Elba, Alabama

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Elba, AL

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

A younger man supporting an older man's arm as they walk through a bright living room
Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Elba, AL: the local picture

14 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Opp)
6
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Elba ZIP codes in their service area
37%
of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Coffee County)
975
residents 65 or older (28% of Elba)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Mizell Memorial Hospital in Opp, about 14 mi away in a straight line, followed by Medical Center Enterprise (15 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 6 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Elba. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Elba compared with Coffee County and Alabama

Census figureElbaCoffee CountyAlabama
Residents 65+ with a disability37%41%38%
Residents 65 or older28%17%18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone31%28%29%
Households with no vehicle4.1%4.0%5.4%
Residents 85 or older1.0%1.4%1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)12%12%12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$41,125$51,094—

Older residents in towns around Elba

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Opp, AL14 mi1,63042%
Enterprise, AL15 mi4,41442%
Fort Rucker, AL22 mi280.0%
Daleville, AL23 mi96836%
Luverne, AL24 mi58849%
Andalusia, AL25 mi1,80050%

Hospitals near Elba

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Mizell Memorial HospitalOpp, AL14 mi1 of 5(334) 493-3541
Medical Center EnterpriseEnterprise, AL15 mi4 of 5(334) 347-0584
Crenshaw Community HospitalLuverne, AL23 minot rated(334) 335-3374
Dale Medical CenterOzark, AL26 minot rated(334) 774-2601

Home health agencies serving Elba

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Lhc Homecare Of South AlabamaOpp, AL14 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(334) 493-2087
Centerwell Home HealthEnterprise, AL15 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(334) 347-0234
Enhabit Home HealthDothan, AL38 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(334) 793-5758
Amedisys Home HealthDothan, AL42 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(866) 205-0818
Southeast Alabama HomecareEnterprise, AL15 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(334) 347-4800
Alabama Department Of Public Health Home CareMontgomery, AL67 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(334) 206-5341

Straight-line miles from the center of Elba. 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 Elba

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $3,427 monthly median income of Elba households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Elba: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Elba?

Mizell Memorial Hospital in Opp, about 14 mi in a straight line from the center of Elba (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (334) 493-3541. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Elba?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes Elba ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Lhc Homecare Of South Alabama (4 of 5), Centerwell Home Health (4 of 5), Enhabit Home Health (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Elba?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $3,427 monthly median income of Elba households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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.

Find post-surgery care in Elba

Posting is free and takes about ten minutes. Caregivers near Elba can see it as soon as it is live.

Create your free family account

Looking for caregiving work instead? Create a free caregiver profile.

A woman on a sofa at home reviewing caregiver profiles on a laptop