Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Portage, WI
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 Portage for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Portage, WI: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital in Portage, about 0.3 mi away in a straight line, followed by Ssm Health St Clare Hospital - Baraboo (15 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 8 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Portage. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Portage compared with Columbia County and Wisconsin
| Census figure | Portage | Columbia County | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 38% | 25% | 28% |
| Residents 65 or older | 15% | 20% | 19% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 41% | 27% | 30% |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.0% | 4.4% | 6.4% |
| Residents 85 or older | 2.6% | 1.9% | 2.1% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 8.9% | 7.7% | 9.1% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $38,264 | $57,885 | — |
Older residents in towns around Portage
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poynette, WI | 11 mi | 379 | 25% |
| Lake Wisconsin, WI | 14 mi | 1,234 | 14% |
| Baraboo, WI | 15 mi | 2,610 | 38% |
| Lake Delton, WI | 16 mi | 781 | 28% |
| Lodi, WI | 17 mi | 877 | 25% |
| Wisconsin Dells, WI | 17 mi | 555 | 28% |
Hospitals near Portage
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital | Portage, WI | 0.3 mi | 3 of 5 | (608) 742-4131 |
| Ssm Health St Clare Hospital - Baraboo | Baraboo, WI | 15 mi | 4 of 5 | (608) 356-1400 |
| Sauk Prairie Hospital | Prairie Du Sac, WI | 22 mi | 5 of 5 | (608) 643-3311 |
| Reedsburg Area Medical Center | Reedsburg, WI | 27 mi | 5 of 5 | (608) 524-6487 |
Home health agencies serving Portage
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aveanna Home Health | Baraboo, WI | 15 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides | (608) 356-7570 |
| Interim Healthcare Of Wisconsin | Madison, WI | 36 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (608) 238-0268 |
| Aspirus At Home | Wausau, WI | 99 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (715) 847-2600 |
| Ssm Health At Home Home Health-Wisconsin | Madison, WI | 36 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (800) 924-2273 |
| Commonheart Home Health | Waukesha, WI | 71 mi | 2.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (920) 261-7108 |
| Homeward Bound Home Health | Lancaster, WI | 79 mi | 2.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides | (608) 723-6601 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Portage. 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 Portage
At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,189 monthly median income of Portage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.
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 Portage: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Portage?
Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital in Portage, about 0.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Portage (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (608) 742-4131. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Portage?
Medicare lists 8 certified agencies whose service area includes Portage ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Aveanna Home Health (4.5 of 5), Interim Healthcare Of Wisconsin (3.5 of 5), Aspirus At Home (3.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Portage?
At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,189 monthly median income of Portage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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.
More senior care near Portage
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Poynette, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Lake Wisconsin, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Baraboo, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Lake Delton, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Lodi, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Wisconsin Dells, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Prairie du Sac, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Windsor, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in DeForest, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Sauk City, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Waunakee, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Columbus, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Reedsburg, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Sun Prairie, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Middleton, WI
- Post-Surgery Care in Cross Plains, WI
Other care in Portage
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 Portage
Posting is free and takes about ten minutes. Caregivers near Portage can see it as soon as it is live.
Create your free family accountLooking for caregiving work instead? Create a free caregiver profile.
