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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Unicoi, TN: the local picture

102

residents 85 or older (2.7% of all residents)

844

residents 65 or older (22% of Unicoi)

37%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Unicoi has about 102 residents aged 85 or older among 844 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.

37% 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.

30% of older Unicoi 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.

Unicoi compared with Unicoi County and Tennessee

Census figure	Unicoi	Unicoi County	Tennessee
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.6%	1.6%
Residents 65 or older	22%	24%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	44%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.1%	13%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.2%	5.1%	8.6%

Older residents in towns around Unicoi

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Erwin, TN	7.0 mi	1,357	220
Johnson City, TN	8.8 mi	11,382	1,501
Elizabethton, TN	9.6 mi	2,950	428
Jonesborough, TN	9.7 mi	1,309	121
Oak Grove, TN	15 mi	1,100	41
Spurgeon, TN	17 mi	755	137

Nursing homes near Unicoi

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lakebridge, A Waters Community, LLC	Johnson City, TN	7.1 mi	3 of 5	109	(423) 975-0095
Christian Care Center Of Unicoi County	Erwin, TN	7.7 mi	4 of 5	50	(423) 743-3141
Center On Aging And Health	Erwin, TN	7.8 mi	3 of 5	120	(423) 743-7669
Abundant Christian Living Community Rehabilitation	Johnson City, TN	8.5 mi	5 of 5	103	(423) 928-3168
Agape Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, A Waters Cm	Johnson City, TN	8.6 mi	4 of 5	84	(423) 975-2000
Erwin Health Care Center	Erwin, TN	8.6 mi	2 of 5	125	(423) 743-4131

Hospices serving Unicoi

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Caris Healthcare	Johnson City, TN	6.8 mi	(423) 929-2044
Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company	Elizabethton, TN	11 mi	(423) 547-0852
Ballad Health Hospice	Bristol, TN	25 mi	(423) 844-5252
Gentiva	Nashville, TN	253 mi	(615) 889-5995

Straight-line miles from the center of Unicoi. 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 Unicoi

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. 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 Unicoi: common questions

What nursing homes are near Unicoi?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Lakebridge, A Waters Community, LLC in Johnson City (7.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Christian Care Center Of Unicoi County in Erwin (7.7 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Center On Aging And Health in Erwin (7.8 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Unicoi?

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. 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 Unicoi

More senior care near Unicoi

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Unicoi

More for Unicoi 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 Unicoi, TN