Post-Surgery Care in Forest, MS: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Forest, MS: the local picture

1.0 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Forest)

9

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

50%

of residents 65+ report a disability (46% in Scott County)

700

residents 65 or older (13% of Forest)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is S E Lackey Memorial Hospital in Forest, about 1.0 mi away in a straight line, followed by Ochsner Scott Regional (7.6 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 9 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Forest. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Forest compared with Scott County and Mississippi

Census figure	Forest	Scott County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with a disability	50%	46%	41%
Residents 65 or older	13%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	21%	30%
Households with no vehicle	12%	6.4%	6.3%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.3%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	14%	15%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,776	$39,941	—

Older residents in towns around Forest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Morton, MS	11 mi	669	64%
Newton, MS	19 mi	714	52%
Carthage, MS	27 mi	1,007	48%
Brandon, MS	31 mi	4,500	39%
Pearl River, MS	33 mi	598	56%
Flowood, MS	35 mi	1,563	24%

Hospitals near Forest

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
S E Lackey Memorial Hospital	Forest, MS	1.0 mi	not rated	(601) 469-4151
Ochsner Scott Regional	Morton, MS	7.6 mi	not rated	(601) 732-6301
Smith County Emergency Hospital	Raleigh, MS	21 mi	not rated	(601) 765-6711
Crossgates River Oaks Hospital	Brandon, MS	29 mi	2 of 5	(601) 825-2811

Home health agencies serving Forest

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Adoration Home Health	Collins, MS	48 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 765-8316
Adoration Home Health	Vicksburg, MS	80 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 619-3670
Centerwell Home Health	Flowood, MS	36 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 362-7801
Sta Home Health Agency Of Jackson, Inc. Dba Accentcare Home Health Of Jackson	Clinton, MS	50 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 961-4367
Enhabit Home Health	Vicksburg, MS	80 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 638-6606
Accentcare Home Health Of Carthage	Carthage, MS	30 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 267-8333

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest. 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 Forest

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $3,065 monthly median income of Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi 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 Forest: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Forest?

S E Lackey Memorial Hospital in Forest, about 1.0 mi in a straight line from the center of Forest (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (601) 469-4151. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Forest?

Medicare lists 9 certified agencies whose service area includes Forest ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Adoration Home Health (4.5 of 5), Adoration Home Health (4.5 of 5), Centerwell Home Health (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Forest?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $3,065 monthly median income of Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi 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.

More near Forest

More senior care near Forest

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Forest

More for Forest 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 Forest, MS