Mobility Assistance in Knoxville, TN

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Knoxville, TN: the local picture

24%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20% in Knox County)

3,348

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

1.4 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Knoxville)

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Knox County)

About 6,442 Knoxville residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (24%; 20% in Knox County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

3,348 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

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

Knoxville compared with Knox County and Tennessee

Census figure	Knoxville	Knox County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	24%	20%	23%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.7%	1.6%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.5%	6.6%	7.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	32%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	30%	29%
Households with no vehicle	9.1%	5.3%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,720	$56,033	—

Older residents in towns around Knoxville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Powell, TN	6.4 mi	2,329	18%
Halls, TN	7.7 mi	2,785	18%
Karns, TN	9.0 mi	798	28%
Alcoa, TN	11 mi	2,276	18%
Louisville, TN	12 mi	1,059	19%
Seymour, TN	12 mi	2,935	29%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Knoxville, TN	5.7 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(865) 450-1160
Centerwell Home Health	Knoxville, TN	12 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(865) 584-3133
Nhc Homecare Knoxville	Knoxville, TN	7.6 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work	(865) 539-0242
Covenant Homecare	Knoxville, TN	4.5 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(865) 374-0600
Amedisys Home Health Care	Knoxville, TN	4.5 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(865) 584-2510
Adoration Home Health	Knoxville, TN	12 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(865) 531-9713

Emergency hospitals near Knoxville

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center	Knoxville, TN	1.4 mi	3 of 5	(865) 541-1101
East Tennessee Childrens Hospital	Knoxville, TN	1.4 mi	not rated	(865) 541-8000

Straight-line miles from the center of Knoxville. 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 Knoxville

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 39% of the $3,393 monthly median income of Knoxville 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 Knoxville: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Knoxville?

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 39% of the $3,393 monthly median income of Knoxville 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 Knoxville

More senior care near Knoxville

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Knoxville

More for Knoxville 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 Knoxville, TN