Respite Care in Athens, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Athens, TN: the local picture

2,590

residents 65 or older (18% of Athens)

60%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in McMinn County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Athens ZIP codes

Most older adults in Athens live with someone: 60% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 975 Athens residents aged 65 or older report a disability (41%) (40% in McMinn County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Athens ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Athens compared with McMinn County and Tennessee

Census figure	Athens	McMinn County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	40%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	24%	29%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	1.9%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.9%	11%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	4.2%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,710	$44,304	—

Older residents in towns around Athens

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Etowah, TN	9.3 mi	842	52%
Sweetwater, TN	12 mi	1,620	62%
Madisonville, TN	14 mi	1,164	60%
Dayton, TN	23 mi	1,465	45%
Hopewell, TN	23 mi	436	43%
Loudon, TN	24 mi	1,354	45%

Hospices serving Athens

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Adoration Home Health & Hospice Care East Tennesse	Cleveland, TN	22 mi	(423) 479-4581
Gentiva I	Cleveland, TN	22 mi	(423) 458-6455
Hospice Of Chattanooga Holdings, LLC	Chattanooga, TN	43 mi	(423) 892-4289
Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company	Chattanooga, TN	43 mi	(423) 499-0018
Caris Healthcare	Chattanooga, TN	43 mi	(423) 899-4044

Nursing homes near Athens (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare, Athens	Athens, TN	1.0 mi	5 of 5	86	(423) 745-0434
Life Care Center Of Athens	Athens, TN	1.1 mi	2 of 5	128	(423) 745-8181
Starr Regional Health & Rehabilitation	Etowah, TN	8.3 mi	5 of 5	88	(423) 263-3646
Etowah Health And Rehabilitation	Etowah, TN	9.9 mi	1 of 5	120	(423) 263-1138

Straight-line miles from the center of Athens. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite care costs in Athens

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 37% of the $3,643 monthly median income of Athens 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 respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Respite Care in Athens: common questions

Which hospices serve Athens?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Athens ZIP codes, including Adoration Home Health & Hospice Care East Tennesse, Gentiva I, Hospice Of Chattanooga Holdings, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Athens?

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 37% of the $3,643 monthly median income of Athens 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).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Athens. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee covers Tennessee.

More near Athens

More senior care near Athens

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Athens

More for Athens 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.

Respite Care in Athens, TN