Dodge Center, Minnesota

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Dodge Center, MN

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Dodge Center, MN: the local picture

18 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Rochester)
7
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Dodge Center ZIP codes in their service area
24%
of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Dodge County)
419
residents 65 or older (15% of Dodge Center)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester in Rochester, about 18 mi away in a straight line, followed by Owatonna Hospital (19 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 Dodge Center. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Dodge Center compared with Dodge County and Minnesota

Census figureDodge CenterDodge CountyMinnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability24%26%28%
Residents 65 or older15%16%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone21%25%30%
Households with no vehicle2.1%3.8%6.7%
Residents 85 or older1.5%1.7%2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)5.3%6.6%8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$43,393$58,301—

Older residents in towns around Dodge Center

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Kasson, MN5.2 mi1,03733%
Byron, MN11 mi84936%
Pine Island, MN16 mi55824%
Rochester, MN19 mi19,98031%
Owatonna, MN19 mi5,17429%
Zumbrota, MN20 mi92530%

Hospitals near Dodge Center

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Mayo Clinic Hospital RochesterRochester, MN18 mi5 of 5(507) 255-5123
Owatonna HospitalOwatonna, MN19 mi5 of 5(507) 451-3850
Olmsted Medical CenterRochester, MN23 mi4 of 5(507) 288-3443
Allina Health Faribault Medical CenterFaribault, MN28 mi3 of 5(507) 334-6451

Home health agencies serving Dodge Center

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Aveanna Home HealthRochester, MN18 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(507) 282-2246
Allina Health Home HealthMinneapolis, MN66 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(612) 863-4478
Adara Home Health IncBuffalo, MN94 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(763) 682-3005
Interim Healthcare Of RochesterRochester, MN18 mi2.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(507) 200-1111
Comfort HealthRochester, MN18 mi2 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(507) 281-2332
International Quality HomecareRochester, MN18 mi2 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides(888) 995-4742

Straight-line miles from the center of Dodge Center. 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 Dodge Center

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $3,616 monthly median income of Dodge Center households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Dodge Center: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Dodge Center?

Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester in Rochester, about 18 mi in a straight line from the center of Dodge Center (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (507) 255-5123. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Dodge Center?

Medicare lists 7 certified agencies whose service area includes Dodge Center ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Aveanna Home Health (4 of 5), Allina Health Home Health (3.5 of 5), Adara Home Health Inc (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Dodge Center?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $3,616 monthly median income of Dodge Center households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Dodge Center

More senior care near Dodge Center

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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