Mobility Assistance in Athens, TN: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Athens, TN: the local picture

30%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (26% in McMinn County)

393

residents 85 or older (2.7% of all residents)

1.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Athens)

41%

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

About 722 Athens residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (30%; 26% in McMinn County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

393 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving Athens that list physical therapy include Centerwell Home Health and Amedisys Home Health Chattanooga; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Athens compared with McMinn County and Tennessee

Census figure	Athens	McMinn County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	30%	26%	23%
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	1.9%	1.6%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	11%	7.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	40%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	24%	29%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	4.2%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,710	$44,304	—

Older residents in towns around Athens

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Etowah, TN	9.3 mi	842	33%
Sweetwater, TN	12 mi	1,620	50%
Madisonville, TN	14 mi	1,164	46%
Dayton, TN	23 mi	1,465	27%
Hopewell, TN	23 mi	436	27%
Loudon, TN	24 mi	1,354	35%

Home health agencies serving Athens (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Chattanooga, TN	46 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(423) 892-1122
Amedisys Home Health Chattanooga	Chattanooga, TN	43 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 472-3069
Nhc Homecare Athens	Athens, TN	0.0 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(423) 745-4246
Adoration Home Health And Hospice Care East TN	Cleveland, TN	22 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 337-3833
Accentcare Home Health Of Tennessee	Chattanooga, TN	43 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 855-6233
Commonspirit Health At Home - Chattanooga	Chattanooga, TN	43 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 495-8550

Emergency 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 mobility help can help with

Steadying walks inside and outside the home
Transfers: bed, chair, toilet, shower and car
Help with walkers, canes and wheelchairs
The home exercises a physical therapist set

Cost

What mobility assistance 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 mobility help

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and over 14 million, or 1 in 4, older adults report falling every year (CDC).

Questions worth asking: Which transfers are you trained to do safely? Have you used a gait belt, walker or wheelchair with clients? What would you do if my parent started to fall? More in our mobility assistance guide.

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

Questions

Mobility Assistance in Athens: common questions

How much does mobility assistance 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).

What does a caregiver do to help with mobility?

Walks beside the person, helps them stand and sit, transfers them to bed, chair, toilet, shower or car, and keeps walkways clear. They do not replace a physical therapist.

More near Athens

More senior care near Athens

Mobility Assistance 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.

Mobility Assistance at Home in Athens, TN