East Ridge, Tennessee

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in East Ridge, 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 East Ridge for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in East Ridge, TN: the local picture

3.4 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Chattanooga)
13
Medicare-certified home health agencies list East Ridge ZIP codes in their service area
38%
of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Hamilton County)
4,078
residents 65 or older (18% of East Ridge)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga, about 3.4 mi away in a straight line, followed by Erlanger Medical Center (5.1 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 East Ridge. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

East Ridge compared with Hamilton County and Tennessee

Census figureEast RidgeHamilton CountyTennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability38%33%36%
Residents 65 or older18%18%17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone33%29%29%
Households with no vehicle6.1%5.8%5.2%
Residents 85 or older3.1%2.0%1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)10%9.4%11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$40,905$56,058—

Older residents in towns around East Ridge

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Lakeview, GA2.0 mi89738%
Rossville, GA3.8 mi78456%
Fort Oglethorpe, GA4.6 mi2,80548%
Chattanooga, TN4.9 mi32,19034%
Fairview, GA6.0 mi1,16538%
Chattanooga Valley, GA8.2 mi80434%

Hospitals near East Ridge

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Parkridge Medical CenterChattanooga, TN3.4 mi4 of 5(423) 894-4220
Erlanger Medical CenterChattanooga, TN5.1 mi4 of 5(423) 778-7000
Commonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North GeorgiaRinggold, GA6.7 mi3 of 5(770) 874-5400
Affiliate Of Vitruvian HealthCleveland, TN22 mi2 of 5(423) 339-4100

Home health agencies serving East Ridge

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Centerwell Home HealthChattanooga, TN2.1 mi5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work(423) 892-1122
Nhc Homecare ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN5.1 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work(423) 877-1716
Amedisys Home Health ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN5.1 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(423) 472-3069
Accentcare Home Health Of TennesseeChattanooga, TN5.1 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(423) 855-6233
Commonspirit Health At Home - ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN5.1 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(423) 495-8550
Adoration Home Health And Hospice Care East TNCleveland, TN26 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(423) 337-3833

Straight-line miles from the center of East Ridge. 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 East Ridge

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 $3,409 monthly median income of East Ridge 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 East Ridge: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to East Ridge?

Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga, about 3.4 mi in a straight line from the center of East Ridge (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (423) 894-4220. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve East Ridge?

Medicare lists 13 certified agencies whose service area includes East Ridge 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 East Ridge?

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 $3,409 monthly median income of East Ridge 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.

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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