Meraux, Louisiana

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Meraux, LA

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Meraux, LA: the local picture

2.8 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Chalmette)
19
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Meraux ZIP codes in their service area
45%
of residents 65+ report a disability (47% in St. Bernard Parish)
877
residents 65 or older (11% of Meraux)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is St Bernard Parish Hospital in Chalmette, about 2.8 mi away in a straight line, followed by New Orleans East Hospital (7.9 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 19 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Meraux. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Meraux compared with St. Bernard Parish and Louisiana

Census figureMerauxSt. Bernard ParishLouisiana
Residents 65+ with a disability45%47%38%
Residents 65 or older11%13%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone33%32%31%
Households with no vehicle4.7%8.2%8.4%
Residents 85 or older0.7%1.6%1.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)20%19%15%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$47,750$38,013—

Older residents in towns around Meraux

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Violet, LA2.6 mi74452%
Chalmette, LA3.0 mi2,85147%
Arabi, LA4.9 mi67649%
Terrytown, LA6.7 mi2,87629%
Belle Chasse, LA6.9 mi1,59245%
Timberlane, LA7.5 mi1,15941%

Hospitals near Meraux

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
St Bernard Parish HospitalChalmette, LA2.8 mi4 of 5(504) 826-9500
New Orleans East HospitalNew Orleans, LA7.9 minot rated(504) 592-6600
University Medical Center New OrleansNew Orleans, LA9.6 mi2 of 5(504) 702-3000
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care SystemNew Orleans, LA11 mi3 of 5(800) 935-8387

Home health agencies serving Meraux

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Vitalcaring GroupMetairie, LA16 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work(504) 831-1190
Elara CaringMetairie, LA17 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(504) 469-3849
Southeast Louisiana Home Health, LLCCovington, LA40 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(985) 892-8008
Amedisys Home Health CareMetairie, LA16 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(504) 838-7080
Mercy Home Health ServicesMandeville, LA35 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(985) 674-1699
Omni Home CareMandeville, LA35 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(985) 674-5175

Straight-line miles from the center of Meraux. 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 Meraux

At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $3,979 monthly median income of Meraux households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Meraux: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Meraux?

St Bernard Parish Hospital in Chalmette, about 2.8 mi in a straight line from the center of Meraux (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (504) 826-9500. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Meraux?

Medicare lists 19 certified agencies whose service area includes Meraux ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Vitalcaring Group (5 of 5), Elara Caring (5 of 5), Southeast Louisiana Home Health, LLC (5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Meraux?

At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $3,979 monthly median income of Meraux households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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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