Mobility Assistance in Dayton, TN: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Dayton, TN: the local picture

27%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21% in Rhea County)

186

residents 85 or older (2.4% of all residents)

0.4 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Dayton)

45%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Rhea County)

About 396 Dayton residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (27%; 21% in Rhea County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

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

Dayton compared with Rhea County and Tennessee

Census figure	Dayton	Rhea County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	27%	21%	23%
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	1.6%	1.6%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	15%	9.0%	7.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	38%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	28%	29%
Households with no vehicle	11%	7.0%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,105	$44,248	—

Older residents in towns around Dayton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Sale Creek, TN	8.6 mi	734	41%
Hopewell, TN	19 mi	436	27%
Soddy-Daisy, TN	19 mi	2,752	27%
Athens, TN	23 mi	2,590	30%
Cleveland, TN	23 mi	9,174	28%
Dunlap, TN	23 mi	1,354	39%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Chattanooga, TN	35 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(423) 892-1122
Amedisys Home Health Chattanooga	Chattanooga, TN	33 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 472-3069
Nhc Homecare Chattanooga	Chattanooga, TN	33 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work	(423) 877-1716
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
Nhc Homecare Athens	Athens, TN	23 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(423) 745-4246
Commonspirit Health At Home - Chattanooga	Chattanooga, TN	33 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 495-8550

Emergency hospitals near Dayton

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Rhea Medical Center	Dayton, TN	0.4 mi	2 of 5	(423) 775-1121
Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital	Pikeville, TN	15 mi	not rated	(423) 447-2112

Straight-line miles from the center of Dayton. 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 Dayton

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 43% of the $3,092 monthly median income of Dayton 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 Dayton: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Dayton?

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 43% of the $3,092 monthly median income of Dayton 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 Dayton

More senior care near Dayton

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Dayton

More for Dayton 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 Dayton, TN