Post-Surgery Home Care in Sweetwater, TN

Local figures

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

0.7 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Sweetwater)

15

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

62%

of residents 65+ report a disability (46% in Monroe County)

1,620

residents 65 or older (25% of Sweetwater)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Sweetwater Hospital Association in Sweetwater, about 0.7 mi away in a straight line, followed by Starr Regional Medical Center Athens (13 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 Sweetwater. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Sweetwater compared with Monroe County and Tennessee

Census figure	Sweetwater	Monroe County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	62%	46%	36%
Residents 65 or older	25%	22%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	26%	29%
Households with no vehicle	9.2%	5.5%	5.2%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.2%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	19%	17%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,273	$41,875	—

Older residents in towns around Sweetwater

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Madisonville, TN	8.3 mi	1,164	60%
Loudon, TN	11 mi	1,354	45%
Athens, TN	12 mi	2,590	41%
Tellico Village, TN	13 mi	5,049	22%
Lenoir City, TN	18 mi	2,332	36%
Etowah, TN	19 mi	842	52%

Hospitals near Sweetwater

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Sweetwater Hospital Association	Sweetwater, TN	0.7 mi	1 of 5	(865) 213-8200
Starr Regional Medical Center Athens	Athens, TN	13 mi	3 of 5	(423) 745-1411
Fort Loudoun Medical Center	Lenoir City, TN	19 mi	4 of 5	(865) 271-6000
Roane Medical Center	Harriman, TN	23 mi	4 of 5	(865) 316-1000

Home health agencies serving Sweetwater

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Chattanooga, TN	59 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(423) 892-1122
Amedisys Home Health Chattanooga	Chattanooga, TN	55 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	12 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(423) 745-4246
Covenant Homecare	Knoxville, TN	35 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(865) 374-0600
Amedisys Home Health Care	Knoxville, TN	35 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(865) 584-2510
Adoration Home Health And Hospice Care East TN	Cleveland, TN	35 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 337-3833

Straight-line miles from the center of Sweetwater. 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 Sweetwater

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 $3,106 monthly median income of Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Sweetwater?

Sweetwater Hospital Association in Sweetwater, about 0.7 mi in a straight line from the center of Sweetwater (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (865) 213-8200. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Sweetwater?

Medicare lists 15 certified agencies whose service area includes Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater?

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 $3,106 monthly median income of Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater

More senior care near Sweetwater

Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sweetwater

More for Sweetwater 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 Sweetwater, TN