Post-Surgery Care in Waukon, IA: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Waukon, IA: the local picture

0.3 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Waukon)

2

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

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Allamakee County)

1,054

residents 65 or older (28% of Waukon)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, about 0.3 mi away in a straight line, followed by Winnmed (16 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 2 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Waukon. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Waukon compared with Allamakee County and Iowa

Census figure	Waukon	Allamakee County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	28%	23%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	29%	31%
Households with no vehicle	4.5%	3.7%	5.4%
Residents 85 or older	5.0%	2.9%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.3%	6.4%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$33,107	$50,399	—

Older residents in towns around Waukon

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Postville, IA	13 mi	310	25%
Decorah, IA	16 mi	1,807	22%
Prairie du Chien, WI	23 mi	1,374	33%
Caledonia, MN	25 mi	618	29%
Cresco, IA	33 mi	828	21%
Viroqua, WI	36 mi	1,191	27%

Hospitals near Waukon

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Veterans Memorial Hospital	Waukon, IA	0.3 mi	not rated	(563) 568-3411
Winnmed	Decorah, IA	16 mi	4 of 5	(563) 382-2911
Crossing Rivers Health Medical Center	Prairie Du Chien, WI	24 mi	3 of 5	(608) 357-2000
Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital And Clinics	West Union, IA	29 mi	5 of 5	(563) 422-3811

Home health agencies serving Waukon

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Winnmed Home Health	Decorah, IA	16 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 387-3024
V M H Comunity & Home Care	Waukon, IA	0.3 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(563) 568-5660

Straight-line miles from the center of Waukon. 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 Waukon

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 54% of the $2,759 monthly median income of Waukon 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.

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 Waukon: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Waukon?

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, about 0.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Waukon (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (563) 568-3411. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Waukon?

Medicare lists 2 certified agencies whose service area includes Waukon ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Winnmed Home Health (3 of 5), V M H Comunity & Home Care (2 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Waukon?

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 54% of the $2,759 monthly median income of Waukon 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 near Waukon

More senior care near Waukon

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waukon

More for Waukon 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 Waukon, IA