South Taft, California

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in South Taft, 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 South Taft for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in South Taft, CA: the local picture

31 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Bakersfield)
33
Medicare-certified home health agencies list South Taft ZIP codes in their service area
62%
of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kern County)
121
residents 65 or older (4.1% of South Taft)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, about 31 mi away in a straight line, followed by Mercy Hospital (31 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 33 certified home health agencies whose service area includes South Taft. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

South Taft compared with Kern County and California

Census figureSouth TaftKern CountyCalifornia
Residents 65+ with a disability62%37%33%
Residents 65 or older4.1%12%16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone28%23%23%
Households with no vehicle13%6.7%7.1%
Residents 85 or older0.0%1.2%1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)11%15%12%

Older residents in towns around South Taft

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Taft, CA1.9 mi1,02761%
Ford City, CA2.4 mi34149%
Rosedale, CA23 mi2,53836%
Pine Mountain Club, CA26 mi71437%
Greenacres, CA26 mi78544%
Old Stine, CA28 mi39939%

Hospitals near South Taft

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Bakersfield Memorial HospitalBakersfield, CA31 mi3 of 5(661) 327-1792
Mercy HospitalBakersfield, CA31 mi3 of 5(661) 632-5000
Adventist Health BakersfieldBakersfield, CA31 mi2 of 5(661) 395-3000
Kern Medical CenterBakersfield, CA34 mi1 of 5(661) 326-2000

Home health agencies serving South Taft

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Mercy-Memorial Home HealthBakersfield, CA31 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides(661) 632-5050
Good Life Home Health Care Services, IncLos Angeles, CA99 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(323) 478-9471
Neogen Care CorpSherman Oaks, CA88 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(909) 396-6818
Professional Nursing IncValley Village, CA90 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(818) 955-5848
Concordia Health Care Provider, IncLa Verne, CA119 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(626) 281-7400
Compliance Home Health Care Services, Inc.San Bernardino, CA140 mi4.5 of 5—(909) 747-9355

Straight-line miles from the center of South Taft. 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 South Taft

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. 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.

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 South Taft: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to South Taft?

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, about 31 mi in a straight line from the center of South Taft (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (661) 327-1792. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve South Taft?

Medicare lists 33 certified agencies whose service area includes South Taft ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Mercy-Memorial Home Health (5 of 5), Good Life Home Health Care Services, Inc (5 of 5), Neogen Care Corp (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in South Taft?

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. 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.

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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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