Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Starke, FL
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 Starke for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Starke, FL: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Lake Butler Hospital in Lake Butler, about 17 mi away in a straight line, followed by Ascension St Vincent's Clay County (18 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 23 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Starke. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Starke compared with Bradford County and Florida
| Census figure | Starke | Bradford County | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 27% | 29% | 31% |
| Residents 65 or older | 14% | 18% | 21% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 67% | 33% | 25% |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.7% | 6.2% | 6.0% |
| Residents 85 or older | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2.6% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 22% | 18% | 12% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $22,264 | $39,930 | — |
Older residents in towns around Starke
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middleburg, FL | 15 mi | 1,893 | 32% |
| Asbury Lake, FL | 21 mi | 1,834 | 33% |
| Oakleaf Plantation, FL | 23 mi | 3,028 | 28% |
| Macclenny, FL | 23 mi | 1,260 | 63% |
| Gainesville, FL | 23 mi | 17,357 | 35% |
| Lakeside, FL | 24 mi | 5,934 | 37% |
Hospitals near Starke
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Butler Hospital | Lake Butler, FL | 17 mi | not rated | (386) 496-2323 |
| Ascension St Vincent's Clay County | Middleburg, FL | 18 mi | 3 of 5 | (904) 602-1000 |
| Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital | Macclenny, FL | 23 mi | 1 of 5 | (904) 259-3151 |
| Uf Health Shands Hospital | Gainesville, FL | 23 mi | 5 of 5 | (352) 265-8000 |
Home health agencies serving Starke
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerwell Home Health | Gainesville, FL | 25 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work | (352) 376-3221 |
| Centerwell Home Health | Orange Park, FL | 27 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work | (904) 731-3515 |
| Aveanna Home Health | Gainesville, FL | 25 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (352) 331-3280 |
| Concierge Home Care | Orange Park, FL | 27 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | — |
| Alpine Care Home Health | Jacksonville, FL | 39 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (904) 241-1656 |
| Florida Homecare Specialists Inc | Lady Lake, FL | 71 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (352) 753-2206 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Starke. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.
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
What post-surgery care costs in Starke
At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 76% of the $1,855 monthly median income of Starke households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.
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 take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.
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.
Post-Surgery Care in Starke: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Starke?
Lake Butler Hospital in Lake Butler, about 17 mi in a straight line from the center of Starke (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (386) 496-2323. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Starke?
Medicare lists 23 certified agencies whose service area includes Starke ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Aveanna Home Health (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Starke?
At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 76% of the $1,855 monthly median income of Starke households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.
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 senior care near Starke
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Middleburg, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Asbury Lake, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Oakleaf Plantation, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Macclenny, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Gainesville, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Lakeside, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Alachua, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Green Cove Springs, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Fleming Island, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Orange Park, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in High Springs, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Fruit Cove, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Palatka, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Watertown, FL
- Post-Surgery Care in Newberry, FL
Other care in Starke
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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