Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Washington, IA
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 Washington for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Washington, IA: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Washington County Hospital And Clinics in Washington, about 0.4 mi away in a straight line, followed by Henry County Health Center (24 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 7 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Washington. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Washington compared with Washington County and Iowa
| Census figure | Washington | Washington County | Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 37% | 32% | 30% |
| Residents 65 or older | 23% | 20% | 18% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 39% | 28% | 31% |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.2% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Residents 85 or older | 3.6% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 7.8% | 7.0% | 8.4% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $41,645 | $56,090 | — |
Older residents in towns around Washington
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalona, IA | 13 mi | 684 | 21% |
| Mount Pleasant, IA | 24 mi | 1,634 | 35% |
| Fairfield, IA | 25 mi | 2,519 | 16% |
| Iowa City, IA | 26 mi | 9,354 | 30% |
| Coralville, IA | 28 mi | 3,097 | 31% |
| Tiffin, IA | 28 mi | 586 | 21% |
Hospitals near Washington
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County Hospital And Clinics | Washington, IA | 0.4 mi | not rated | (319) 653-5481 |
| Henry County Health Center | Mount Pleasant, IA | 24 mi | not rated | (319) 385-3141 |
| Jefferson County Health Center | Fairfield, IA | 25 mi | 2 of 5 | (641) 472-4111 |
| Iowa City Va Medical Center | Iowa City, IA | 25 mi | 5 of 5 | (319) 338-0581 |
Home health agencies serving Washington
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elara Caring | Centerville, IA | 73 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides | (641) 437-1117 |
| University Of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown Home Health | Coralville, IA | 28 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (319) 358-2740 |
| Johnson County Visiting Nurse Association | Iowa City, IA | 25 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (319) 337-9686 |
| Optimae Home Health Services | Fairfield, IA | 25 mi | 2.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (641) 472-4464 |
| Washington Co. Public Health | Washington, IA | 0.4 mi | 1.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, home health aides | (319) 653-7758 |
| Sunny Brook Home Care | Fairfield, IA | 25 mi | 1.5 of 5 | nursing, home health aides | (641) 472-4808 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Washington. 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 Washington
At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,470 monthly median income of Washington households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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.
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 Washington: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Washington?
Washington County Hospital And Clinics in Washington, about 0.4 mi in a straight line from the center of Washington (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (319) 653-5481. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Washington?
Medicare lists 7 certified agencies whose service area includes Washington ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Elara Caring (4.5 of 5), University Of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown Home Health (3.5 of 5), Johnson County Visiting Nurse Association (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Washington?
At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,470 monthly median income of Washington households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 senior care near Washington
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Kalona, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Mount Pleasant, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Fairfield, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Iowa City, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Coralville, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Tiffin, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in West Liberty, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Williamsburg, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in North Liberty, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in West Branch, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Muscatine, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Solon, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Marengo, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Wilton, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in Ottumwa, IA
- Post-Surgery Care in West Burlington, IA
Other care in Washington
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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