Companion Care in Oneida, TN: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Oneida, TN: the local picture

707

residents 65 or older (19% of Oneida)

16%

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

0.0%

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

4.9%

of households have no vehicle (5.3% in Scott County)

About 107 residents of Oneida aged 65 or older live alone, 16% of older residents in households (29% in Scott County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

4.9% of Oneida households have no vehicle (5.3% in Scott County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 707 Oneida residents aged 65 or older, 82 are 85 or older (12%). 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.

322 Oneida households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 52 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 142 older Oneida residents (21%) live below the poverty line (17% in Scott 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.

Oneida compared with Scott County and Tennessee

Census figure	Oneida	Scott County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	29%	29%
Residents 65 or older	19%	17%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	0.0%	0.4%	8.6%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	5.3%	5.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	17%	11%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	51%	36%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,938	$33,817	—

Older residents in towns around Oneida

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Jacksboro, TN	22 mi	419	32%
La Follette, TN	24 mi	1,447	48%
Williamsburg, KY	25 mi	705	35%
Monticello, KY	29 mi	993	43%
Coalfield, TN	34 mi	483	18%
Oliver Springs, TN	34 mi	793	34%

Hospitals near Oneida (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Big South Fork Medical Center	Oneida, TN	1.3 mi	not rated	(423) 286-5300
Lafollette Medical Center	La Follette, TN	24 mi	3 of 5	(423) 907-1200
Wayne County Hospital	Monticello, KY	30 mi	not rated	(606) 348-9343

Straight-line miles from the center of Oneida. 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 Oneida

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 37% of the $3,662 monthly median income of Oneida 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 Oneida: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Oneida?

About 107 residents aged 65 or older, 16% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (29% in Scott County).

How much does companion care cost in Oneida?

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 37% of the $3,662 monthly median income of Oneida 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 Oneida?

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 Oneida

More senior care near Oneida

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Oneida

More for Oneida 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 Oneida, TN