Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Unicoi, 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 Unicoi for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Post-Surgery Care in Unicoi, TN: the local picture
The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Mountain Home Va Medical Center in Mountain Home, about 6.6 mi away in a straight line, followed by Johnson City Medical Center (6.8 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 Unicoi. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.
Unicoi compared with Unicoi County and Tennessee
| Census figure | Unicoi | Unicoi County | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 37% | 44% | 36% |
| Residents 65 or older | 22% | 24% | 17% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 30% | 29% | 29% |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.0% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Residents 85 or older | 2.7% | 2.6% | 1.6% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 3.1% | 13% | 11% |
Older residents in towns around Unicoi
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | 65+ with a disability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erwin, TN | 7.0 mi | 1,357 | 62% |
| Johnson City, TN | 8.8 mi | 11,382 | 38% |
| Elizabethton, TN | 9.6 mi | 2,950 | 48% |
| Jonesborough, TN | 9.7 mi | 1,309 | 39% |
| Oak Grove, TN | 15 mi | 1,100 | 31% |
| Spurgeon, TN | 17 mi | 755 | 35% |
Hospitals near Unicoi
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Home Va Medical Center | Mountain Home, TN | 6.6 mi | 5 of 5 | (423) 926-1171 |
| Johnson City Medical Center | Johnson City, TN | 6.8 mi | 1 of 5 | (423) 431-6111 |
| Franklin Woods Community Hospital | Johnson City, TN | 6.8 mi | 3 of 5 | (423) 302-1120 |
| Sycamore Shoals Hospital | Elizabethton, TN | 11 mi | 2 of 5 | (423) 542-1300 |
Home health agencies serving Unicoi
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballad Health Homecare | Johnson City, TN | 6.8 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 | 6.8 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work | (423) 434-0163 |
| Adoration Home Health | Kingsport, TN | 23 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 | 26 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work | (423) 230-1000 |
| Amedisys Home Health | Johnson City, TN | 14 mi | 4 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (423) 952-2340 |
| Beacon Home Health | Kingsport, TN | 23 mi | 3 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work | (865) 475-4138 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Unicoi. 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 Unicoi
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. 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 Unicoi: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Unicoi?
Mountain Home Va Medical Center in Mountain Home, about 6.6 mi in a straight line from the center of Unicoi (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (423) 926-1171. In an emergency, call 911.
Which home health agencies serve Unicoi?
Medicare lists 8 certified agencies whose service area includes Unicoi 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 Unicoi?
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. 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 Unicoi
Post-Surgery Care in nearby cities
- Post-Surgery Care in Erwin, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Johnson City, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Elizabethton, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Jonesborough, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Oak Grove, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Spurgeon, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Colonial Heights, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Blountville, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Tusculum, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Kingsport, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Bristol, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Bloomingdale, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Greeneville, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Bristol, VA
- Post-Surgery Care in Church Hill, TN
- Post-Surgery Care in Mars Hill, NC
Other care in Unicoi
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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