Missoula, Montana

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Missoula, MT

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

Post your care need free Missoula at a glance

A younger man supporting an older man's arm as they walk through a bright living room

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Missoula, MT: the local picture

2.1 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Missoula)

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

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Missoula County)

11,497

residents 65 or older (15% of Missoula)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, about 2.1 mi away in a straight line, followed by Community Medical Center (7.1 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 6 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Missoula. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Missoula compared with Missoula County and Montana

Census figure	Missoula	Missoula County	Montana
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	29%	32%
Residents 65 or older	15%	17%	20%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	29%	29%
Households with no vehicle	6.7%	5.2%	4.7%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.7%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.6%	8.4%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,421	$60,593	—

Older residents in towns around Missoula

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Orchard Homes, MT	2.8 mi	1,256	40%
Lolo, MT	8.1 mi	526	23%
Hamilton, MT	43 mi	1,748	48%
Polson, MT	56 mi	1,348	27%
Anaconda, MT	68 mi	2,528	40%
Deer Lodge, MT	70 mi	745	51%

Hospitals near Missoula

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
St. Patrick Hospital	Missoula, MT	2.1 mi	5 of 5	(406) 543-7271
Community Medical Center	Missoula, MT	7.1 mi	3 of 5	(406) 728-4100

Home health agencies serving Missoula

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Big Sky Home Health	Bozeman, MT	165 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(406) 551-2273
Partners In Home Care Inc	Missoula, MT	7.3 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(406) 728-8848
Enhabit Home Health	Helena, MT	97 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(406) 443-4140
Granite Peak Home Health	Miles City, MT	390 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, home health aides	(406) 874-5134
Trek Healthcare	Missoula, MT	1.2 mi	1.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(406) 541-1800
Big Sky Home Health	Missoula, MT	7.3 mi	not rated	—	(406) 543-4408

Straight-line miles from the center of Missoula. 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 Missoula

At the Montana median aide wage of $17.61 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,526 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $4,952 monthly median income of Missoula households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 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 Missoula: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Missoula?

St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, about 2.1 mi in a straight line from the center of Missoula (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (406) 543-7271. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Missoula?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes Missoula ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Big Sky Home Health (4.5 of 5), Partners In Home Care Inc (3 of 5), Enhabit Home Health (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Missoula?

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.

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