Post-Surgery Home Care in Great Falls, MT

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Great Falls, MT: the local picture

2.4 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Great Falls)

3

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

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Cascade County)

12,067

residents 65 or older (20% of Great Falls)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Benefis Hospitals Inc in Great Falls, about 2.4 mi away in a straight line, followed by Great Falls Clinic Hospital (2.4 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 3 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Great Falls. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Great Falls compared with Cascade County and Montana

Census figure	Great Falls	Cascade County	Montana
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	32%	32%
Residents 65 or older	20%	20%	20%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	34%	29%
Households with no vehicle	7.1%	6.0%	4.7%
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.0%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	11%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,431	$54,499	—

Older residents in towns around Great Falls

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Malmstrom AFB, MT	5.5 mi	0	—
Conrad, MT	55 mi	592	38%
Helena Valley Northeast, MT	63 mi	990	46%
Helena Valley Northwest, MT	64 mi	624	15%
Helena Valley Southeast, MT	67 mi	1,697	26%
Helena Valley West Central, MT	68 mi	1,506	28%

Hospitals near Great Falls

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Benefis Hospitals Inc	Great Falls, MT	2.4 mi	2 of 5	(406) 455-5000
Great Falls Clinic Hospital	Great Falls, MT	2.4 mi	2 of 5	(406) 216-8000

Home health agencies serving Great Falls

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Benefis Community Care Inc	Great Falls, MT	2.4 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(406) 771-6400
Granite Peak Home Health	Miles City, MT	269 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, home health aides	(406) 874-5134
Medallion Medical Care	Great Falls, MT	1.3 mi	1.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy	(406) 454-3883

Straight-line miles from the center of Great Falls. 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 Great Falls

At the Montana median aide wage of $17.61 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,526 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,369 monthly median income of Great Falls households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 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 Great Falls: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Great Falls?

Benefis Hospitals Inc in Great Falls, about 2.4 mi in a straight line from the center of Great Falls (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (406) 455-5000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Great Falls?

Medicare lists 3 certified agencies whose service area includes Great Falls ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Benefis Community Care Inc (4 of 5), Granite Peak Home Health (2 of 5), Medallion Medical Care (1.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Great Falls?

At the Montana median aide wage of $17.61 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,526 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,369 monthly median income of Great Falls households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 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 Great Falls

More senior care near Great Falls

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Great Falls

More for Great Falls 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 Great Falls, MT