Hospice Support in Athens, TN: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Athens, TN: the local picture

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Athens ZIP codes

393

residents 85 or older (2.7% of all residents)

40%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (24% in McMinn County)

41%

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

Medicare lists 9 hospices whose service area includes Athens ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Adoration Home Health & Hospice Care East Tennesse in Cleveland (22 mi) and Gentiva I in Cleveland (22 mi).

928 Athens residents 65 or older live alone (40% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

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+ in households who live alone	40%	24%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	40%	36%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	11%	7.4%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.9%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,710	$44,304	—

Older residents in towns around Athens

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Etowah, TN	9.3 mi	842	26%
Sweetwater, TN	12 mi	1,620	38%
Madisonville, TN	14 mi	1,164	43%
Dayton, TN	23 mi	1,465	27%
Hopewell, TN	23 mi	436	39%
Loudon, TN	24 mi	1,354	31%

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
Caris Healthcare	Chattanooga, TN	43 mi	(423) 899-4044
Suncrest Hospice	Knoxville, TN	47 mi	(865) 925-5500

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 caregiver for hospice support can help with

Comfort, company and a calm presence
Gentle personal care and repositioning
Small meals and fluids as the person wants
Telling the hospice nurse about changes

Cost

What hospice support 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 caregiver for hospice support

Under Medicare, hospice is for someone whose doctors certify a life expectancy of six months or less and who chooses comfort care instead of treatment to cure the illness. Medicare does not cover room and board for hospice care at home (Medicare.gov).

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone at the end of life? How do you work with a hospice nurse? Can you sit overnight in the last days if needed? More in our hospice support guide.

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

Questions

Hospice Support in Athens: common questions

How much does hospice support 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).

Who qualifies for hospice under Medicare?

Someone whose hospice doctor (and regular doctor, if they have one) certifies a life expectancy of six months or less, and who accepts comfort care instead of curative treatment (Medicare.gov).

More near Athens

More senior care near Athens

Hospice Support 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 Hospice Support in Athens, TN