Parkinson's Care in Athens, TN: In-Home Caregivers

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Athens, TN: the local picture

30%

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

10%

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

2,590

residents 65 or older (18% of Athens)

13

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Athens ZIP codes in their service area

722 Athens residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (30%; 26% in McMinn County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

241 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (10%).

Medicare lists 13 home health agencies serving Athens ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Athens compared with McMinn County and Tennessee

Census figure	Athens	McMinn County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	30%	26%	23%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	10%	11%	8.8%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	11%	7.4%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	17%
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

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

Nursing homes near Athens

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare, Athens	Athens, TN	1.0 mi	5 of 5	86	(423) 745-0434
Life Care Center Of Athens	Athens, TN	1.1 mi	2 of 5	128	(423) 745-8181
Starr Regional Health & Rehabilitation	Etowah, TN	8.3 mi	5 of 5	88	(423) 263-3646

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 experienced with Parkinson’s can help with

Medication reminders on the schedule the doctor set
Help walking, turning and getting up safely
Dressing and buttons when hands are stiff or shaky
Meals prepared the way the care team advises

Cost

What Parkinson’s care 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 experienced with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease affects more than 1.1 million people in the U.S., and nearly 90,000 are diagnosed each year, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Its Helpline, 1-800-473-4636, answers questions from people with Parkinson’s and their families.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone with Parkinson’s? What helped most? How do you keep medication reminders exactly on time? How do you help someone who freezes while walking? More in our parkinson’s care guide.

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

Questions

Parkinson’s Care in Athens: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care 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 should a Parkinson’s caregiver know?

Look for someone who has helped people with stiffness, slowness or tremor, keeps a strict routine, and knows safe transfers. Ask for a reference from a family of someone with Parkinson’s.

More near Athens

More senior care near Athens

Parkinson’s Care 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.

In-Home Parkinson’s Care in Athens, TN