Post-Surgery Care in Harvard, IL: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Harvard, IL: the local picture

1.0 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Harvard)

33

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

33%

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

1,051

residents 65 or older (11% of Harvard)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Mercy Harvard Hospital in Harvard, about 1.0 mi away in a straight line, followed by Mercy Walworth Hospital & Medical Center (14 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 33 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Harvard. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Harvard compared with McHenry County and Illinois

Census figure	Harvard	McHenry County	Illinois
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	32%
Residents 65 or older	11%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	25%	30%
Households with no vehicle	3.9%	3.5%	11%
Residents 85 or older	0.6%	1.6%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	6.0%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,393	$70,816	—

Older residents in towns around Harvard

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Walworth, WI	7.1 mi	516	19%
Williams Bay, WI	11 mi	822	24%
Delavan Lake, WI	12 mi	669	14%
Poplar Grove, IL	13 mi	576	26%
Woodstock, IL	13 mi	4,255	33%
Marengo, IL	13 mi	1,209	50%

Hospitals near Harvard

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mercy Harvard Hospital	Harvard, IL	1.0 mi	not rated	(815) 943-5431
Mercy Walworth Hospital & Medical Center	Lake Geneva, WI	14 mi	3 of 5	(262) 245-0535
Northwestern Medicine Mchenry	Mchenry, IL	18 mi	5 of 5	(815) 344-5000
Aurora Lakeland Medical Center	Elkhorn, WI	19 mi	5 of 5	(262) 741-2000

Home health agencies serving Harvard

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring Ix	Huntley, IL	20 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(847) 589-6976
Homestead Health Care Services, LLC	Northbrook, IL	45 mi	5 of 5	—	(847) 715-9191
Home Care Experts	Burr Ridge, IL	59 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(224) 500-2625
Apple Home Healthcare, Ltd.	Barrington, IL	31 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(773) 871-8700
Amedisys Home Health	Lake Zurich, IL	32 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(847) 438-4805
Centerwell Home Health Ii	Buffalo Grove, IL	38 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(847) 972-1590

Straight-line miles from the center of Harvard. 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 Harvard

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $5,533 monthly median income of Harvard households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Harvard: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Harvard?

Mercy Harvard Hospital in Harvard, about 1.0 mi in a straight line from the center of Harvard (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (815) 943-5431. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Harvard?

Medicare lists 33 certified agencies whose service area includes Harvard ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Elara Caring Ix (5 of 5), Homestead Health Care Services, LLC (5 of 5), Home Care Experts (5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Harvard?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $5,533 monthly median income of Harvard households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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.

More near Harvard

More senior care near Harvard

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Harvard

More for Harvard 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 Harvard, IL