Post-Surgery Home Care in Fort Dodge, IA

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Fort Dodge, IA: the local picture

0.3 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Fort Dodge)

6

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

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Webster County)

4,713

residents 65 or older (19% of Fort Dodge)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, about 0.3 mi away in a straight line, followed by Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (15 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 6 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Fort Dodge. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Fort Dodge compared with Webster County and Iowa

Census figure	Fort Dodge	Webster County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	28%	30%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	40%	31%
Households with no vehicle	8.6%	6.7%	5.4%
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	2.8%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.6%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,944	$44,701	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Dodge

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Humboldt, IA	15 mi	1,089	27%
Eagle Grove, IA	18 mi	653	49%
Webster City, IA	19 mi	1,463	46%
Clarion, IA	27 mi	539	43%
Boone, IA	35 mi	2,272	35%
Jefferson, IA	36 mi	1,307	40%

Hospitals near Fort Dodge

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Trinity Regional Medical Center	Fort Dodge, IA	0.3 mi	2 of 5	(515) 573-3101
Humboldt County Memorial Hospital	Humboldt, IA	15 mi	not rated	(515) 332-4200
Van Diest Medical Center	Webster City, IA	18 mi	5 of 5	(515) 832-9400
Iowa Specialty Hospital - Clarion	Clarion, IA	27 mi	not rated	(515) 532-2811

Home health agencies serving Fort Dodge

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Unitypoint At Home	Fort Dodge, IA	0.3 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 574-6416
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	70 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Freedom In Home Services, LLC	Omaha, NE	128 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(402) 934-2224
Dignity Care Group, Inc.	Omaha, NE	128 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(402) 401-6689
Iowa Home Care, L L C	Webster City, IA	18 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 576-2273
Webster County Health Department	Fort Dodge, IA	0.3 mi	not rated	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 573-4107

Straight-line miles from the center of Fort Dodge. 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 Fort Dodge

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 41% of the $3,662 monthly median income of Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Fort Dodge?

Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, about 0.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Fort Dodge (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (515) 573-3101. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Fort Dodge?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes Fort Dodge ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Unitypoint At Home (4 of 5), Mercyone Des Moines Home Care (4 of 5), Freedom In Home Services, LLC (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Fort Dodge?

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 41% of the $3,662 monthly median income of Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge

More senior care near Fort Dodge

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Dodge

More for Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge, IA