Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Fergus Falls, 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 Fergus Falls for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Fergus Falls, MN: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Prairie Ridge Hospital And Health Services in Elbow Lake, about 21 mi away in a straight line, followed by St Francis Medical Center (23 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 Fergus Falls. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Fergus Falls compared with Otter Tail County and Minnesota
| Census figure | Fergus Falls | Otter Tail County | Minnesota |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 40% | 28% | 28% |
| Residents 65 or older | 26% | 25% | 17% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 38% | 26% | 30% |
| Households with no vehicle | 10% | 5.6% | 6.7% |
| Residents 85 or older | 6.2% | 3.2% | 2.1% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 6.5% | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $47,455 | $53,778 | — |
Older residents in towns around Fergus Falls
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelican Rapids, MN | 20 mi | 444 | 26% |
| Breckenridge, MN | 24 mi | 667 | 30% |
| Wahpeton, ND | 26 mi | 1,557 | 29% |
| Barnesville, MN | 30 mi | 359 | 37% |
| Perham, MN | 32 mi | 872 | 47% |
| Detroit Lakes, MN | 38 mi | 2,539 | 36% |
Hospitals near Fergus Falls
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Ridge Hospital And Health Services | Elbow Lake, MN | 21 mi | not rated | (218) 685-7300 |
| St Francis Medical Center | Breckenridge, MN | 23 mi | not rated | (218) 643-3000 |
| Perham Health | Perham, MN | 32 mi | 3 of 5 | (218) 347-4500 |
Home health agencies serving Fergus Falls
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aveanna Home Health | Waite Park, MN | 103 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides | (320) 774-0777 |
| Chi Health At Home | Breckenridge, MN | 23 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (218) 643-2275 |
| Sanford Home Care Fargo | Fargo, ND | 53 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (701) 234-4900 |
| Vivie Home Health | Alexandria, MN | 43 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (320) 759-1273 |
| New Dimensions Home Health Care Inc. | Fergus Falls, MN | 0.9 mi | 1.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides | (218) 739-5856 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Fergus Falls. 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 Fergus Falls
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 40% of the $3,955 monthly median income of Fergus Falls 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.
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 Fergus Falls: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Fergus Falls?
Prairie Ridge Hospital And Health Services in Elbow Lake, about 21 mi in a straight line from the center of Fergus Falls (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (218) 685-7300. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Fergus Falls?
Medicare lists 5 certified agencies whose service area includes Fergus Falls ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Aveanna Home Health (4.5 of 5), Chi Health At Home (3.5 of 5), Sanford Home Care Fargo (3.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Fergus Falls?
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 40% of the $3,955 monthly median income of Fergus Falls 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 senior care near Fergus Falls
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Pelican Rapids, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Breckenridge, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Wahpeton, ND
- Post-Surgery Care in Barnesville, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Perham, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Detroit Lakes, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Alexandria, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Wadena, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Morris, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Dilworth, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Moorhead, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in Horace, ND
- Post-Surgery Care in Fargo, ND
- Post-Surgery Care in Glenwood, MN
- Post-Surgery Care in West Fargo, ND
- Post-Surgery Care in Long Prairie, MN
Other care in Fergus Falls
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 Fergus Falls
Posting is free and takes about ten minutes. Caregivers near Fergus Falls can see it as soon as it is live.
Create your free family accountLooking for caregiving work instead? Create a free caregiver profile.
