Perham, Minnesota

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Perham, MN: the local picture

0.3 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Perham)
6
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Perham ZIP codes in their service area
47%
of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Otter Tail County)
872
residents 65 or older (24% of Perham)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Perham Health in Perham, about 0.3 mi away in a straight line, followed by Astera Health (24 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 Perham. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Perham compared with Otter Tail County and Minnesota

Census figurePerhamOtter Tail CountyMinnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability47%28%28%
Residents 65 or older24%25%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone32%26%30%
Households with no vehicle12%5.6%6.7%
Residents 85 or older5.3%3.2%2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)22%8.4%8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$45,833$53,778—

Older residents in towns around Perham

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Detroit Lakes, MN19 mi2,53936%
Wadena, MN24 mi80346%
Pelican Rapids, MN24 mi44426%
Fergus Falls, MN32 mi3,66340%
Park Rapids, MN33 mi1,21042%
Barnesville, MN40 mi35937%

Hospitals near Perham

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Perham HealthPerham, MN0.3 mi3 of 5(218) 347-4500
Astera HealthWadena, MN24 mi3 of 5(218) 631-7489
St Josephs Area Health ServicesPark Rapids, MN35 mi3 of 5(218) 732-3311

Home health agencies serving Perham

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Aveanna Home HealthWaite Park, MN97 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(320) 774-0777
Essentia Health Home Care WestDetroit Lakes, MN20 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(218) 847-0808
Perham Living Home CarePerham, MN0.3 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(218) 347-1880
Sanford Home Care FargoFargo, ND61 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(701) 234-4900
Vivie Home HealthAlexandria, MN51 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, MN33 mi1.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(218) 739-5856

Straight-line miles from the center of Perham. 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 Perham

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 42% of the $3,819 monthly median income of Perham 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 Perham: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Perham?

Perham Health in Perham, about 0.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Perham (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (218) 347-4500. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Perham?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes Perham 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 Perham?

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 42% of the $3,819 monthly median income of Perham 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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