Palmyra, Pennsylvania

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Palmyra, PA

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

A smiling caregiver with her arm around an older woman in a bright room at home
Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Palmyra, PA: the local picture

4.5 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Hershey)
20
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Palmyra ZIP codes in their service area
31%
of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Lebanon County)
1,333
residents 65 or older (17% of Palmyra)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Milton S Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, about 4.5 mi away in a straight line, followed by Wellspan Good Samaritan Hospital (11 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 20 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Palmyra. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Palmyra compared with Lebanon County and Pennsylvania

Census figurePalmyraLebanon CountyPennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability31%32%32%
Residents 65 or older17%20%19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone31%29%30%
Households with no vehicle8.6%6.5%10%
Residents 85 or older2.1%3.0%2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)4.6%7.9%9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$54,522$54,302—

Older residents in towns around Palmyra

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Campbelltown, PA2.4 mi86132%
Hershey, PA3.3 mi3,01737%
Annville, PA4.8 mi69440%
Hummelstown, PA6.9 mi69243%
Skyline View, PA7.1 mi1,85413%
Pleasant Hill, PA8.1 mi28130%

Hospitals near Palmyra

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Milton S Hershey Medical CenterHershey, PA4.5 mi4 of 5(717) 531-8521
Wellspan Good Samaritan HospitalLebanon, PA11 mi5 of 5(717) 270-7500
Lebanon Va Medical CenterLebanon, PA11 mi5 of 5(717) 228-5901
Upmc Pinnacle HospitalsHarrisburg, PA14 mi4 of 5(717) 782-3131

Home health agencies serving Palmyra

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Centerwell Home HealthLancaster, PA22 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(717) 291-5943
Wellspan Vna Home CareYork, PA25 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(717) 812-4433
Homeland HomehealthHarrisburg, PA15 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(717) 412-0166
Amedisys Home HealthLancaster, PA25 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(717) 291-8396
Geisinger Home HealthDanville, PA46 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(570) 284-3390
Accentcare Home Health Of Central PennsylvaniaElizabethtown, PA11 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(717) 367-2571

Straight-line miles from the center of Palmyra. 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 Palmyra

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $4,544 monthly median income of Palmyra households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Palmyra: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Palmyra?

Milton S Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, about 4.5 mi in a straight line from the center of Palmyra (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (717) 531-8521. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Palmyra?

Medicare lists 20 certified agencies whose service area includes Palmyra ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Wellspan Vna Home Care (5 of 5), Homeland Homehealth (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Palmyra?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $4,544 monthly median income of Palmyra households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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; 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.

Find post-surgery care in Palmyra

Posting is free and takes about ten minutes. Caregivers near Palmyra can see it as soon as it is live.

Create your free family account

Looking for caregiving work instead? Create a free caregiver profile.

A woman on a sofa at home reviewing caregiver profiles on a laptop