Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Petal, MS
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 Petal for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Petal, MS: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, about 4.8 mi away in a straight line, followed by Merit Health Wesley (8.8 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 7 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Petal. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Petal compared with Forrest County and Mississippi
| Census figure | Petal | Forrest County | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 49% | 47% | 41% |
| Residents 65 or older | 15% | 14% | 17% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 26% | 28% | 30% |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.7% | 7.1% | 6.3% |
| Residents 85 or older | 1.9% | 1.2% | 1.7% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 12% | 14% | 15% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $56,833 | $49,275 | — |
Older residents in towns around Petal
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg, MS | 5.6 mi | 6,399 | 45% |
| West Hattiesburg, MS | 8.8 mi | 709 | 50% |
| Ellisville, MS | 17 mi | 850 | 54% |
| Laurel, MS | 24 mi | 2,504 | 46% |
| Wiggins, MS | 34 mi | 598 | 57% |
| Columbia, MS | 35 mi | 1,375 | 59% |
Hospitals near Petal
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest General Hospital | Hattiesburg, MS | 4.8 mi | 2 of 5 | (601) 288-7000 |
| Merit Health Wesley | Hattiesburg, MS | 8.8 mi | 2 of 5 | (601) 268-8000 |
| Perry County General Hospital | Richton, MS | 19 mi | not rated | (601) 788-6316 |
| South Central Reg Med Ctr | Laurel, MS | 25 mi | 1 of 5 | (601) 426-4000 |
Home health agencies serving Petal
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adoration Home Health | Collins, MS | 29 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (601) 765-8316 |
| Mississippi Homecare | Hattiesburg, MS | 8.8 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (601) 268-8450 |
| Forrest General Home Care | Hattiesburg, MS | 8.8 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (601) 288-4344 |
| Enhabit Home Health & Hospice | Hattiesburg, MS | 8.8 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (601) 268-0408 |
| Mississippi Homecare Of Richton | Richton, MS | 19 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (601) 788-2912 |
| Deaconess Homecare- Region I | Laurel, MS | 25 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (601) 649-2231 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Petal. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.
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
What post-surgery care costs in Petal
At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).
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.
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.
Post-Surgery Care in Petal: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Petal?
Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, about 4.8 mi in a straight line from the center of Petal (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (601) 288-7000. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Petal?
Medicare lists 7 certified agencies whose service area includes Petal ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Adoration Home Health (4.5 of 5), Mississippi Homecare (3.5 of 5), Forrest General Home Care (3.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Petal?
At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).
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.
More senior care near Petal
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Hattiesburg, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in West Hattiesburg, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Ellisville, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Laurel, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Wiggins, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Columbia, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Poplarville, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Waynesboro, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Leakesville, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Magee, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Lucedale, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Bogalusa, LA
- Post-Surgery Care in Hide-A-Way Lake, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Citronelle, AL
- Post-Surgery Care in Picayune, MS
- Post-Surgery Care in Latimer, MS
Other care in Petal
- Companion Care in Petal
- Dementia Care in Petal
- Respite Care in Petal
- Live-In Caregivers in Petal
- Senior Transportation in Petal
- Home Health Aides in Petal
- Nursing Assistants in Petal
- Personal Care in Petal
- Overnight Caregivers in Petal
- 24-Hour Home Care in Petal
- Mobility Assistance in Petal
- Parkinson’s Care in Petal
- Stroke Recovery Support in Petal
- Disability Care for Adults in Petal
- Hospice Support in Petal
- Senior Meal Preparation in Petal
- Senior Housekeeping in Petal
- Medication Reminders in Petal
- Veterans’ Home Care in Petal
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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