Forrest City, Arkansas

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Forrest City, AR

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Forrest City, AR: the local picture

0.4 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Forrest City)
4
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Forrest City ZIP codes in their service area
45%
of residents 65+ report a disability (43% in St. Francis County)
1,468
residents 65 or older (12% of Forrest City)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Forrest City Medical Center in Forrest City, about 0.4 mi away in a straight line, followed by Crossridge Community Hospital (15 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 4 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Forrest City. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Forrest City compared with St. Francis County and Arkansas

Census figureForrest CitySt. Francis CountyArkansas
Residents 65+ with a disability45%43%40%
Residents 65 or older12%18%18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone42%31%29%
Households with no vehicle18%13%5.9%
Residents 85 or older1.2%1.5%1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)25%20%12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$27,889$35,293—

Older residents in towns around Forrest City

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Wynne, AR15 mi1,33236%
Marianna, AR17 mi61439%
Brinkley, AR24 mi64857%
Helena-West Helena, AR35 mi1,62246%
West Memphis, AR35 mi3,64850%
Marion, AR36 mi1,71435%

Hospitals near Forrest City

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Forrest City Medical CenterForrest City, AR0.4 minot rated(870) 261-0000
Crossridge Community HospitalWynne, AR15 minot rated(870) 238-3300
Helena Regional Medical CenterHelena, AR35 minot rated(870) 338-5800
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Crittenden, IncWest Memphis, AR36 minot rated(870) 394-7800

Home health agencies serving Forrest City

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Centerwell Home HealthForrest City, AR0.4 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides(870) 270-5461
Elite Home HealthForrest City, AR0.4 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy(870) 261-0188
Trinity North Home Health LLCJonesboro, AR57 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy(870) 932-7463
Crossridge Comm Hospital Home HealthWynne, AR15 mi1.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(870) 208-1140

Straight-line miles from the center of Forrest City. 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 Forrest City

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 50% of the $2,324 monthly median income of Forrest City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Forrest City: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Forrest City?

Forrest City Medical Center in Forrest City, about 0.4 mi in a straight line from the center of Forrest City (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (870) 261-0000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Forrest City?

Medicare lists 4 certified agencies whose service area includes Forrest City ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (4 of 5), Elite Home Health (3.5 of 5), Trinity North Home Health LLC (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Forrest City?

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 50% of the $2,324 monthly median income of Forrest City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 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.

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.

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