Stroke Recovery Care in Fitzgerald, GA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Fitzgerald, GA: the local picture

0.8 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Fitzgerald)

21%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19% in Ben Hill County)

4.8%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.3% in Ben Hill County)

4

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Fitzgerald: Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald (0.8 mi); Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla (8.3 mi); Dodge County Hospital in Eastman (34 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

67 Fitzgerald residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.8%; 6.3% in Ben Hill County), and 289 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Fitzgerald compared with Ben Hill County and Georgia

Census figure	Fitzgerald	Ben Hill County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.8%	6.3%	7.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	21%	19%	22%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.0%	5.6%	8.5%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	15%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	32%	26%
Households with no vehicle	9.7%	6.3%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,519	$33,208	—

Older residents in towns around Fitzgerald

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Ocilla, GA	7.9 mi	499	6.8%
Abbeville, GA	20 mi	349	11%
Tifton, GA	23 mi	2,845	6.4%
Ashburn, GA	24 mi	955	7.7%
Douglas, GA	27 mi	1,671	10%
McRae-Helena, GA	32 mi	1,115	3.1%

Hospitals near Fitzgerald

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Dorminy Medical Center	Fitzgerald, GA	0.8 mi	not rated	(229) 424-7100
Irwin County Hospital	Ocilla, GA	8.3 mi	not rated	(229) 468-3845
Dodge County Hospital	Eastman, GA	34 mi	not rated	(478) 448-4067
Sgmc Berrien Campus	Nashville, GA	35 mi	not rated	(229) 543-7100

Home health agencies serving Fitzgerald

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Amedisys Home Health	Tifton, GA	23 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(229) 386-0665
Pruitthealth @ Home - Vidalia	Vidalia, GA	60 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, home health aides	(912) 538-8000
Caresouth, An Affiliate Of Crisp Reg Hospital	Cordele, GA	35 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(229) 271-4690
Pruitthealth @ Home - Valdosta	Valdosta, GA	57 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(229) 247-4665

Straight-line miles from the center of Fitzgerald. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for stroke recovery can help with

Help with bathing, dressing and meals
Safe walking and transfers
Rides to rehabilitation and follow-up appointments
Practising the exercises therapists set

Cost

What stroke recovery support costs in Fitzgerald

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $2,377 monthly median income of Fitzgerald households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 caregiver for stroke recovery

More than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke every year, about 610,000 of them for the first time (CDC). Many go home to recover.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone after a stroke? How do you help with one-sided weakness during transfers? Can you drive to rehabilitation appointments? More in our stroke recovery support guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Stroke Recovery Support in Fitzgerald: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Fitzgerald?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $2,377 monthly median income of Fitzgerald households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

What does a caregiver do after a stroke?

Helps with personal care, meals and moving safely, takes the person to therapy, helps them practise what therapists set, and keeps the family informed. Medical and therapy decisions stay with the care team.

More near Fitzgerald

More senior care near Fitzgerald

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Fitzgerald

More for Fitzgerald 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.

Stroke Recovery Support at Home in Fitzgerald, GA