Companion Care in La Follette, TN: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in La Follette, TN: the local picture

1,447

residents 65 or older (20% of La Follette)

48%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Campbell County)

2.2%

of residents 5+ speak a language other than English at home

13%

of households have no vehicle (5.7% in Campbell County)

About 613 residents of La Follette aged 65 or older live alone, 48% of older residents in households (29% in Campbell County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

13% of La Follette households have no vehicle (5.7% in Campbell County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,447 La Follette residents aged 65 or older, 153 are 85 or older (11%). Before the first visit with someone in that oldest group, ask the family about hearing, eyesight, walking and any memory changes, so the visit is planned around them.

620 La Follette households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 345 rent. A companion visiting a house may also help with mail, light chores and keeping an eye on things; in an apartment building, ask whether visitors sign in.

About 321 older La Follette residents (25%) live below the poverty line (13% in Campbell County). For them, Medicaid home and community-based services or the local Area Agency on Aging may cover some companion or homemaker hours, depending on the state program; private pay is not the only route.

La Follette compared with Campbell County and Tennessee

Census figure	La Follette	Campbell County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	48%	29%	29%
Residents 65 or older	20%	21%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.2%	1.1%	8.6%
Households with no vehicle	13%	5.7%	5.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	13%	11%
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	50%	36%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,558	$37,260	—

Older residents in towns around La Follette

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Jacksboro, TN	4.5 mi	419	32%
Clinton, TN	19 mi	2,368	24%
Maynardville, TN	20 mi	287	26%
Halls, TN	23 mi	2,785	24%
Oneida, TN	24 mi	707	16%
Powell, TN	24 mi	2,329	31%

Hospitals near La Follette (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Lafollette Medical Center	La Follette, TN	4.2 mi	3 of 5	(423) 907-1200
Physicians Regional Medical Center	Powell, TN	23 mi	3 of 5	(865) 545-8000
Big South Fork Medical Center	Oneida, TN	24 mi	not rated	(423) 286-5300

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

What it covers

What a companion caregiver can help with

Conversation, cards, puzzles and shared hobbies
Walks and outings to the park, library or senior center
Company at meals, and help preparing them
Rides or escort to appointments, church and visits

Cost

What companion care costs in La Follette

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 58% of the $2,297 monthly median income of La Follette households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a companion caregiver

Isolation is a health risk, not only a mood. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly one in four Americans aged 65 and older living in the community is socially isolated, and linked isolation to higher risks of dementia, heart disease and early death (2020 report).

Questions worth asking: What do you enjoy doing with the people you care for? Are you comfortable driving, and is your car insured for passengers? How do you handle a client who does not want company at first? More in our companion care guide.

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

Questions

Companion Care in La Follette: common questions

How many seniors live alone in La Follette?

About 613 residents aged 65 or older, 48% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (29% in Campbell County).

How much does companion care cost in La Follette?

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 58% of the $2,297 monthly median income of La Follette households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

What does a companion caregiver do in La Follette?

A companion keeps an older adult company and helps around the visit: conversation, activities, walks, meals, errands, rides and reminders. It suits someone who is mostly independent but lonely, or a family that wants someone to check in on weekdays.

More near La Follette

More senior care near La Follette

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in La Follette

More for La Follette 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.

Companion Care for Seniors in La Follette, TN