Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in San Carlos, CA
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 San Carlos for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in San Carlos, CA: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is San Mateo Medical Center in San Mateo, about 3.3 mi away in a straight line, followed by Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood City (3.4 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 68 certified home health agencies whose service area includes San Carlos. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
San Carlos compared with San Mateo County and California
| Census figure | San Carlos | San Mateo County | California |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 21% | 28% | 33% |
| Residents 65 or older | 17% | 18% | 16% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 19% | 21% | 23% |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.1% | 5.8% | 7.1% |
| Residents 85 or older | 2.1% | 2.5% | 1.9% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 3.5% | 9.0% | 12% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $134,297 | $103,766 | — |
Older residents in towns around San Carlos
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont, CA | 1.8 mi | 3,813 | 29% |
| Emerald Lake Hills, CA | 2.3 mi | 769 | 16% |
| Redwood City, CA | 3.2 mi | 11,387 | 28% |
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 3.9 mi | 1,662 | 35% |
| Foster City, CA | 4.6 mi | 5,759 | 33% |
| Atherton, CA | 4.7 mi | 1,793 | 25% |
Hospitals near San Carlos
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo Medical Center | San Mateo, CA | 3.3 mi | not rated | (650) 573-2222 |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood City | Redwood City, CA | 3.4 mi | 4 of 5 | (650) 299-2000 |
| Sequoia Hospital | Redwood City, CA | 5.4 mi | 5 of 5 | (650) 369-5811 |
| Palo Alto Va Medical Center | Palo Alto, CA | 6.4 mi | 5 of 5 | (650) 858-3939 |
Home health agencies serving San Carlos
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Carequest | Burlingame, CA | 7.2 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (415) 885-9100 |
| Grace Community Home Health Inc. | Mountain View, CA | 12 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (650) 784-0082 |
| Cvh Care | South San Francisco, CA | 14 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (510) 690-1930 |
| Truemed, Inc | South San Francisco, CA | 14 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (650) 588-8331 |
| Care In Touch Home Health Agency | Fremont, CA | 16 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (510) 651-8500 |
| National Home Health Services-West, Inc | Fremont, CA | 16 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (415) 812-2955 |
Straight-line miles from the center of San Carlos. 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 San Carlos
At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 13% of the $11,191 monthly median income of San Carlos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.
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 San Carlos: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to San Carlos?
San Mateo Medical Center in San Mateo, about 3.3 mi in a straight line from the center of San Carlos (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (650) 573-2222. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve San Carlos?
Medicare lists 68 certified agencies whose service area includes San Carlos ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include American Carequest (5 of 5), Grace Community Home Health Inc. (5 of 5), Cvh Care (5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in San Carlos?
At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 13% of the $11,191 monthly median income of San Carlos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 San Carlos
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Belmont, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Emerald Lake Hills, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Redwood City, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in North Fair Oaks, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Foster City, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Atherton, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in San Mateo, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Woodside, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in West Menlo Park, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Hillsborough, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Menlo Park, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Stanford, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in East Palo Alto, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Burlingame, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Portola Valley, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Half Moon Bay, CA
Other care in San Carlos
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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