Rochester, New Hampshire

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Rochester, NH

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Rochester, NH: the local picture

0.4 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Rochester)
8
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Rochester ZIP codes in their service area
38%
of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Strafford County)
6,487
residents 65 or older (20% of Rochester)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, about 0.4 mi away in a straight line, followed by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (8.8 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 Rochester. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Rochester compared with Strafford County and New Hampshire

Census figureRochesterStrafford CountyNew Hampshire
Residents 65+ with a disability38%33%28%
Residents 65 or older20%17%20%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone34%31%27%
Households with no vehicle5.0%4.9%4.6%
Residents 85 or older2.1%1.7%2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)13%9.6%7.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$42,759$60,487—

Older residents in towns around Rochester

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Somersworth, NH5.5 mi1,70049%
Farmington, NH8.5 mi49549%
Dover, NH9.1 mi5,59728%
South Berwick, ME10 mi52833%
Durham, NH11 mi80226%
Sanford, ME14 mi4,62136%

Hospitals near Rochester

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Frisbie Memorial HospitalRochester, NH0.4 mi3 of 5(603) 332-5211
Wentworth-Douglass HospitalDover, NH8.8 mi4 of 5(603) 740-2580
Portsmouth Regional HospitalPortsmouth, NH18 mi3 of 5(603) 436-5110
York HospitalYork, ME19 mi4 of 5(207) 351-2478

Home health agencies serving Rochester

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Wentworth Home Care & Hospice, An Amedisys PartnerSomersworth, NH6.0 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(603) 692-0200
Elara CaringNewburyport, MA34 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work(978) 904-1454
CaretendersEpping, NH19 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work(603) 952-3500
Cornerstone VnaRochester, NH0.4 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(603) 332-1133
Interim HealthcareManchester, NH32 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(603) 668-6956
Pathways Healthcare LLCLondonderry, NH36 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(617) 481-9077

Straight-line miles from the center of Rochester. 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 Rochester

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,563 monthly median income of Rochester households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire'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 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 Rochester: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Rochester?

Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, about 0.4 mi in a straight line from the center of Rochester (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (603) 332-5211. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Rochester?

Medicare lists 8 certified agencies whose service area includes Rochester ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Wentworth Home Care & Hospice, An Amedisys Partner (4.5 of 5), Elara Caring (4.5 of 5), Caretenders (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Rochester?

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,563 monthly median income of Rochester households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire'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.

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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