Post-Surgery Home Care in St. Joseph, MO

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in St. Joseph, MO: the local picture

2.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Saint Joseph)

6

Medicare-certified home health agencies list St. Joseph ZIP codes in their service area

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability

11,999

residents 65 or older (17% of St. Joseph)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Mosaic Life Care At St Joseph in Saint Joseph, about 2.2 mi away in a straight line, followed by Amberwell Atchison Association (22 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 6 certified home health agencies whose service area includes St. Joseph. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

St. Joseph compared with Missouri

Census figure	St. Joseph	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	34%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	30%
Households with no vehicle	9.5%	6.6%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,922	—

Older residents in towns around St. Joseph

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Country Club, MO	6.0 mi	470	26%
Savannah, MO	12 mi	1,091	39%
Atchison, KS	22 mi	1,522	43%
Platte City, MO	28 mi	824	26%
Smithville, MO	28 mi	1,646	32%
Lathrop, MO	30 mi	338	59%

Hospitals near St. Joseph

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mosaic Life Care At St Joseph	Saint Joseph, MO	2.2 mi	4 of 5	(816) 271-6000
Amberwell Atchison Association	Atchison, KS	22 mi	not rated	(913) 360-2131
Cameron Regional Medical Center	Cameron, MO	31 mi	1 of 5	(816) 632-2101
Saint John Hospital	Leavenworth, KS	32 mi	3 of 5	(913) 680-6000

Home health agencies serving St. Joseph

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mosaic Life Care Home Health	Saint Joseph, MO	0.4 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(816) 271-7593
Centerwell Home Health	Overland Park, KS	58 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(913) 906-0522
Faith Home Healthcare	Gladstone, MO	42 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(913) 296-7636
Freudenthal Home Health	Saint Joseph, MO	2.2 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(816) 676-8050
Community Home Health And Restorative Care	Mound City, MO	33 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(660) 717-2114
The Whole Person, Inc.	Saint Joseph, MO	2.2 mi	not rated	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy	(816) 364-0900

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

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,910 monthly median income of St. Joseph households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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. Joseph: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to St. Joseph?

Mosaic Life Care At St Joseph in Saint Joseph, about 2.2 mi in a straight line from the center of St. Joseph (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (816) 271-6000. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve St. Joseph?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes St. Joseph ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Mosaic Life Care Home Health (4.5 of 5), Centerwell Home Health (4.5 of 5), Faith Home Healthcare (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in St. Joseph?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,910 monthly median income of St. Joseph households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 St. Joseph

More senior care near St. Joseph

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. Joseph

More for St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph, MO