Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in San Francisco, 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 Francisco for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in San Francisco, CA: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is San Francisco Va Medical Center in San Francisco, about 30 mi away in a straight line, followed by Ahmc Seton Medical Center (31 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 114 certified home health agencies whose service area includes San Francisco. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
San Francisco compared with California
| Census figure | San Francisco | California |
|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 35% | 33% |
| Residents 65 or older | 18% | 16% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 31% | 23% |
| Households with no vehicle | 30% | 7.1% |
| Residents 85 or older | 2.6% | 1.9% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 17% | 12% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $67,096 | — |
Older residents in towns around San Francisco
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA | 29 mi | 2,232 | 17% |
| Mill Valley, CA | 30 mi | 3,287 | 26% |
| Kentfield, CA | 30 mi | 1,766 | 25% |
| Fairfax, CA | 30 mi | 1,735 | 27% |
| Marin City, CA | 30 mi | 537 | 44% |
| Broadmoor, CA | 30 mi | 724 | 29% |
Hospitals near San Francisco
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Va Medical Center | San Francisco, CA | 30 mi | 4 of 5 | (415) 221-4810 |
| Ahmc Seton Medical Center | Daly City, CA | 31 mi | 1 of 5 | (650) 992-4000 |
| Marinhealth Medical Center | Greenbrae, CA | 31 mi | 5 of 5 | (415) 925-7900 |
| UCSF Medical Center | San Francisco, CA | 31 mi | 4 of 5 | (415) 353-2733 |
Home health agencies serving San Francisco
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cvh Care | South San Francisco, CA | 34 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 | 34 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (650) 588-8331 |
| American Carequest | Burlingame, CA | 38 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (415) 885-9100 |
| A1 Pro Home Health Inc. | San Leandro, CA | 48 mi | 5 of 5 | — | (510) 738-0888 |
| Care First Home Health, LLC | San Leandro, CA | 50 mi | 5 of 5 | — | (510) 878-9288 |
| National Home Health Services-West, Inc | Fremont, CA | 60 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 Francisco. 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 Francisco
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 26% of the $5,591 monthly median income of San Francisco 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 Francisco: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to San Francisco?
San Francisco Va Medical Center in San Francisco, about 30 mi in a straight line from the center of San Francisco (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (415) 221-4810. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve San Francisco?
Medicare lists 114 certified agencies whose service area includes San Francisco ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Cvh Care (5 of 5), Truemed, Inc (5 of 5), American Carequest (5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in San Francisco?
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 26% of the $5,591 monthly median income of San Francisco 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 Francisco
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Mill Valley, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Kentfield, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Fairfax, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Marin City, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Broadmoor, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Ross, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Strawberry, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in San Anselmo, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Sausalito, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Daly City, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Larkspur, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Sleepy Hollow, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Pacifica, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Corte Madera, CA
- Post-Surgery Care in Montara, CA
Other care in San Francisco
- Companion Care in San Francisco
- Dementia Care in San Francisco
- Respite Care in San Francisco
- Live-In Caregivers in San Francisco
- Senior Transportation in San Francisco
- Home Health Aides in San Francisco
- Nursing Assistants in San Francisco
- Personal Care in San Francisco
- Overnight Caregivers in San Francisco
- 24-Hour Home Care in San Francisco
- Mobility Assistance in San Francisco
- Parkinson’s Care in San Francisco
- Stroke Recovery Support in San Francisco
- Disability Care for Adults in San Francisco
- Hospice Support in San Francisco
- Senior Meal Preparation in San Francisco
- Senior Housekeeping in San Francisco
- Medication Reminders in San Francisco
- Veterans’ Home Care in San Francisco
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 San Francisco
Posting is free and takes about ten minutes. Caregivers near San Francisco can see it as soon as it is live.
Create your free family accountLooking for caregiving work instead? Create a free caregiver profile.
