Dementia Care in Athens, TN: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Athens, TN: the local picture

393

residents 85 or older (2.7% of all residents)

2,590

residents 65 or older (18% of Athens)

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in McMinn County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Athens has about 393 residents aged 85 or older among 2,590 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

41% of residents 65 and older report a disability (40% in McMinn County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

40% of older Athens residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

Athens compared with McMinn County and Tennessee

Census figure	Athens	McMinn County	Tennessee
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	1.9%	1.6%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	40%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	24%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.9%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.9%	4.0%	8.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,710	$44,304	—

Older residents in towns around Athens

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Etowah, TN	9.3 mi	842	139
Sweetwater, TN	12 mi	1,620	172
Madisonville, TN	14 mi	1,164	120
Dayton, TN	23 mi	1,465	186
Hopewell, TN	23 mi	436	16
Loudon, TN	24 mi	1,354	230

Nursing homes near Athens

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare, Athens	Athens, TN	1.0 mi	5 of 5	86	(423) 745-0434
Life Care Center Of Athens	Athens, TN	1.1 mi	2 of 5	128	(423) 745-8181
Starr Regional Health & Rehabilitation	Etowah, TN	8.3 mi	5 of 5	88	(423) 263-3646
Etowah Health And Rehabilitation	Etowah, TN	9.9 mi	1 of 5	120	(423) 263-1138
Waters Of Sweetwater A Rehabilitation & Nursing	Sweetwater, TN	11 mi	2 of 5	90	(423) 337-6631
Decatur Wellness And Rehabilitation Center	Decatur, TN	11 mi	3 of 5	88	(423) 334-3002

Hospices serving Athens

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Adoration Home Health & Hospice Care East Tennesse	Cleveland, TN	22 mi	(423) 479-4581
Gentiva I	Cleveland, TN	22 mi	(423) 458-6455
Hospice Of Chattanooga Holdings, LLC	Chattanooga, TN	43 mi	(423) 892-4289
Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company	Chattanooga, TN	43 mi	(423) 499-0018

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

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in Athens

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 $3,643 monthly median income of Athens 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 dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

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

Questions

Dementia Care in Athens: common questions

What nursing homes are near Athens?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Nhc Healthcare, Athens in Athens (1.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Life Care Center Of Athens in Athens (1.1 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Starr Regional Health & Rehabilitation in Etowah (8.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Athens?

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 $3,643 monthly median income of Athens 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).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near Athens

More senior care near Athens

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Athens

More for Athens 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.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Athens, TN