Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Pelican Rapids, MN

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Pelican Rapids, MN: the local picture

24 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Perham)
6
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Pelican Rapids ZIP codes in their service area
26%
of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Otter Tail County)
444
residents 65 or older (17% of Pelican Rapids)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Perham Health in Perham, about 24 mi away in a straight line, followed by St Francis Medical Center (30 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 Pelican Rapids. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Pelican Rapids compared with Otter Tail County and Minnesota

Census figurePelican RapidsOtter Tail CountyMinnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability26%28%28%
Residents 65 or older17%25%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone34%26%30%
Households with no vehicle12%5.6%6.7%
Residents 85 or older4.2%3.2%2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)28%8.4%8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$20,484$53,778—

Older residents in towns around Pelican Rapids

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Barnesville, MN17 mi35937%
Fergus Falls, MN20 mi3,66340%
Detroit Lakes, MN20 mi2,53936%
Perham, MN24 mi87247%
Breckenridge, MN32 mi66730%
Wahpeton, ND32 mi1,55729%

Hospitals near Pelican Rapids

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Perham HealthPerham, MN24 mi3 of 5(218) 347-4500
St Francis Medical CenterBreckenridge, MN30 minot rated(218) 643-3000
Essentia HealthFargo, ND39 mi3 of 5(701) 364-8000
Sanford Medical Center FargoFargo, ND40 mi4 of 5(701) 234-2000

Home health agencies serving Pelican Rapids

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Aveanna Home HealthWaite Park, MN114 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(320) 774-0777
Essentia Health Home Care WestDetroit Lakes, MN21 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(218) 847-0808
Perham Living Home CarePerham, MN24 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(218) 347-1880
Sanford Home Care FargoFargo, ND40 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(701) 234-4900
Vivie Home HealthAlexandria, MN58 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(320) 759-1273
New Dimensions Home Health Care Inc.Fergus Falls, MN20 mi1.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(218) 739-5856

Straight-line miles from the center of Pelican Rapids. 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 Pelican Rapids

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 94% of the $1,707 monthly median income of Pelican Rapids households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Pelican Rapids: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Pelican Rapids?

Perham Health in Perham, about 24 mi in a straight line from the center of Pelican Rapids (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (218) 347-4500. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Pelican Rapids?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes Pelican Rapids ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Aveanna Home Health (4.5 of 5), Essentia Health Home Care West (4 of 5), Perham Living Home Care (3.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Pelican Rapids?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 94% of the $1,707 monthly median income of Pelican Rapids households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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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