Stroke Recovery Care in Medulla, FL: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Medulla, FL: the local picture

7.9 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Lakeland)

17%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21% in Polk County)

5.0%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.5% in Polk County)

47

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Medulla: Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland (7.9 mi); South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City (10 mi); Bartow Regional Medical Center in Bartow (11 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

84 Medulla residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.0%; 6.5% in Polk County), and 286 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Medulla compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figure	Medulla	Polk County	Florida
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.0%	6.5%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	17%	21%	20%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	4.2%	6.9%	7.6%
Residents 65 or older	15%	20%	21%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	24%	25%
Households with no vehicle	1.9%	5.4%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,981	$50,939	—

Older residents in towns around Medulla

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Lakeland Highlands, FL	1.8 mi	2,431	8.0%
Fuller Heights, FL	2.5 mi	1,741	6.0%
Willow Oak, FL	3.6 mi	462	1.7%
Mulberry, FL	3.7 mi	1,496	10%
Highland City, FL	6.3 mi	1,941	7.9%
Lakeland, FL	6.9 mi	25,793	7.0%

Hospitals near Medulla

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Lakeland Regional Medical Center	Lakeland, FL	7.9 mi	1 of 5	(863) 687-1100
South Florida Baptist Hospital	Plant City, FL	10 mi	3 of 5	(813) 757-1200
Bartow Regional Medical Center	Bartow, FL	11 mi	3 of 5	(863) 533-8111
Winter Haven Hospital	Winter Haven, FL	16 mi	3 of 5	(863) 293-1121

Home health agencies serving Medulla

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Lakeland, FL	5.5 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(863) 648-9118
Southeast Homecare	Tampa, FL	24 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 452-6155
Medical Services Of America Home Health	Tampa, FL	24 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 626-9888
Trilogy Home Healthcare	Tampa, FL	26 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 963-1200
Origin Home Health Care	Apollo Beach, FL	29 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(813) 641-0500

Straight-line miles from the center of Medulla. 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 Medulla

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,248 monthly median income of Medulla households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Medulla: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Medulla?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,248 monthly median income of Medulla households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Medulla

More senior care near Medulla

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Medulla

More for Medulla 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 Medulla, FL