Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Athens, TN
Non-medical help at home in the days and weeks after surgery, a hospital stay or a fall, alongside any nursing or therapy a doctor orders. Post what you need in Athens for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Athens, TN: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Starr Regional Medical Center Athens in Athens, about 1.2 mi away in a straight line, followed by Sweetwater Hospital Association (13 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 13 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Athens. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Athens compared with McMinn County and Tennessee
| Census figure | Athens | McMinn County | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 41% | 40% | 36% |
| 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% |
| Residents 85 or older | 2.7% | 1.9% | 1.6% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 11% | 9.9% | 11% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $43,710 | $44,304 | — |
Older residents in towns around Athens
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etowah, TN | 9.3 mi | 842 | 52% |
| Sweetwater, TN | 12 mi | 1,620 | 62% |
| Madisonville, TN | 14 mi | 1,164 | 60% |
| Dayton, TN | 23 mi | 1,465 | 45% |
| Hopewell, TN | 23 mi | 436 | 43% |
| Loudon, TN | 24 mi | 1,354 | 45% |
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 |
| Rhea Medical Center | Dayton, TN | 23 mi | 2 of 5 | (423) 775-1121 |
| Affiliate Of Vitruvian Health | Cleveland, TN | 27 mi | 2 of 5 | (423) 339-4100 |
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 |
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 a post-surgery caregiver can help with
- Help getting in and out of bed, chairs and the shower
- Meals, fluids and medication reminders
- Rides to follow-up and therapy appointments
- Help with home exercises the therapist set
What post-surgery 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.
What to know before hiring a post-surgery caregiver
Medicare covers home health care after surgery when a doctor orders it and the person is homebound: part-time skilled nursing and therapy from a Medicare-certified agency. It does not cover round-the-clock help, or personal care when that is the only care needed (Medicare.gov).
Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone after this kind of surgery? Are you comfortable with transfers, walkers and shower chairs? Can you start on the discharge date and cover the first nights? More in our post-surgery care guide.
CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.
Post-Surgery Care in Athens: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Athens?
Starr Regional Medical Center Athens in Athens, about 1.2 mi in a straight line from the center of Athens (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (423) 745-1411. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Athens?
Medicare lists 13 certified agencies whose service area includes Athens ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Amedisys Home Health Chattanooga (4.5 of 5), Nhc Homecare Athens (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery 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).
How long do people usually need help after surgery?
It depends on the operation and the person. After a hip or knee replacement many people need daily help for a few weeks, and more at night in the first days. Ask the surgical team for an estimate and plan with some slack.
More senior care near Athens
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Etowah, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Sweetwater, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Madisonville, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Dayton, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Hopewell, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Loudon, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Cleveland, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Tellico Village, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Sale Creek, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Rockwood, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Wildwood Lake, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Kingston, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in South Cleveland, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Lenoir City, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Harriman, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Soddy-Daisy, TN
Other care in Athens
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.
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