Mason City, Iowa

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Mason City, 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 Mason City for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

A smiling caregiver with her arm around an older woman in a bright room at home
Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Mason City, IA: the local picture

0.3 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Mason City)
3
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Mason City ZIP codes in their service area
31%
of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Cerro Gordo County)
6,215
residents 65 or older (23% of Mason City)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, about 0.3 mi away in a straight line, followed by Floyd County Medical Center (27 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 3 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Mason City. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Mason City compared with Cerro Gordo County and Iowa

Census figureMason CityCerro Gordo CountyIowa
Residents 65+ with a disability31%31%30%
Residents 65 or older23%24%18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone33%28%31%
Households with no vehicle5.5%5.0%5.4%
Residents 85 or older3.1%3.1%2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)8.6%7.3%8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$47,705$50,066—

Older residents in towns around Mason City

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Clear Lake, IA8.8 mi2,08936%
Garner, IA21 mi91634%
Osage, IA22 mi89730%
Forest City, IA23 mi75634%
Charles City, IA27 mi1,70244%
Hampton, IA28 mi98123%

Hospitals near Mason City

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Mercyone North Iowa Medical CenterMason City, IA0.3 mi2 of 5(641) 428-7000
Floyd County Medical CenterCharles City, IA27 mi3 of 5(641) 228-6830
Franklin General HospitalHampton, IA28 minot rated(641) 456-5000
Hancock County Health SystemBritt, IA29 minot rated(641) 843-5000

Home health agencies serving Mason City

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Mercyone Des Moines Home CareDes Moines, IA110 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(515) 643-8383
Cerro Gordo County Department Of Public HealthMason City, IA0.3 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(641) 421-9300
Family First Homecare Of IowaUrbandale, IA108 minot ratednursing, home health aides(515) 280-2180

Straight-line miles from the center of Mason City. 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 Mason City

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 38% of the $3,975 monthly median income of Mason City 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 Mason City: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Mason City?

Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, about 0.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Mason City (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (641) 428-7000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Mason City?

Medicare lists 3 certified agencies whose service area includes Mason City ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Mercyone Des Moines Home Care (4 of 5), Cerro Gordo County Department Of Public Health (3.5 of 5), Family First Homecare Of Iowa (not rated). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Mason City?

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 38% of the $3,975 monthly median income of Mason City 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.

Find post-surgery care in Mason City

Posting is free and takes about ten minutes. Caregivers near Mason City can see it as soon as it is live.

Create your free family account

Looking for caregiving work instead? Create a free caregiver profile.

A woman on a sofa at home reviewing caregiver profiles on a laptop