Post-Surgery Care in Del Mar, CA: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Del Mar, CA: the local picture

6.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Encinitas)

44

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Del Mar ZIP codes in their service area

17%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in San Diego County)

1,240

residents 65 or older (32% of Del Mar)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas in Encinitas, about 6.2 mi away in a straight line, followed by Va San Diego Healthcare System (6.6 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 44 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Del Mar. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Del Mar compared with San Diego County and California

Census figure	Del Mar	San Diego County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	17%	31%	33%
Residents 65 or older	32%	15%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	22%	23%
Households with no vehicle	0.7%	5.5%	7.1%
Residents 85 or older	4.1%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.8%	9.5%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$197,619	$78,324	—

Older residents in towns around Del Mar

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Solana Beach, CA	1.9 mi	3,418	20%
Fairbanks Ranch, CA	4.7 mi	411	41%
Encinitas, CA	6.0 mi	12,264	22%
Lake San Marcos, CA	11 mi	2,192	36%
Carlsbad, CA	12 mi	21,458	23%
Harmony Grove, CA	12 mi	132	14%

Hospitals near Del Mar

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas	Encinitas, CA	6.2 mi	4 of 5	(760) 753-6501
Va San Diego Healthcare System	San Diego, CA	6.6 mi	5 of 5	(858) 552-8585
Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla	La Jolla, CA	8.2 mi	5 of 5	(858) 626-4123
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos	San Marcos, CA	12 mi	4 of 5	(760) 528-6295

Home health agencies serving Del Mar

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Trio Home Health Care Of San Diego Inc	Encinitas, CA	6.2 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(760) 632-8746
Advantage Health Systems	San Diego, CA	7.7 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(858) 433-0469
Absolute Home Health Inc	San Diego, CA	14 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(858) 541-2000
Archer Health Inc	Carlsbad, CA	14 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 689-5049
Health Plus Home Health Care Inc	San Diego, CA	15 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(619) 223-2779
Aspire Home Healthcare	San Diego, CA	6.0 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(858) 755-9600

Straight-line miles from the center of Del Mar. 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 Del Mar

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 9% of the $16,468 monthly median income of Del Mar households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Del Mar: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Del Mar?

Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas in Encinitas, about 6.2 mi in a straight line from the center of Del Mar (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (760) 753-6501. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Del Mar?

Medicare lists 44 certified agencies whose service area includes Del Mar ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Trio Home Health Care Of San Diego Inc (5 of 5), Advantage Health Systems (5 of 5), Absolute Home Health Inc (5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Del Mar?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 9% of the $16,468 monthly median income of Del Mar households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 near Del Mar

More senior care near Del Mar

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Del Mar

More for Del Mar families

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.

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Del Mar, CA