Post-Surgery Home Care in Waterford, CT

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Waterford, CT: the local picture

1.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (New London)

14

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

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region)

765

residents 65 or older (23% of Waterford)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, about 1.2 mi away in a straight line, followed by William W Backus Hospital (13 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 14 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Waterford. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Waterford compared with Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut

Census figure	Waterford	Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region	Connecticut
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	32%	29%
Residents 65 or older	23%	20%	19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	28%	29%
Households with no vehicle	14%	7.4%	8.8%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.3%	2.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	7.7%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,671	$69,955	—

Older residents in towns around Waterford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
New London, CT	2.0 mi	4,148	40%
Groton, CT	3.6 mi	1,537	35%
Niantic, CT	4.2 mi	1,106	28%
Conning Towers-Nautilus Park, CT	4.5 mi	621	56%
Oxoboxo River, CT	6.8 mi	674	44%
Old Mystic, CT	7.9 mi	691	33%

Hospitals near Waterford

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital	New London, CT	1.2 mi	3 of 5	(860) 442-0711
William W Backus Hospital	Norwich, CT	13 mi	4 of 5	(860) 889-8331
Westerly Hospital	Westerly, RI	17 mi	4 of 5	(401) 596-6000
Windham Community Memorial Hospital	Willimantic, CT	26 mi	3 of 5	(860) 456-9116

Home health agencies serving Waterford

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Rocky Hill, CT	35 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(860) 632-4000
Centerwell Home Health	Rocky Hill, CT	35 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(860) 674-1302
Pathwell Home Health	Stratford, CT	53 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(203) 256-1804
Visiting Nurses Of The Lower V	Centerbrook, CT	15 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(860) 767-0186
Hartford Healthcare At Home	East Hartford, CT	39 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(860) 249-4862
Yale New Haven Health - Health At Home	Milford, CT	50 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(203) 874-8414

Straight-line miles from the center of Waterford. 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 Waterford

At the Connecticut median aide wage of $18.75 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,625 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,056 monthly median income of Waterford households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Connecticut's minimum wage is $16.94 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 Waterford: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Waterford?

Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, about 1.2 mi in a straight line from the center of Waterford (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (860) 442-0711. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Waterford?

Medicare lists 14 certified agencies whose service area includes Waterford ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Elara Caring (5 of 5), Centerwell Home Health (4.5 of 5), Pathwell Home Health (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Waterford?

At the Connecticut median aide wage of $18.75 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,625 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $4,056 monthly median income of Waterford households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Connecticut's minimum wage is $16.94 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 Waterford

More senior care near Waterford

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waterford

More for Waterford 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 Waterford, CT