Plainfield, New Jersey

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Plainfield, NJ

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Plainfield, NJ: the local picture

5.0 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Piscataway)
5
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Plainfield ZIP codes in their service area
30%
of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Union County)
5,588
residents 65 or older (10% of Plainfield)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is University Behavioral Health Care in Piscataway, about 5.0 mi away in a straight line, followed by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital At Rahway (7.0 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 5 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Plainfield. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Plainfield compared with Union County and New Jersey

Census figurePlainfieldUnion CountyNew Jersey
Residents 65+ with a disability30%28%30%
Residents 65 or older10%15%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone24%26%27%
Households with no vehicle13%10%11%
Residents 85 or older0.9%1.8%2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)12%9.8%9.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$74,298$72,306—

Older residents in towns around Plainfield

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
North Plainfield, NJ1.3 mi2,12921%
Watchung, NJ2.2 mi1,90516%
Fanwood, NJ2.4 mi1,42828%
South Plainfield, NJ2.8 mi4,75826%
Dunellen, NJ3.1 mi1,05322%
Westfield, NJ4.5 mi4,62923%

Hospitals near Plainfield

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
University Behavioral Health CarePiscataway, NJ5.0 minot rated(732) 235-5900
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital At RahwayRahway, NJ7.0 mi4 of 5(732) 381-4200
Overlook Medical CenterSummit, NJ7.4 mi5 of 5(908) 522-2000
Robert Wood Johnson University HospitalNew Brunswick, NJ8.9 mi2 of 5(732) 828-3000

Home health agencies serving Plainfield

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, IncNorth Brunswick, NJ12 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(732) 224-6991
Atlantic Visiting NurseMorristown, NJ13 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(973) 379-8400
Hackensack Meridian Jfk At HomeIselin, NJ6.0 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(732) 317-5777
Bayada Home Health Care, Inc.Cranford, NJ6.4 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(908) 352-5694
Community Visiting Nurse ServiceSomerville, NJ14 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(908) 725-9355

Straight-line miles from the center of Plainfield. 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 Plainfield

At the New Jersey median aide wage of $17.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,545 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $6,192 monthly median income of Plainfield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 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 Plainfield: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Plainfield?

University Behavioral Health Care in Piscataway, about 5.0 mi in a straight line from the center of Plainfield (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (732) 235-5900. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Plainfield?

Medicare lists 5 certified agencies whose service area includes Plainfield ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, Inc (4.5 of 5), Atlantic Visiting Nurse (4.5 of 5), Hackensack Meridian Jfk At Home (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Plainfield?

At the New Jersey median aide wage of $17.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,545 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $6,192 monthly median income of Plainfield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Jersey's minimum wage is $15.92 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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