Companion Care in Tazewell, TN: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Tazewell, TN: the local picture

496

residents 65 or older (17% of Tazewell)

54%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (33% in Claiborne County)

1.1%

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

2.6%

of households have no vehicle (4.0% in Claiborne County)

About 234 residents of Tazewell aged 65 or older live alone, 54% of older residents in households (33% in Claiborne County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

2.6% of Tazewell households have no vehicle (4.0% in Claiborne County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 496 Tazewell residents aged 65 or older, 182 are 85 or older (37%). 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.

288 Tazewell households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 68 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 81 older Tazewell residents (18%) live below the poverty line (12% in Claiborne 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.

Tazewell compared with Claiborne County and Tennessee

Census figure	Tazewell	Claiborne County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	54%	33%	29%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.1%	1.7%	8.6%
Households with no vehicle	2.6%	4.0%	5.2%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	12%	11%
Residents 65+ with a disability	64%	52%	36%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,188	$36,960	—

Older residents in towns around Tazewell

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
New Tazewell, TN	2.7 mi	438	72%
Harrogate, TN	8.9 mi	837	44%
Middlesborough, KY	14 mi	1,924	39%
Bean Station, TN	18 mi	712	23%
Maynardville, TN	20 mi	287	26%
Blaine, TN	23 mi	483	28%

Hospitals near Tazewell (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Claiborne Medical Center	Tazewell, TN	0.9 mi	not rated	(423) 626-4211
Middlesboro Arh Hospital	Middlesboro, KY	14 mi	1 of 5	(606) 242-1101
Hancock County Hospital	Sneedville, TN	18 mi	not rated	(423) 733-5001

Straight-line miles from the center of Tazewell. 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 Tazewell

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 43% of the $3,099 monthly median income of Tazewell 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 Tazewell: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Tazewell?

About 234 residents aged 65 or older, 54% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (33% in Claiborne County).

How much does companion care cost in Tazewell?

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 43% of the $3,099 monthly median income of Tazewell 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 Tazewell?

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 Tazewell

More senior care near Tazewell

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tazewell

More for Tazewell 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 Tazewell, TN