Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Los Altos, CA
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 Los Altos for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Los Altos, CA: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is El Camino Health in Mountain View, about 1.3 mi away in a straight line, followed by Stanford Health Care (5.2 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 80 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Los Altos. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Los Altos compared with Santa Clara County and California
| Census figure | Los Altos | Santa Clara County | California |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 22% | 31% | 33% |
| Residents 65 or older | 21% | 15% | 16% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 18% | 19% | 23% |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.1% | 6.0% | 7.1% |
| Residents 85 or older | 2.7% | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 4.0% | 9.4% | 12% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $144,952 | $92,440 | — |
Older residents in towns around Los Altos
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola, CA | 1.3 mi | 806 | 19% |
| Los Altos Hills, CA | 2.3 mi | 2,590 | 23% |
| Mountain View, CA | 2.4 mi | 10,012 | 29% |
| Palo Alto, CA | 3.2 mi | 13,369 | 26% |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 4.0 mi | 19,985 | 26% |
| Cupertino, CA | 4.4 mi | 8,923 | 27% |
Hospitals near Los Altos
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Camino Health | Mountain View, CA | 1.3 mi | 4 of 5 | (650) 940-7000 |
| Stanford Health Care | Stanford, CA | 5.2 mi | 5 of 5 | (650) 723-4000 |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital-Santa Clara | Santa Clara, CA | 6.3 mi | 2 of 5 | (408) 236-6400 |
| Kaiser Permanente Psychiatric Health Facility-Sant | Santa Clara, CA | 6.3 mi | not rated | (408) 851-4850 |
Home health agencies serving Los Altos
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Community Home Health Inc. | Mountain View, CA | 2.8 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (650) 784-0082 |
| Care In Touch Home Health Agency | Fremont, CA | 13 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (510) 651-8500 |
| National Home Health Services-West, Inc | Fremont, CA | 13 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (415) 812-2955 |
| Silverline Staff Home Health | Fremont, CA | 13 mi | 5 of 5 | — | (925) 476-5350 |
| A1 Pro Home Health Inc. | San Leandro, CA | 25 mi | 5 of 5 | — | (510) 738-0888 |
| American Home Health Care, LLC | Dublin, CA | 26 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (510) 574-0390 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Los Altos. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.
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
What post-surgery care costs in Los Altos
At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 12% of the $12,079 monthly median income of Los Altos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.
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.
Post-Surgery Care in Los Altos: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Los Altos?
El Camino Health in Mountain View, about 1.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Los Altos (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (650) 940-7000. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Los Altos?
Medicare lists 80 certified agencies whose service area includes Los Altos ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Grace Community Home Health Inc. (5 of 5), Care In Touch Home Health Agency (5 of 5), National Home Health Services-West, Inc (5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Los Altos?
At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 12% of the $12,079 monthly median income of Los Altos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 senior care near Los Altos
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Loyola, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Los Altos Hills, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Mountain View, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Palo Alto, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Sunnyvale, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Cupertino, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Stanford, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Santa Clara, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in East Palo Alto, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in West Menlo Park, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Portola Valley, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Saratoga, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Menlo Park, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Atherton, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in North Fair Oaks, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Woodside, CA
Other care in Los Altos
- Companion Care in Los Altos
- Dementia Care in Los Altos
- Respite Care in Los Altos
- Live-In Caregivers in Los Altos
- Senior Transportation in Los Altos
- Home Health Aides in Los Altos
- Nursing Assistants in Los Altos
- Personal Care in Los Altos
- Overnight Caregivers in Los Altos
- 24-Hour Home Care in Los Altos
- Mobility Assistance in Los Altos
- Parkinson’s Care in Los Altos
- Stroke Recovery Support in Los Altos
- Disability Care for Adults in Los Altos
- Hospice Support in Los Altos
- Senior Meal Preparation in Los Altos
- Senior Housekeeping in Los Altos
- Medication Reminders in Los Altos
- Veterans’ Home Care in Los Altos
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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