Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Columbus, WI
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.
Post-Surgery Care in Columbus, WI: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, about 0.4 mi away in a straight line, followed by Marshfield Medical Center - Beaver Dam (Mmc-Bd) (13 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 8 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 Columbia County and Wisconsin
| Census figure | Columbus | Columbia County | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 32% | 25% | 28% |
| Residents 65 or older | 15% | 20% | 19% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 46% | 27% | 30% |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.9% | 4.4% | 6.4% |
| Residents 85 or older | 1.8% | 1.9% | 2.1% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 18% | 7.7% | 9.1% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $48,750 | $57,885 | — |
Older residents in towns around Columbus
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, WI | 11 mi | 598 | 41% |
| Marshall, WI | 12 mi | 389 | 29% |
| Beaver Dam, WI | 13 mi | 3,018 | 36% |
| Windsor, WI | 14 mi | 1,284 | 21% |
| Sun Prairie, WI | 15 mi | 5,317 | 26% |
| Juneau, WI | 17 mi | 464 | 26% |
Hospitals near Columbus
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Community Hospital | Columbus, WI | 0.4 mi | 4 of 5 | (920) 623-2200 |
| Marshfield Medical Center - Beaver Dam (Mmc-Bd) | Beaver Dam, WI | 13 mi | 2 of 5 | (920) 887-7181 |
| Watertown Memorial Hospital | Watertown, WI | 16 mi | 3 of 5 | (920) 261-4210 |
| Waupun Memorial Hospital | Waupun, WI | 25 mi | 5 of 5 | (920) 324-6512 |
Home health agencies serving Columbus
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aveanna Home Health | Baraboo, WI | 37 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides | (608) 356-7570 |
| Interim Healthcare Of Wisconsin | Madison, WI | 28 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (608) 238-0268 |
| Aspirus At Home | Wausau, WI | 117 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (715) 847-2600 |
| Hillside Home Care | Beaver Dam, WI | 13 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (920) 887-4050 |
| Uw Health Care Direct | Middleton, WI | 29 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (608) 831-8555 |
| Ssm Health At Home Home Health-Wisconsin | Madison, WI | 30 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (800) 924-2273 |
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 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 Columbus
At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,063 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. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.
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 Columbus: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Columbus?
Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, about 0.4 mi in a straight line from the center of Columbus (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (920) 623-2200. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Columbus?
Medicare lists 8 certified agencies whose service area includes Columbus ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Aveanna Home Health (4.5 of 5), Interim Healthcare Of Wisconsin (3.5 of 5), Aspirus At Home (3.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Columbus?
At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,063 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. Wisconsin'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 Columbus
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Waterloo, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Marshall, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Beaver Dam, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Windsor, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Sun Prairie, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Juneau, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in DeForest, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Watertown, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Lake Mills, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Cottage Grove, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Poynette, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Deerfield, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Horicon, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Johnson Creek, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Waunakee, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Monona, WI
Other care in Columbus
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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