Post-Surgery Home Care in Rochester, WA

Local figures

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

8.1 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Centralia)

5

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Rochester ZIP codes in their service area

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Thurston County)

1,061

residents 65 or older (18% of Rochester)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Providence Centralia Hospital in Centralia, about 8.1 mi away in a straight line, followed by Capital Medical Center (20 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 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 Thurston County and Washington

Census figure	Rochester	Thurston County	Washington
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	34%	33%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	25%	26%
Households with no vehicle	1.9%	4.7%	7.1%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.9%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.4%	7.4%	8.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,327	$74,569	—

Older residents in towns around Rochester

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Grand Mound, WA	2.9 mi	543	27%
Centralia, WA	8.1 mi	3,901	42%
Chehalis, WA	12 mi	1,019	59%
Tumwater, WA	14 mi	4,204	31%
Olympia, WA	17 mi	11,040	37%
Lacey, WA	20 mi	11,337	38%

Hospitals near Rochester

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Providence Centralia Hospital	Centralia, WA	8.1 mi	3 of 5	(360) 330-8530
Capital Medical Center	Olympia, WA	20 mi	3 of 5	(360) 956-2550
Summit Pacific Medical Center	Elma, WA	20 mi	2 of 5	(360) 346-2222
Providence St Peter Hospital	Olympia, WA	22 mi	3 of 5	(360) 493-7179

Home health agencies serving Rochester

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Assured Home Health And Hospice	Centralia, WA	8.1 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 330-2640
Harbors Home Health / Hospice	Hoquiam, WA	40 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 532-5454
Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South	Lacey, WA	19 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(360) 459-8311
Multicare Good Samaritan Home Health	Tacoma, WA	42 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(253) 301-6400
Puget Sound Home Health Of Thurston County	Tumwater, WA	16 mi	not rated	—	(253) 581-9410

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 Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,944 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. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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?

Providence Centralia Hospital in Centralia, about 8.1 mi in a straight line from the center of Rochester (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (360) 330-8530. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Rochester?

Medicare lists 5 certified agencies whose service area includes Rochester ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Assured Home Health And Hospice (3.5 of 5), Harbors Home Health / Hospice (3.5 of 5), Providence At Home With Compassus, Puget Sound South (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Rochester?

At the Washington median aide wage of $22.95 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,989 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,944 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. Washington's minimum wage is $17.13 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 near Rochester

More senior care near Rochester

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Rochester

More for Rochester families

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.

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Rochester, WA