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

Local figures

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

6.8 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Lynchburg)

10

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

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Bedford County)

2,764

residents 65 or older (21% of Forest)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Centra Health - Lynchburg Gen Hospital in Lynchburg, about 6.8 mi away in a straight line, followed by Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital (15 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 10 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 Bedford County and Virginia

Census figure	Forest	Bedford County	Virginia
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	29%	31%
Residents 65 or older	21%	23%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	24%	27%
Households with no vehicle	2.6%	3.2%	6.1%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.2%	1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	1.5%	5.5%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,386	$63,298	—

Older residents in towns around Forest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Timberlake, VA	4.3 mi	2,386	38%
Lynchburg, VA	4.8 mi	11,391	34%
Madison Heights, VA	11 mi	2,157	36%
Bedford, VA	13 mi	1,647	41%
Altavista, VA	17 mi	656	32%
Buena Vista, VA	25 mi	1,240	48%

Hospitals near Forest

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Centra Health - Lynchburg Gen Hospital	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	3 of 5	(434) 200-4789
Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital	Bedford, VA	15 mi	5 of 5	(540) 586-2441
Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital	Lexington, VA	30 mi	3 of 5	(540) 458-3300
Carilion Medical Center	Roanoke, VA	38 mi	3 of 5	(540) 981-7000

Home health agencies serving Forest

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health (Lynchburg)	Lynchburg, VA	3.3 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(540) 586-6765
Centra Home Health	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(434) 200-4111
Amedisys Home Health Care	Roanoke, VA	35 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(540) 265-5980
Westminster At Home (Home Health)	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(434) 386-3800
1ST Care Home Health Lynchburg	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(434) 384-2800
Carilion Home Care Services - Roanoke	Roanoke, VA	38 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(540) 633-9314

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 Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,032 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. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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?

Centra Health - Lynchburg Gen Hospital in Lynchburg, about 6.8 mi in a straight line from the center of Forest (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (434) 200-4789. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Forest?

Medicare lists 10 certified agencies whose service area includes Forest ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (Lynchburg) (5 of 5), Centra Home Health (4.5 of 5), Amedisys Home Health Care (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Forest?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,032 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. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 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, VA