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

Local figures

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

12 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Johnson City)

8

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

62%

of residents 65+ report a disability (44% in Unicoi County)

1,357

residents 65 or older (23% of Erwin)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, about 12 mi away in a straight line, followed by Franklin Woods Community Hospital (12 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 8 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Erwin. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Erwin compared with Unicoi County and Tennessee

Census figure	Erwin	Unicoi County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	62%	44%	36%
Residents 65 or older	23%	24%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	29%	29%
Households with no vehicle	7.5%	4.0%	5.2%
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	2.6%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	13%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$24,623	$40,673	—

Older residents in towns around Erwin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Unicoi, TN	7.0 mi	844	37%
Jonesborough, TN	11 mi	1,309	39%
Johnson City, TN	14 mi	11,382	38%
Elizabethton, TN	17 mi	2,950	48%
Tusculum, TN	19 mi	744	31%
Oak Grove, TN	19 mi	1,100	31%

Hospitals near Erwin

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Johnson City Medical Center	Johnson City, TN	12 mi	1 of 5	(423) 431-6111
Franklin Woods Community Hospital	Johnson City, TN	12 mi	3 of 5	(423) 302-1120
Mountain Home Va Medical Center	Mountain Home, TN	12 mi	5 of 5	(423) 926-1171
Sycamore Shoals Hospital	Elizabethton, TN	18 mi	2 of 5	(423) 542-1300

Home health agencies serving Erwin

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Ballad Health Homecare	Johnson City, TN	12 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 431-6146
Nhc Homecare Johnson City	Johnson City, TN	12 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(423) 434-0163
Adoration Home Health	Kingsport, TN	27 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 378-7331
Centerwell Home Health	Kingsport, TN	29 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(423) 230-1000
Amedisys Home Health	Johnson City, TN	18 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 952-2340
Amedisys Home Health Care	Abingdon, VA	44 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 619-2532

Straight-line miles from the center of Erwin. 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 Erwin

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 65% of the $2,052 monthly median income of Erwin 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 Erwin: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Erwin?

Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, about 12 mi in a straight line from the center of Erwin (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (423) 431-6111. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Erwin?

Medicare lists 8 certified agencies whose service area includes Erwin ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Ballad Health Homecare (4.5 of 5), Nhc Homecare Johnson City (4.5 of 5), Adoration Home Health (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery care cost in Erwin?

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 65% of the $2,052 monthly median income of Erwin 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 Erwin

More senior care near Erwin

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Erwin

More for Erwin 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 Erwin, TN