Ozark, Arkansas

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Ozark, AR

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Ozark, AR: the local picture

1.7 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Ozark)
8
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Ozark ZIP codes in their service area
54%
of residents 65+ report a disability (44% in Franklin County)
642
residents 65 or older (18% of Ozark)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Mercy Hospital Ozark in Ozark, about 1.7 mi away in a straight line, followed by Mercy Hospital Paris (16 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 8 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Ozark. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Ozark compared with Franklin County and Arkansas

Census figureOzarkFranklin CountyArkansas
Residents 65+ with a disability54%44%40%
Residents 65 or older18%21%18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone36%33%29%
Households with no vehicle9.0%7.2%5.9%
Residents 85 or older2.8%2.8%1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)7.9%18%12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$47,667$35,383—

Older residents in towns around Ozark

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Paris, AR16 mi74242%
Charleston, AR18 mi51954%
Alma, AR21 mi78238%
Clarksville, AR21 mi1,60955%
Booneville, AR25 mi57256%
Barling, AR27 mi99042%

Hospitals near Ozark

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Mercy Hospital OzarkOzark, AR1.7 minot rated(479) 667-4138
Mercy Hospital ParisParis, AR16 mi5 of 5(479) 963-6101
Johnson Regional Medical CenterClarksville, AR20 mi4 of 5(479) 754-5454
Mercy Hospital BoonevilleBooneville, AR26 mi4 of 5(479) 675-2800

Home health agencies serving Ozark

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Adoration Home HealthVan Buren, AR27 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work(479) 474-4892
Kindred At Home 1Fort Smith, AR32 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy(479) 452-0424
Area Agency On Aging Of Western Arkansas IncParis, AR16 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, home health aides(479) 963-6868
Access Home HealthFort Smith, AR32 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work(479) 441-5850
Elite Home HealthFort Smith, AR33 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(479) 435-7194
Mercy Home HealthRogers, AR59 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(479) 936-2978

Straight-line miles from the center of Ozark. 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 Ozark

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $3,972 monthly median income of Ozark households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Ozark: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Ozark?

Mercy Hospital Ozark in Ozark, about 1.7 mi in a straight line from the center of Ozark (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (479) 667-4138. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Ozark?

Medicare lists 8 certified agencies whose service area includes Ozark ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Adoration Home Health (4 of 5), Kindred At Home 1 (4 of 5), Area Agency On Aging Of Western Arkansas Inc (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Ozark?

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $3,972 monthly median income of Ozark households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 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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