Ottawa, Illinois

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Ottawa, IL

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Ottawa, IL: the local picture

16 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Peoria)
17
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Ottawa ZIP codes in their service area
37%
of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in LaSalle County)
3,024
residents 65 or older (16% of Ottawa)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Carle Health Proctor Hospital in Peoria, about 16 mi away in a straight line, followed by Osf Saint Elizabeth Mdl Ctr (16 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 17 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Ottawa. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Ottawa compared with LaSalle County and Illinois

Census figureOttawaLaSalle CountyIllinois
Residents 65+ with a disability37%32%32%
Residents 65 or older16%20%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone32%31%30%
Households with no vehicle7.1%6.0%11%
Residents 85 or older3.2%2.5%2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)9.2%8.6%10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$45,980$52,903—

Older residents in towns around Ottawa

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Marseilles, IL8.9 mi81343%
Oglesby, IL14 mi66930%
Sheridan, IL14 mi17330%
LaSalle, IL14 mi1,79735%
Streator, IL16 mi2,67937%
Peru, IL16 mi2,34046%

Hospitals near Ottawa

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Carle Health Proctor HospitalPeoria, IL16 mi3 of 5(309) 691-1000
Osf Saint Elizabeth Mdl CtrPeru, IL16 mi3 of 5(815) 433-3100
Osf Saint Paul Medical CenterMendota, IL20 mi3 of 5(815) 539-7461
Morris Hospital & Healthcare CentersMorris, IL21 mi4 of 5(815) 942-2932

Home health agencies serving Ottawa

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Newsome Home Health Care & Purpose Care Of Illinois - JolietJoliet, IL38 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(815) 744-4770
Better Care Home Health, IncSchaumburg, IL63 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(800) 518-8943
Resilience Home Health, LLCAurora, IL41 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(630) 236-8800
Dmj Home Health Services, IncAurora, IL42 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(847) 423-2667
Absolute Home Health LLCMorris, IL21 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work(815) 513-5929
Safe Life Home Health Care, LLCLombard, IL55 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(630) 620-9064

Straight-line miles from the center of Ottawa. 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 Ottawa

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,832 monthly median income of Ottawa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Ottawa: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Ottawa?

Carle Health Proctor Hospital in Peoria, about 16 mi in a straight line from the center of Ottawa (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (309) 691-1000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Ottawa?

Medicare lists 17 certified agencies whose service area includes Ottawa ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Newsome Home Health Care & Purpose Care Of Illinois - Joliet (4.5 of 5), Better Care Home Health, Inc (4.5 of 5), Resilience Home Health, LLC (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Ottawa?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,832 monthly median income of Ottawa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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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