St. Cloud, Minnesota

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in St. Cloud, MN

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 St. Cloud for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in St. Cloud, MN: the local picture

3.5 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Saint Cloud)
14
Medicare-certified home health agencies list St. Cloud ZIP codes in their service area
31%
of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Stearns County)
9,413
residents 65 or older (13% of St. Cloud)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Centracare - St. Cloud Hospital in Saint Cloud, about 3.5 mi away in a straight line, followed by Centracare Health - Monticello (24 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 14 certified home health agencies whose service area includes St. Cloud. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

St. Cloud compared with Stearns County and Minnesota

Census figureSt. CloudStearns CountyMinnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability31%30%28%
Residents 65 or older13%16%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone35%30%30%
Households with no vehicle9.4%6.0%6.7%
Residents 85 or older1.7%2.0%2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)12%11%8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$54,463$52,464—

Older residents in towns around St. Cloud

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Waite Park, MN3.5 mi1,52344%
Sauk Rapids, MN4.8 mi1,71346%
St. Augusta, MN5.4 mi41826%
Sartell, MN6.6 mi2,99339%
St. Joseph, MN6.9 mi78724%
Cold Spring, MN13 mi84730%

Hospitals near St. Cloud

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Centracare - St. Cloud HospitalSaint Cloud, MN3.5 mi4 of 5(320) 255-5661
Centracare Health - MonticelloMonticello, MN24 minot rated(763) 295-2945
Centracare - Paynesville HospitalPaynesville, MN28 minot rated(320) 243-3767
Fairview Northland Regional HospitalPrinceton, MN28 mi4 of 5(952) 892-2101

Home health agencies serving St. Cloud

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Aveanna Home HealthWaite Park, MN3.0 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(320) 774-0777
Centracare Home HealthWaite Park, MN3.0 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(320) 259-9375
Home Health Care IncGolden Valley, MN53 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(763) 417-8888
Vitality At HomeInver Grove Heights, MN73 mi3.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(507) 282-8052
Spot Rehabilitation IncSaint Cloud, MN1.1 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(320) 259-4151
Adara Home Health IncBuffalo, MN28 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(763) 682-3005

Straight-line miles from the center of St. Cloud. 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 St. Cloud

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 35% of the $4,539 monthly median income of St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to St. Cloud?

Centracare - St. Cloud Hospital in Saint Cloud, about 3.5 mi in a straight line from the center of St. Cloud (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (320) 255-5661. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve St. Cloud?

Medicare lists 14 certified agencies whose service area includes St. Cloud 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 St. Cloud?

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 35% of the $4,539 monthly median income of St. Cloud 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.

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.

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