Post-Surgery Home Care in Lake Wales, FL

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Lake Wales, FL: the local picture

1.7 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Lake Wales)

38

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

31%

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

4,488

residents 65 or older (27% of Lake Wales)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Adventhealth Lake Wales in Lake Wales, about 1.7 mi away in a straight line, followed by Winter Haven Hospital (12 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 38 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Lake Wales. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Lake Wales compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figure	Lake Wales	Polk County	Florida
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	32%	31%
Residents 65 or older	27%	20%	21%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	24%	25%
Households with no vehicle	9.9%	5.4%	6.0%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.1%	2.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,031	$50,939	—

Older residents in towns around Lake Wales

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Crooked Lake Park, FL	6.3 mi	352	35%
Dundee, FL	6.7 mi	915	34%
Alturas, FL	7.4 mi	851	32%
Cypress Gardens, FL	8.0 mi	1,846	33%
Wahneta, FL	8.3 mi	384	20%
Grenelefe, FL	9.4 mi	541	18%

Hospitals near Lake Wales

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Adventhealth Lake Wales	Lake Wales, FL	1.7 mi	2 of 5	(863) 676-1433
Winter Haven Hospital	Winter Haven, FL	12 mi	3 of 5	(863) 293-1121
Bartow Regional Medical Center	Bartow, FL	13 mi	3 of 5	(863) 533-8111
Adventhealth Heart Of Florida	Davenport, FL	19 mi	3 of 5	(863) 422-4971

Home health agencies serving Lake Wales

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Winter Haven, FL	11 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(963) 401-8592
Medical Services Of America Home Health	Tampa, FL	47 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 626-9888
Trilogy Home Healthcare	Tampa, FL	49 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 963-1200
Origin Home Health Care	Apollo Beach, FL	51 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(813) 641-0500
Healthy Services Of Tampa Inc	Tampa, FL	56 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 932-9911
Aveanna Home Health	Bradenton, FL	64 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—

Straight-line miles from the center of Lake Wales. 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 Lake Wales

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,336 monthly median income of Lake Wales households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Lake Wales: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Lake Wales?

Adventhealth Lake Wales in Lake Wales, about 1.7 mi in a straight line from the center of Lake Wales (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (863) 676-1433. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Lake Wales?

Medicare lists 38 certified agencies whose service area includes Lake Wales ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Medical Services Of America Home Health (4.5 of 5), Trilogy Home Healthcare (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Lake Wales?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,336 monthly median income of Lake Wales households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Lake Wales

More senior care near Lake Wales

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lake Wales

More for Lake Wales 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 Lake Wales, FL