Post-Surgery Care in Towanda, PA: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Towanda, PA: the local picture

15 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Sayre)

3

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

20%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Bradford County)

529

residents 65 or older (19% of Towanda)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, about 15 mi away in a straight line, followed by Troy Community Hospital (17 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 3 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Towanda. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Towanda compared with Bradford County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Towanda	Bradford County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	30%	32%
Residents 65 or older	19%	22%	19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	29%	30%
Households with no vehicle	5.7%	6.9%	10%
Residents 85 or older	4.2%	2.7%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	12%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,189	$44,659	—

Older residents in towns around Towanda

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Athens, PA	12 mi	732	40%
Sayre, PA	15 mi	1,220	23%
Waverly, NY	17 mi	1,084	44%
Owego, NY	25 mi	629	30%
Apalachin, NY	25 mi	454	17%
Southport, NY	28 mi	1,629	38%

Hospitals near Towanda

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Robert Packer Hospital	Sayre, PA	15 mi	2 of 5	(570) 888-6666
Troy Community Hospital	Troy, PA	17 mi	4 of 5	(570) 297-2121
Endless Mountains Health Systems	Montrose, PA	30 mi	1 of 5	(570) 278-3801
Arnot Ogden Medical Center	Elmira, NY	30 mi	2 of 5	(607) 737-4100

Home health agencies serving Towanda

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Guthrie Home Health	Towanda, PA	1.1 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(570) 265-3510
Bayada Home Health Care, Inc.	Towanda, PA	1.1 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(570) 268-1001
Bayada Home Health Care, Inc.	Clarks Summit, PA	43 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(570) 587-8000

Straight-line miles from the center of Towanda. 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 Towanda

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $4,266 monthly median income of Towanda households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Towanda: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Towanda?

Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, about 15 mi in a straight line from the center of Towanda (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (570) 888-6666. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Towanda?

Medicare lists 3 certified agencies whose service area includes Towanda ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Guthrie Home Health (4 of 5), Bayada Home Health Care, Inc. (not rated), Bayada Home Health Care, Inc. (not rated). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Towanda?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $4,266 monthly median income of Towanda households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Towanda

More senior care near Towanda

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Towanda

More for Towanda 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 Towanda, PA