Post-Surgery Care in Taft, CA: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Taft, CA: the local picture

29 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Bakersfield)

32

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

61%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kern County)

1,027

residents 65 or older (14% of Taft)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, about 29 mi away in a straight line, followed by Mercy Hospital (29 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 32 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Taft. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Taft compared with Kern County and California

Census figure	Taft	Kern County	California
Residents 65+ with a disability	61%	37%	33%
Residents 65 or older	14%	12%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	23%	23%
Households with no vehicle	11%	6.7%	7.1%
Residents 85 or older	1.1%	1.2%	1.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	15%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,775	$51,607	—

Older residents in towns around Taft

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
South Taft, CA	1.9 mi	121	62%
Ford City, CA	3.3 mi	341	49%
Rosedale, CA	22 mi	2,538	36%
Pine Mountain Club, CA	24 mi	714	37%
Greenacres, CA	25 mi	785	44%
Old Stine, CA	26 mi	399	39%

Hospitals near Taft

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital	Bakersfield, CA	29 mi	3 of 5	(661) 327-1792
Mercy Hospital	Bakersfield, CA	29 mi	3 of 5	(661) 632-5000
Adventist Health Bakersfield	Bakersfield, CA	29 mi	2 of 5	(661) 395-3000
Kern Medical Center	Bakersfield, CA	33 mi	1 of 5	(661) 326-2000

Home health agencies serving Taft

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mercy-Memorial Home Health	Bakersfield, CA	29 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(661) 632-5050
Good Life Home Health Care Services, Inc	Los Angeles, CA	97 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(323) 478-9471
Neogen Care Corp	Sherman Oaks, CA	87 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(909) 396-6818
Professional Nursing Inc	Valley Village, CA	88 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(818) 955-5848
Concordia Health Care Provider, Inc	La Verne, CA	117 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(626) 281-7400
Compliance Home Health Care Services, Inc.	San Bernardino, CA	138 mi	4.5 of 5	—	(909) 747-9355

Straight-line miles from the center of Taft. 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 Taft

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $6,065 monthly median income of Taft households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

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 Taft: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Taft?

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, about 29 mi in a straight line from the center of Taft (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (661) 327-1792. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Taft?

Medicare lists 32 certified agencies whose service area includes Taft ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Mercy-Memorial Home Health (5 of 5), Good Life Home Health Care Services, Inc (5 of 5), Neogen Care Corp (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Taft?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $6,065 monthly median income of Taft households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 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 Taft

More senior care near Taft

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Taft

More for Taft 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 Taft, CA