Medication Reminders in Big Stone Gap, VA: Help at Home

Local figures

Medication Reminders in Big Stone Gap, VA: the local picture

12%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (16% in Wise County)

30%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Wise County)

29%

of residents 65+ have difficulty doing errands alone (20% in Wise County)

924

residents 65 or older (18% of Big Stone Gap)

About 91 Big Stone Gap residents 65 or older have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions (12%; 16% in Wise County). Missed or doubled doses are a common reason families arrange reminder visits.

233 older residents live alone (30%), with no one at home to notice a missed dose.

Big Stone Gap compared with Wise County and Virginia

Census figure	Big Stone Gap	Wise County	Virginia
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	12%	16%	7.4%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	29%	27%
Residents 65+ with difficulty doing errands alone	29%	20%	13%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.5%	1.9%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	16%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,795	$35,825	—

Older residents in towns around Big Stone Gap

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Memory difficulty (65+)
Norton, VA	9.6 mi	761	17%
Wise, VA	13 mi	514	29%
Mount Carmel, TN	21 mi	1,272	10%
Church Hill, TN	24 mi	1,706	8.1%
Bloomingdale, TN	24 mi	2,040	16%
Kingsport, TN	27 mi	13,132	13%

Hospitals near Big Stone Gap

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Lonesome Pine Hospital	Big Stone Gap, VA	0.8 mi	4 of 5	(276) 523-3111
Lee County Community Hospital	Pennington Gap, VA	16 mi	not rated	(276) 299-5000

Straight-line miles from the center of Big Stone Gap. 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 Big Stone Gap

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,233 monthly median income of Big Stone Gap households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Big Stone Gap: common questions

How much does medication reminders cost in Big Stone Gap?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,233 monthly median income of Big Stone Gap households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

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 Big Stone Gap

More senior care near Big Stone Gap

Medication Reminders in nearby cities

Other care in Big Stone Gap

More for Big Stone Gap 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 Big Stone Gap, VA