Hartselle, Alabama

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Hartselle, AL

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Hartselle, AL: the local picture

11 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Decatur)
10
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Hartselle ZIP codes in their service area
46%
of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Morgan County)
2,752
residents 65 or older (17% of Hartselle)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Decatur Morgan Hospital - Decatur Campus in Decatur, about 11 mi away in a straight line, followed by Cullman Regional Medical Center (19 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 Hartselle. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Hartselle compared with Morgan County and Alabama

Census figureHartselleMorgan CountyAlabama
Residents 65+ with a disability46%40%38%
Residents 65 or older17%18%18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone25%32%29%
Households with no vehicle3.3%4.8%5.4%
Residents 85 or older2.5%1.9%1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)18%13%12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$47,679$48,229—

Older residents in towns around Hartselle

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Priceville, AL7.0 mi46144%
Decatur, AL9.6 mi10,35639%
Trinity, AL13 mi45937%
Triana, AL15 mi32553%
Cullman, AL19 mi3,58538%
Moulton, AL20 mi96741%

Hospitals near Hartselle

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Decatur Morgan Hospital - Decatur CampusDecatur, AL11 mi3 of 5(256) 341-2000
Cullman Regional Medical CenterCullman, AL19 mi2 of 5(256) 737-2000
Athens Limestone HospitalAthens, AL25 mi2 of 5(256) 233-9292
Huntsville HospitalHuntsville, AL29 mi3 of 5(256) 265-1000

Home health agencies serving Hartselle

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Centerwell Home HealthMoulton, AL17 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(256) 974-2741
Prohealth Home Health, LLCHuntsville, AL27 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work(256) 945-9100
Amedisys Home Health, A Lawrence Medical Center PartnerMoulton, AL17 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(256) 974-2298
Cullman Regional Home CareCullman, AL19 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides(256) 737-2831
Aveanna Home HealthAthens, AL25 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(256) 427-4657
Aveanna Home HealthHuntsville, AL26 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides—

Straight-line miles from the center of Hartselle. 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 Hartselle

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $3,973 monthly median income of Hartselle households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Hartselle: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Hartselle?

Decatur Morgan Hospital - Decatur Campus in Decatur, about 11 mi in a straight line from the center of Hartselle (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (256) 341-2000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Hartselle?

Medicare lists 10 certified agencies whose service area includes Hartselle ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (4.5 of 5), Prohealth Home Health, LLC (4.5 of 5), Amedisys Home Health, A Lawrence Medical Center Partner (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Hartselle?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $3,973 monthly median income of Hartselle households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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.

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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