Post-Surgery Care in Wantagh, NY: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Wantagh, NY: the local picture

4.0 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (East Meadow)

20

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

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Nassau County)

2,921

residents 65 or older (16% of Wantagh)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, about 4.0 mi away in a straight line, followed by Chsli St Joseph Hospital (5.2 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 20 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Wantagh. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Wantagh compared with Nassau County and New York

Census figure	Wantagh	Nassau County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	27%	32%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	20%	29%
Households with no vehicle	2.8%	6.8%	29%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	2.6%	2.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.8%	6.7%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$116,563	$100,301	—

Older residents in towns around Wantagh

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Seaford, NY	0.9 mi	2,693	26%
Bellmore, NY	1.0 mi	2,428	34%
North Wantagh, NY	1.8 mi	2,540	22%
Massapequa, NY	2.0 mi	3,878	22%
North Bellmore, NY	2.2 mi	3,441	24%
Merrick, NY	2.4 mi	3,991	21%

Hospitals near Wantagh

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Nassau University Medical Center	East Meadow, NY	4.0 mi	1 of 5	(516) 572-0123
Chsli St Joseph Hospital	Bethpage, NY	5.2 mi	3 of 5	(516) 759-6000
Mercy Medical Center	Rockville Centre, NY	6.9 mi	5 of 5	(516) 705-2525
Mount Sinai South Nassau	Oceanside, NY	7.0 mi	3 of 5	(516) 632-3000

Home health agencies serving Wantagh

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Westbury, NY	6.9 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(516) 746-8013
Emerest Home Health Care Of Long Island	Flushing, NY	18 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(914) 693-6800
Americare Certified Special Services, Inc Chha	Brooklyn, NY	22 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(718) 535-3100
Vns Of NY Home Care Chha	New York, NY	25 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(212) 609-7300
Revival Home Health Care	Staten Island, NY	31 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(718) 629-1000
Family Care Certified Services (Hempstead)	Hempstead, NY	6.2 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(516) 932-7799

Straight-line miles from the center of Wantagh. 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 Wantagh

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 17% of the $9,714 monthly median income of Wantagh households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Wantagh: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Wantagh?

Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, about 4.0 mi in a straight line from the center of Wantagh (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (516) 572-0123. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Wantagh?

Medicare lists 20 certified agencies whose service area includes Wantagh ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Emerest Home Health Care Of Long Island (5 of 5), Americare Certified Special Services, Inc Chha (5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Wantagh?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 17% of the $9,714 monthly median income of Wantagh households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Wantagh

More senior care near Wantagh

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wantagh

More for Wantagh 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 Wantagh, NY