Post-Surgery Home Care in Smithville, TN

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Smithville, TN: the local picture

2.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Smithville)

12

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

54%

of residents 65+ report a disability (42% in DeKalb County)

859

residents 65 or older (16% of Smithville)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Dekalb Community Hospital in Smithville, about 2.2 mi away in a straight line, followed by Stones River Hospital (16 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 12 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Smithville. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Smithville compared with DeKalb County and Tennessee

Census figure	Smithville	DeKalb County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	54%	42%	36%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	55%	31%	29%
Households with no vehicle	18%	7.0%	5.2%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.0%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	24%	13%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$21,463	$37,211	—

Older residents in towns around Smithville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Woodbury, TN	17 mi	311	48%
McMinnville, TN	19 mi	2,373	39%
Sparta, TN	20 mi	1,332	42%
Cookeville, TN	22 mi	4,960	40%
Algood, TN	27 mi	784	35%
Lebanon, TN	34 mi	7,242	32%

Hospitals near Smithville

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Dekalb Community Hospital	Smithville, TN	2.2 mi	not rated	(615) 215-5000
Stones River Hospital	Woodbury, TN	16 mi	not rated	(615) 563-4001
Saint Thomas River Park Hospital	Mcminnville, TN	19 mi	3 of 5	(931) 815-4101
Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital	Sparta, TN	21 mi	not rated	(931) 738-9211

Home health agencies serving Smithville

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Lebanon, TN	32 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(615) 449-0045
Adoration Home Health Nashville South	Cookeville, TN	24 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(615) 835-4445
Nhc Homecare Murfreesboro	Murfreesboro, TN	34 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(615) 896-2300
Amedisys Home Health	Nashville, TN	49 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(615) 313-7400
Adoration Home Health, LLC	Madison, TN	54 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(615) 733-3600
Adoration Home Health Mcminnville	Mcminnville, TN	19 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(931) 473-9556

Straight-line miles from the center of Smithville. 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 Smithville

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 75% of the $1,789 monthly median income of Smithville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee.

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 Smithville: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Smithville?

Dekalb Community Hospital in Smithville, about 2.2 mi in a straight line from the center of Smithville (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (615) 215-5000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Smithville?

Medicare lists 12 certified agencies whose service area includes Smithville ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Adoration Home Health Nashville South (4.5 of 5), Nhc Homecare Murfreesboro (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Smithville?

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 75% of the $1,789 monthly median income of Smithville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Smithville

More senior care near Smithville

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Smithville

More for Smithville 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 Smithville, TN