Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Chattanooga, 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 Chattanooga for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Chattanooga, TN: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga, about 2.8 mi away in a straight line, followed by Erlanger Medical Center (3.1 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.
Medicare lists 15 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Chattanooga. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Chattanooga compared with Hamilton County and Tennessee
| Census figure | Chattanooga | Hamilton County | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 34% | 33% | 36% |
| Residents 65 or older | 17% | 18% | 17% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 36% | 29% | 29% |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.6% | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Residents 85 or older | 1.9% | 2.0% | 1.6% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 14% | 9.4% | 11% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $50,374 | $56,058 | — |
Older residents in towns around Chattanooga
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bank, TN | 4.2 mi | 1,871 | 47% |
| East Ridge, TN | 4.9 mi | 4,078 | 38% |
| Lakeview, GA | 6.1 mi | 897 | 38% |
| Rossville, GA | 6.7 mi | 784 | 56% |
| Harrison, TN | 7.0 mi | 1,559 | 25% |
| Signal Mountain, TN | 7.5 mi | 2,181 | 26% |
Hospitals near Chattanooga
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkridge Medical Center | Chattanooga, TN | 2.8 mi | 4 of 5 | (423) 894-4220 |
| Erlanger Medical Center | Chattanooga, TN | 3.1 mi | 4 of 5 | (423) 778-7000 |
| Commonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia | Ringgold, GA | 11 mi | 3 of 5 | (770) 874-5400 |
| Affiliate Of Vitruvian Health | Cleveland, TN | 22 mi | 2 of 5 | (423) 339-4100 |
Home health agencies serving Chattanooga
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerwell Home Health | Chattanooga, TN | 2.8 mi | 5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work | (423) 892-1122 |
| Nhc Homecare Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | 6.5 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work | (423) 877-1716 |
| Amedisys Home Health Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | 6.5 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (423) 472-3069 |
| Amedisys Home Health Care | Elizabethton, TN | 192 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work | (423) 547-2310 |
| Accentcare Home Health Of Tennessee | Chattanooga, TN | 6.5 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 | 6.5 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 Chattanooga. 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 Chattanooga
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 32% of the $4,198 monthly median income of Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Chattanooga?
Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga, about 2.8 mi in a straight line from the center of Chattanooga (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (423) 894-4220. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Chattanooga?
Medicare lists 15 certified agencies whose service area includes Chattanooga ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Nhc Homecare Chattanooga (4.5 of 5), Amedisys Home Health Chattanooga (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.
How much does post-surgery care cost in Chattanooga?
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 32% of the $4,198 monthly median income of Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Red Bank, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in East Ridge, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Lakeview, GA
- Post-Surgery Care in Rossville, GA
- Post-Surgery Care in Harrison, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Signal Mountain, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Middle Valley, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Fort Oglethorpe, GA
- Post-Surgery Care in Fairview, GA
- Post-Surgery Care in Chattanooga Valley, GA
- Post-Surgery Care in Collegedale, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Ringgold, GA
- Post-Surgery Care in Chickamauga, GA
- Post-Surgery Care in Apison, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Soddy-Daisy, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in South Cleveland, TN
Other care in Chattanooga
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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