Columbus, Ohio

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Columbus, OH

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Columbus, OH: the local picture

1.6 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Columbus)
373
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Columbus ZIP codes in their service area
33%
of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Franklin County)
103,532
residents 65 or older (11% of Columbus)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Grant Medical Center in Columbus, about 1.6 mi away in a straight line, followed by Ohio State University State Health System (2.1 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 373 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Columbus. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Columbus compared with Franklin County and Ohio

Census figureColumbusFranklin CountyOhio
Residents 65+ with a disability33%31%33%
Residents 65 or older11%13%18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone36%33%32%
Households with no vehicle8.5%7.4%7.5%
Residents 85 or older1.1%1.4%2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)12%9.9%10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$49,772$57,309—

Older residents in towns around Columbus

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Grandview Heights, OH2.9 mi94926%
Bexley, OH3.0 mi1,74321%
Whitehall, OH5.4 mi2,41849%
Upper Arlington, OH5.5 mi6,40921%
Gahanna, OH6.6 mi5,94324%
Worthington, OH8.0 mi3,27316%

Hospitals near Columbus

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Grant Medical CenterColumbus, OH1.6 mi2 of 5(614) 566-9164
Ohio State University State Health SystemColumbus, OH2.1 mi3 of 5(614) 293-9700
Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbus, OH2.2 minot rated(614) 722-2000
Twin Valley Behavioral HealthcareColumbus, OH4.5 minot rated(614) 752-0333

Home health agencies serving Columbus

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Signature Care, IncReynoldsburg, OH9.8 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(614) 751-9901
Enliven Home HealthGahanna, OH6.9 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(614) 755-2347
Buckeye Home Health Care, LLCDayton, OH67 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(937) 291-3780
Angels Care Home HealthGahanna, OH6.9 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(614) 847-9400
Healthpro Homecare And StaffingGahanna, OH6.9 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides(614) 864-7340
Scarlet Home Health CareWesterville, OH9.8 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(614) 732-0149

Straight-line miles from the center of Columbus. 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 Columbus

At the Ohio median aide wage of $16.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,436 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,148 monthly median income of Columbus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Ohio's minimum wage is $11.00 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 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 Columbus: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Columbus?

Grant Medical Center in Columbus, about 1.6 mi in a straight line from the center of Columbus (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (614) 566-9164. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Columbus?

Medicare lists 373 certified agencies whose service area includes Columbus ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Signature Care, Inc (5 of 5), Enliven Home Health (4.5 of 5), Buckeye Home Health Care, LLC (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Columbus?

At the Ohio median aide wage of $16.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,436 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,148 monthly median income of Columbus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Ohio's minimum wage is $11.00 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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