Companion Care in South Cleveland, TN for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in South Cleveland, TN: the local picture

1,450

residents 65 or older (19% of South Cleveland)

26%

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

9.9%

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

3.7%

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

About 370 residents of South Cleveland aged 65 or older live alone, 26% of older residents in households (29% in Bradley County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

3.7% of South Cleveland households have no vehicle (5.3% in Bradley County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,450 South Cleveland residents aged 65 or older, 137 are 85 or older (9.4%). 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.

853 South Cleveland households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 134 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 127 older South Cleveland residents (8.8%) live below the poverty line (11% in Bradley 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.

About 9.9% of South Cleveland residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (564), Russian, Polish or other Slavic languages (118), other languages (31). If the person you care for is more at ease in one of these languages, say so in your posting; many caregivers list the languages they speak.

South Cleveland compared with Bradley County and Tennessee

Census figure	South Cleveland	Bradley County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	29%	29%
Residents 65 or older	19%	17%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	9.9%	9.1%	8.6%
Households with no vehicle	3.7%	5.3%	5.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.8%	11%	11%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	40%	36%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,583	$47,406	—

Older residents in towns around South Cleveland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Wildwood Lake, TN	3.8 mi	521	47%
Cleveland, TN	5.3 mi	9,174	34%
Collegedale, TN	8.7 mi	2,008	24%
Hopewell, TN	9.0 mi	436	39%
Apison, TN	9.2 mi	470	17%
Harrison, TN	13 mi	1,559	29%

Hospitals near South Cleveland (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Affiliate Of Vitruvian Health	Cleveland, TN	2.5 mi	2 of 5	(423) 339-4100
Commonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia	Ringgold, GA	19 mi	3 of 5	(770) 874-5400
Parkridge Medical Center	Chattanooga, TN	21 mi	4 of 5	(423) 894-4220

Straight-line miles from the center of South Cleveland. 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 South Cleveland

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 29% of the $4,549 monthly median income of South Cleveland 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 South Cleveland: common questions

How many seniors live alone in South Cleveland?

About 370 residents aged 65 or older, 26% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (29% in Bradley County).

How much does companion care cost in South Cleveland?

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 29% of the $4,549 monthly median income of South Cleveland 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 South Cleveland?

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 South Cleveland

More senior care near South Cleveland

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in South Cleveland

More for South Cleveland 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 South Cleveland, TN