Post-Surgery Care in Dayton, TN: Help at Home After Surgery

Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Dayton, TN: the local picture

0.4 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Dayton)

11

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

45%

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

1,465

residents 65 or older (19% of Dayton)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Rhea Medical Center in Dayton, about 0.4 mi away in a straight line, followed by Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital (15 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 11 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Dayton. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Dayton compared with Rhea County and Tennessee

Census figure	Dayton	Rhea County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	38%	36%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	28%	29%
Households with no vehicle	11%	7.0%	5.2%
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	1.6%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.7%	13%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,105	$44,248	—

Older residents in towns around Dayton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Sale Creek, TN	8.6 mi	734	58%
Hopewell, TN	19 mi	436	43%
Soddy-Daisy, TN	19 mi	2,752	44%
Athens, TN	23 mi	2,590	41%
Cleveland, TN	23 mi	9,174	42%
Dunlap, TN	23 mi	1,354	52%

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
Starr Regional Medical Center Athens	Athens, TN	24 mi	3 of 5	(423) 745-1411
Affiliate Of Vitruvian Health	Cleveland, TN	26 mi	2 of 5	(423) 339-4100

Home health agencies serving Dayton

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

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 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

Cost

What post-surgery care 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 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.

Questions

Post-Surgery Care in Dayton: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Dayton?

Rhea Medical Center in Dayton, about 0.4 mi in a straight line from the center of Dayton (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (423) 775-1121. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Dayton?

Medicare lists 11 certified agencies whose service area includes Dayton 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 Chattanooga (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care 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).

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 near Dayton

More senior care near Dayton

Post-Surgery Care 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.

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Dayton, TN