Salem, Illinois

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Salem, IL

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

A younger man supporting an older man's arm as they walk through a bright living room
Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Salem, IL: the local picture

0.6 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Salem)
6
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Salem ZIP codes in their service area
43%
of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Marion County)
1,498
residents 65 or older (21% of Salem)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Salem Township Hospital in Salem, about 0.6 mi away in a straight line, followed by Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital -Centralia (12 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 6 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Salem. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Salem compared with Marion County and Illinois

Census figureSalemMarion CountyIllinois
Residents 65+ with a disability43%39%32%
Residents 65 or older21%20%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone40%37%30%
Households with no vehicle8.0%7.0%11%
Residents 85 or older3.2%2.8%2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)9.5%8.8%10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$52,969$50,069—

Older residents in towns around Salem

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Centralia, IL11 mi2,61538%
Mount Vernon, IL22 mi2,75739%
Carlyle, IL22 mi61234%
Vandalia, IL25 mi1,06741%
Flora, IL26 mi99756%
Greenville, IL29 mi1,05043%

Hospitals near Salem

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Salem Township HospitalSalem, IL0.6 mi4 of 5(618) 548-3194
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital -CentraliaCentralia, IL12 mi3 of 5(618) 436-8000
Good Samaritan Regional Hlth CenterMount Vernon, IL22 mi4 of 5(618) 899-2201
Deaconess Illinois CrossroadsMount Vernon, IL22 minot rated(618) 244-5500

Home health agencies serving Salem

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Residential Home Health Of Southern IllinoisGlen Carbon, IL55 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(800) 642-6099
Ssm Health At Home Health-IllinoisMount Vernon, IL12 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides(618) 899-1621
Mederi CaretendersMount Vernon, IL22 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(618) 988-1840
Hshs Home Care IllinoisEffingham, IL40 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(217) 347-1777
Lhc-Illinois Home Health CareMarion, IL62 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy(618) 997-6565
Clay Home Health ServicesFlora, IL25 mi2.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(618) 662-4406

Straight-line miles from the center of Salem. 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 Salem

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $4,414 monthly median income of Salem households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Salem: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Salem?

Salem Township Hospital in Salem, about 0.6 mi in a straight line from the center of Salem (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (618) 548-3194. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Salem?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes Salem ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Residential Home Health Of Southern Illinois (4 of 5), Ssm Health At Home Health-Illinois (3 of 5), Mederi Caretenders (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Salem?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $4,414 monthly median income of Salem households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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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