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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Erwin, TN: the local picture

220

residents 85 or older (3.7% of all residents)

1,357

residents 65 or older (23% of Erwin)

62%

of residents 65+ report a disability (44% in Unicoi County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Erwin has about 220 residents aged 85 or older among 1,357 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.

62% of residents 65 and older report a disability (44% in Unicoi County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

35% of older Erwin 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.

Erwin compared with Unicoi County and Tennessee

Census figure	Erwin	Unicoi County	Tennessee
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	2.6%	1.6%
Residents 65 or older	23%	24%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	62%	44%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	13%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.1%	5.1%	8.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$24,623	$40,673	—

Older residents in towns around Erwin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Unicoi, TN	7.0 mi	844	102
Jonesborough, TN	11 mi	1,309	121
Johnson City, TN	14 mi	11,382	1,501
Elizabethton, TN	17 mi	2,950	428
Tusculum, TN	19 mi	744	59
Oak Grove, TN	19 mi	1,100	41

Nursing homes near Erwin

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Christian Care Center Of Unicoi County	Erwin, TN	0.9 mi	4 of 5	50	(423) 743-3141
Center On Aging And Health	Erwin, TN	1.0 mi	3 of 5	120	(423) 743-7669
Erwin Health Care Center	Erwin, TN	1.7 mi	2 of 5	125	(423) 743-4131
Four Oaks Health Care Center	Jonesborough, TN	11 mi	4 of 5	84	(423) 753-8711
Lakebridge, A Waters Community, LLC	Johnson City, TN	11 mi	3 of 5	109	(423) 975-0095
The Waters Of Johnson City, LLC	Johnson City, TN	13 mi	2 of 5	84	(423) 434-2016

Hospices serving Erwin

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Caris Healthcare	Johnson City, TN	12 mi	(423) 929-2044
Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company	Elizabethton, TN	18 mi	(423) 547-0852
Ballad Health Hospice	Bristol, TN	32 mi	(423) 844-5252
Gentiva	Nashville, TN	248 mi	(615) 889-5995

Straight-line miles from the center of Erwin. 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 Erwin

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 65% of the $2,052 monthly median income of Erwin 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 Erwin: common questions

What nursing homes are near Erwin?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Christian Care Center Of Unicoi County in Erwin (0.9 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Center On Aging And Health in Erwin (1.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Erwin Health Care Center in Erwin (1.7 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Erwin?

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 65% of the $2,052 monthly median income of Erwin 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 Erwin

More senior care near Erwin

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Erwin

More for Erwin 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 Erwin, TN