Post-Surgery Care in Eldora, IA: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Eldora, IA: the local picture

14 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Iowa Falls)

5

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Hardin County)

481

residents 65 or older (18% of Eldora)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Hansen Family Hospital in Iowa Falls, about 14 mi away in a straight line, followed by Grundy County Memorial Hospital (17 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 5 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Eldora. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Eldora compared with Hardin County and Iowa

Census figure	Eldora	Hardin County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	27%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	24%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	28%	31%
Households with no vehicle	5.2%	5.3%	5.4%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	3.4%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.5%	6.7%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,154	$54,750	—

Older residents in towns around Eldora

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Iowa Falls, IA	14 mi	1,205	38%
Grundy Center, IA	17 mi	629	32%
Marshalltown, IA	25 mi	4,563	39%
Hampton, IA	27 mi	981	23%
Story City, IA	28 mi	722	26%
Nevada, IA	30 mi	1,242	29%

Hospitals near Eldora

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Hansen Family Hospital	Iowa Falls, IA	14 mi	not rated	(641) 648-4631
Grundy County Memorial Hospital	Grundy Center, IA	17 mi	not rated	(319) 824-5421
Unitypoint Health - Marshalltown	Marshalltown, IA	24 mi	3 of 5	(641) 754-5151
Franklin General Hospital	Hampton, IA	27 mi	not rated	(641) 456-5000

Home health agencies serving Eldora

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mary Greeley Home Health Services	Ames, IA	34 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 239-6730
Unitypoint At Home	Waterloo, IA	41 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 235-3702
Iowa Home Care, L L C	West Des Moines, IA	65 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 222-9995
Greenbelt Home Care	Eldora, IA	0.3 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 939-8444
Optimae Home Health Services, Central Iowa	Des Moines, IA	60 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 277-0134

Straight-line miles from the center of Eldora. 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 Eldora

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,680 monthly median income of Eldora households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 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 Eldora: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Eldora?

Hansen Family Hospital in Iowa Falls, about 14 mi in a straight line from the center of Eldora (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (641) 648-4631. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Eldora?

Medicare lists 5 certified agencies whose service area includes Eldora ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Mary Greeley Home Health Services (3.5 of 5), Unitypoint At Home (3 of 5), Iowa Home Care, L L C (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Eldora?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,680 monthly median income of Eldora households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 near Eldora

More senior care near Eldora

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Eldora

More for Eldora 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 Eldora, IA