Post-Surgery Home Care in Sauk Centre, MN

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Sauk Centre, MN: the local picture

0.9 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Sauk Centre)

8

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

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Stearns County)

1,171

residents 65 or older (25% of Sauk Centre)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Centracare Health System - Sauk Centre in Sauk Centre, about 0.9 mi away in a straight line, followed by Centracare - Long Prairie Hospital (17 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 Sauk Centre. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Sauk Centre compared with Stearns County and Minnesota

Census figure	Sauk Centre	Stearns County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	30%	28%
Residents 65 or older	25%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	30%	30%
Households with no vehicle	13%	6.0%	6.7%
Residents 85 or older	7.7%	2.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	27%	11%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,809	$52,464	—

Older residents in towns around Sauk Centre

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Melrose, MN	7.8 mi	850	26%
Long Prairie, MN	17 mi	887	35%
Albany, MN	20 mi	519	44%
Glenwood, MN	22 mi	706	38%
Alexandria, MN	23 mi	3,590	31%
Paynesville, MN	27 mi	682	37%

Hospitals near Sauk Centre

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Centracare Health System - Sauk Centre	Sauk Centre, MN	0.9 mi	not rated	(320) 352-2221
Centracare - Long Prairie Hospital	Long Prairie, MN	17 mi	not rated	(320) 732-2141
Glacial Ridge Hospital	Glenwood, MN	22 mi	4 of 5	(320) 634-4521
Alomere Health	Alexandria, MN	23 mi	4 of 5	(320) 762-1511

Home health agencies serving Sauk Centre

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	Waite Park, MN	38 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(320) 774-0777
Centracare Home Health	Waite Park, MN	38 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(320) 259-9375
Home Health Care Inc	Golden Valley, MN	91 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 417-8888
Allina Health Home Health	Minneapolis, MN	99 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(612) 863-4478
Vivie Home Health	Alexandria, MN	23 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(320) 759-1273
Adara Home Health Inc	Buffalo, MN	65 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 682-3005

Straight-line miles from the center of Sauk Centre. 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 Sauk Centre

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,401 monthly median income of Sauk Centre households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Sauk Centre: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Sauk Centre?

Centracare Health System - Sauk Centre in Sauk Centre, about 0.9 mi in a straight line from the center of Sauk Centre (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (320) 352-2221. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Sauk Centre?

Medicare lists 8 certified agencies whose service area includes Sauk Centre ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Aveanna Home Health (4.5 of 5), Centracare Home Health (4 of 5), Home Health Care Inc (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Sauk Centre?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,401 monthly median income of Sauk Centre households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Sauk Centre

More senior care near Sauk Centre

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sauk Centre

More for Sauk Centre 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 Sauk Centre, MN