49,658 | — |
Older residents in towns around Charles City
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osage, IA | 17 mi | 897 | 30% |
| New Hampton, IA | 18 mi | 695 | 35% |
| Waverly, IA | 26 mi | 1,954 | 28% |
| Mason City, IA | 27 mi | 6,215 | 31% |
| Hampton, IA | 35 mi | 981 | 23% |
| Cresco, IA | 35 mi | 828 | 21% |
Hospitals near Charles City
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd County Medical Center | Charles City, IA | 0.3 mi | 3 of 5 | (641) 228-6830 |
| Mercy Medical Center-New Hampton | New Hampton, IA | 18 mi | not rated | (641) 394-4121 |
| Waverly Health Center | Waverly, IA | 24 mi | 5 of 5 | (319) 352-4120 |
| Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center | Mason City, IA | 27 mi | 2 of 5 | (641) 428-7000 |
Home health agencies serving Charles City
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercyone Des Moines Home Care | Des Moines, IA | 113 mi | 4 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (515) 643-8383 |
| Floyd County Public Health/ Home Health Care | Charles City, IA | 0.3 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides | (641) 257-6111 |
| Chickasaw Co Public Health & Home Care Services | New Hampton, IA | 18 mi | 2 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (641) 394-4053 |
| Family First Homecare Of Iowa | Urbandale, IA | 113 mi | not rated | nursing, home health aides | (515) 280-2180 |
| Maxim Healthcare Services Inc. | Omaha, NE | 214 mi | not rated | nursing, home health aides | (402) 399-8888 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Charles City. 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 Charles City
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 40% of the $3,794 monthly median income of Charles City 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 Charles City: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Charles City?
Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City, about 0.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Charles City (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (641) 228-6830. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Charles City?
Medicare lists 5 certified agencies whose service area includes Charles City ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Mercyone Des Moines Home Care (4 of 5), Floyd County Public Health/ Home Health Care (3 of 5), Chickasaw Co Public Health & Home Care Services (2 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Charles City?
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 40% of the $3,794 monthly median income of Charles City 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 Charles City
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Osage, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in New Hampton, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Waverly, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Mason City, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Hampton, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Cresco, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Clear Lake, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Cedar Falls, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Waterloo, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Austin, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Hudson, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Evansdale, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Garner, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Oelwein, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Decorah, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Iowa Falls, IA
Other care in Charles City
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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