Mitchellville, Iowa

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

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Local figures

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

14 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Des Moines)
9
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Mitchellville ZIP codes in their service area
21%
of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)
263
residents 65 or older (10% of Mitchellville)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi in Des Moines, about 14 mi away in a straight line, followed by Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center (15 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 9 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Mitchellville. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Mitchellville compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figureMitchellvillePolk CountyIowa
Residents 65+ with a disability21%31%30%
Residents 65 or older10%14%18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone29%32%31%
Households with no vehicle3.8%5.8%5.4%
Residents 85 or older0.9%1.5%2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)7.6%7.5%8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$56,923$59,099—

Older residents in towns around Mitchellville

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Bondurant, IA4.8 mi57741%
Altoona, IA6.0 mi3,68432%
Pleasant Hill, IA8.7 mi2,22226%
Carlisle, IA13 mi52336%
Ankeny, IA13 mi8,46624%
Saylorville, IA13 mi70547%

Hospitals near Mitchellville

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist MediDes Moines, IA14 mi3 of 5(515) 343-1000
Mercyone Des Moines Medical CenterDes Moines, IA15 mi1 of 5(515) 247-4436
Broadlawns Medical CenterDes Moines, IA15 mi3 of 5(515) 282-2200
Va Central Iowa Healthcare SystemDes Moines, IA16 mi4 of 5(515) 699-5999

Home health agencies serving Mitchellville

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Centerwell Home HealthUrbandale, IA19 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(515) 277-0977
Aveanna HealthcareWest Des Moines, IA23 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(515) 497-7700
Mercyone Des Moines Home CareDes Moines, IA14 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(515) 643-8383
Angels Care Home Health Of IowaDes Moines, IA16 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(515) 252-2847
Unitypoint At HomeUrbandale, IA19 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(515) 557-3100
Wesley Life Home HealthUrbandale, IA19 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(515) 978-2777

Straight-line miles from the center of Mitchellville. 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 Mitchellville

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 32% of the $4,744 monthly median income of Mitchellville 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 Mitchellville: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Mitchellville?

Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi in Des Moines, about 14 mi in a straight line from the center of Mitchellville (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (515) 343-1000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Mitchellville?

Medicare lists 9 certified agencies whose service area includes Mitchellville ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Aveanna Healthcare (5 of 5), Mercyone Des Moines Home Care (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Mitchellville?

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 32% of the $4,744 monthly median income of Mitchellville 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 (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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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