Hospice Support in Bristol, TN: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Bristol, TN: the local picture

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Bristol ZIP codes

594

residents 85 or older (2.1% of all residents)

30%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (31% in Sullivan County)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Sullivan County)

Medicare lists 10 hospices whose service area includes Bristol ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Ballad Health Hospice in Bristol (2.1 mi) and Elite Hospice in Bristol (4.5 mi).

1,568 Bristol residents 65 or older live alone (30% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Bristol compared with Sullivan County and Tennessee

Census figure	Bristol	Sullivan County	Tennessee
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.0%	1.6%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	31%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	37%	36%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	7.3%	8.0%	7.4%
Residents 65 or older	20%	22%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	10%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,354	$45,032	—

Older residents in towns around Bristol

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Bristol, VA	5.2 mi	3,986	35%
Blountville, TN	6.5 mi	702	8.8%
Elizabethton, TN	15 mi	2,950	37%
Oak Grove, TN	15 mi	1,100	17%
Spurgeon, TN	16 mi	755	31%
Colonial Heights, TN	16 mi	703	47%

Hospices serving Bristol

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Ballad Health Hospice	Bristol, TN	2.1 mi	(423) 844-5252
Elite Hospice	Bristol, VA	4.5 mi	(276) 250-5520
Ballad Health Hospice	Abingdon, VA	14 mi	(276) 619-4500
Caris Healthcare, LP (Abingdon)	Abingdon, VA	14 mi	(276) 494-0465
Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company	Elizabethton, TN	15 mi	(423) 547-0852
Caris Healthcare	Johnson City, TN	19 mi	(423) 929-2044

Straight-line miles from the center of Bristol. 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 Bristol

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 36% of the $3,696 monthly median income of Bristol 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 Bristol: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Bristol?

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 36% of the $3,696 monthly median income of Bristol 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 Bristol

More senior care near Bristol

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Bristol

More for Bristol 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 Bristol, TN