Marengo, Iowa

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Marengo, IA

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Marengo, IA: the local picture

0.7 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Marengo)
8
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Marengo ZIP codes in their service area
29%
of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Iowa County)
577
residents 65 or older (21% of Marengo)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Compass Memorial Healthcare in Marengo, about 0.7 mi away in a straight line, followed by St Lukes Hospital (26 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 8 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Marengo. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Marengo compared with Iowa County and Iowa

Census figureMarengoIowa CountyIowa
Residents 65+ with a disability29%29%30%
Residents 65 or older21%20%18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone25%30%31%
Households with no vehicle12%3.5%5.4%
Residents 85 or older2.6%3.0%2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)7.9%8.0%8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$41,591$54,026—

Older residents in towns around Marengo

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Williamsburg, IA9.2 mi52429%
Fairfax, IA17 mi40020%
Tiffin, IA22 mi58621%
Cedar Rapids, IA23 mi22,96728%
North Liberty, IA24 mi1,51326%
Coralville, IA25 mi3,09731%

Hospitals near Marengo

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Compass Memorial HealthcareMarengo, IA0.7 mi4 of 5(319) 642-5543
St Lukes HospitalCedar Rapids, IA26 mi4 of 5(319) 369-7211
Mercy Medical Center - Cedar RapidsCedar Rapids, IA26 mi4 of 5(319) 398-6011
Virginia Gay HospitalVinton, IA26 mi4 of 5(319) 472-6200

Home health agencies serving Marengo

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Centerwell Home HealthHiawatha, IA26 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides(319) 393-4742
University Of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown Home HealthCoralville, IA26 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(319) 358-2740
Mercy Home CareCedar Rapids, IA26 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work(319) 398-6034
Unitypoint At HomeCedar Rapids, IA26 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides—
Keystone Home HealthKeystone, IA17 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(319) 442-3650
Optimae Home Health ServicesFairfield, IA55 mi2.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(641) 472-4464

Straight-line miles from the center of Marengo. 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 Marengo

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,466 monthly median income of Marengo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Marengo: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Marengo?

Compass Memorial Healthcare in Marengo, about 0.7 mi in a straight line from the center of Marengo (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (319) 642-5543. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Marengo?

Medicare lists 8 certified agencies whose service area includes Marengo ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), University Of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown Home Health (3.5 of 5), Mercy Home Care (3.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Marengo?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,466 monthly median income of Marengo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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.

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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