St. Paul, Nebraska

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in St. Paul, NE

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

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in St. Paul, NE: the local picture

1.1 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (St Paul)
5
Medicare-certified home health agencies list St. Paul ZIP codes in their service area
50%
of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Howard County)
697
residents 65 or older (25% of St. Paul)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Howard County Medical Center in St Paul, about 1.1 mi away in a straight line, followed by Chi Health St. Francis (20 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 5 certified home health agencies whose service area includes St. Paul. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

St. Paul compared with Howard County and Nebraska

Census figureSt. PaulHoward CountyNebraska
Residents 65+ with a disability50%40%32%
Residents 65 or older25%23%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone33%28%31%
Households with no vehicle2.3%3.0%5.4%
Residents 85 or older6.2%3.3%2.0%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)5.4%7.7%9.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$40,250$54,107—

Older residents in towns around St. Paul

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Grand Island, NE21 mi7,80635%
Central City, NE25 mi64145%
Aurora, NE34 mi97625%
Hastings, NE43 mi4,64636%
Kearney, NE48 mi5,54629%
York, NE51 mi1,60745%

Hospitals near St. Paul

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Howard County Medical CenterSt Paul, NE1.1 minot rated(308) 754-4421
Chi Health St. FrancisGrand Island, NE20 mi4 of 5(308) 384-4600
Grand Island Regional Medical CenterGrand Island, NE20 mi2 of 5(308) 675-5000
Merrick Medical CenterCentral City, NE25 minot rated(308) 946-3015

Home health agencies serving St. Paul

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Good Samaritan Society Home HealthHastings, NE43 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides(308) 382-4054
Chi Health At Home - Grand IslandGrand Island, NE20 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(308) 398-2600
Angels Care Progressive Home HealthGrand Island, NE21 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides(308) 589-0170
Brookestone Home Health & HospiceKearney, NE47 mi3 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(308) 995-4375
Vchs Home HealthOrd, NE36 mi2.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(308) 728-4355

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

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,354 monthly median income of St. Paul households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska'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 St. Paul: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to St. Paul?

Howard County Medical Center in St Paul, about 1.1 mi in a straight line from the center of St. Paul (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (308) 754-4421. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve St. Paul?

Medicare lists 5 certified agencies whose service area includes St. Paul ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Good Samaritan Society Home Health (5 of 5), Chi Health At Home - Grand Island (4.5 of 5), Angels Care Progressive Home Health (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

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

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,354 monthly median income of St. Paul households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska'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.

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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