Post-Surgery Care in Spencer, MA: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Spencer, MA: the local picture

9.4 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Worcester)

26

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

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Worcester County)

1,479

residents 65 or older (26% of Spencer)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Umass Memorial Medical Center/University Campus in Worcester, about 9.4 mi away in a straight line, followed by St Vincent Hospital (9.9 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 26 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Spencer. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Spencer compared with Worcester County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Spencer	Worcester County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	26%	17%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	48%	27%	29%
Households with no vehicle	14%	8.3%	12%
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	1.9%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	24%	10%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,031	$61,599	—

Older residents in towns around Spencer

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
North Brookfield, MA	4.9 mi	370	60%
Worcester, MA	9.6 mi	27,619	38%
Oxford, MA	11 mi	971	37%
Ware, MA	13 mi	1,106	29%
Southbridge Town, MA	13 mi	2,562	40%
Webster, MA	15 mi	1,920	50%

Hospitals near Spencer

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Umass Memorial Medical Center/University Campus	Worcester, MA	9.4 mi	3 of 5	(508) 334-1000
St Vincent Hospital	Worcester, MA	9.9 mi	2 of 5	(508) 363-5000
Umass Memorial Health - Harrington Hospital	Southbridge, MA	12 mi	3 of 5	(508) 765-9771
Baystate Wing Hospital	Palmer, MA	18 mi	4 of 5	(413) 283-7651

Home health agencies serving Spencer

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	51 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 969-7517
Aveanna Home Health	Worcester, MA	11 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 213-1236
Metrowest Homecare And Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Marlborough, MA	24 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(508) 383-7000
Preferred Transitions Home Health Care Inc	Milford, MA	25 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 352-6640
Oriol Home Health, Inc	Holden, MA	10 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 829-1124
Care Central Vna & Hospice Inc	Gardner, MA	23 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 632-1230

Straight-line miles from the center of Spencer. 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 Spencer

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 48% of the $3,586 monthly median income of Spencer households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Spencer: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Spencer?

Umass Memorial Medical Center/University Campus in Worcester, about 9.4 mi in a straight line from the center of Spencer (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (508) 334-1000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Spencer?

Medicare lists 26 certified agencies whose service area includes Spencer ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Elara Caring (5 of 5), Aveanna Home Health (4.5 of 5), Metrowest Homecare And Hospice, An Amedisys Company (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Spencer?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 48% of the $3,586 monthly median income of Spencer households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Spencer

More senior care near Spencer

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Spencer

More for Spencer 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 Spencer, MA