Medication Reminders in Athens, TN: Help at Home

Local figures

Medication Reminders in Athens, TN: the local picture

10%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (11% in McMinn County)

40%

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

21%

of residents 65+ have difficulty doing errands alone (19% in McMinn County)

2,590

residents 65 or older (18% of Athens)

About 241 Athens residents 65 or older have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions (10%; 11% in McMinn County). Missed or doubled doses are a common reason families arrange reminder visits.

928 older residents live alone (40%), with no one at home to notice a missed dose.

Athens compared with McMinn County and Tennessee

Census figure	Athens	McMinn County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	10%	11%	8.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	24%	29%
Residents 65+ with difficulty doing errands alone	21%	19%	14%
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	1.9%	1.6%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.9%	4.0%	8.6%
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+	Memory difficulty (65+)
Etowah, TN	9.3 mi	842	16%
Sweetwater, TN	12 mi	1,620	33%
Madisonville, TN	14 mi	1,164	18%
Dayton, TN	23 mi	1,465	7.9%
Hopewell, TN	23 mi	436	7.9%
Loudon, TN	24 mi	1,354	11%

Hospitals near Athens

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Starr Regional Medical Center Athens	Athens, TN	1.2 mi	3 of 5	(423) 745-1411
Sweetwater Hospital Association	Sweetwater, TN	13 mi	1 of 5	(865) 213-8200

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 medication reminders can help with

Reminders at the times the doctor or pharmacist set
Checking a pill organizer or blister pack
Picking up refills and noticing when one is due
Keeping a simple log the family can see

Cost

What medication reminders 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 medication reminders

A caregiver reminds; giving medication (putting pills in the person’s hand or mouth, injections, eye drops on someone’s behalf) is generally reserved for licensed nurses or aides with a separate state certification. Ask your pharmacist about pill organizers and blister packs, which make reminders easier to check.

Questions worth asking: How do you remind without taking over? How would you check that a dose was taken? Can you pick up refills on the way? More in our medication reminders guide.

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

Questions

Medication Reminders in Athens: common questions

How much does medication reminders 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).

Can a caregiver give medication?

Usually not. A caregiver can remind and check; giving medication is generally reserved for licensed nurses or aides with a state medication certification. Ask your state’s rules if you need more.

More near Athens

More senior care near Athens

Medication Reminders 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.

Medication Reminders at Home in Athens, TN