Respite Care in Bristol, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Bristol, TN: the local picture

5,391

residents 65 or older (20% of Bristol)

70%

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

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Sullivan County)

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Bristol ZIP codes

Most older adults in Bristol live with someone: 70% 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 1,789 Bristol residents aged 65 or older report a disability (34%) (37% in Sullivan County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Bristol ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Bristol compared with Sullivan County and Tennessee

Census figure	Bristol	Sullivan County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	37%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	31%	29%
Residents 65 or older	20%	22%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.0%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	10%	11%
Households with no vehicle	5.2%	4.8%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,354	$45,032	—

Older residents in towns around Bristol

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Bristol, VA	5.2 mi	3,986	41%
Blountville, TN	6.5 mi	702	29%
Elizabethton, TN	15 mi	2,950	48%
Oak Grove, TN	15 mi	1,100	31%
Spurgeon, TN	16 mi	755	35%
Colonial Heights, TN	16 mi	703	43%

Hospices serving Bristol

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Ballad Health Hospice	Bristol, TN	2.1 mi	(423) 844-5252
Elite Hospice	Bristol, VA	4.5 mi	(276) 250-5520
Ballad Health Hospice	Abingdon, VA	14 mi	(276) 619-4500
Caris Healthcare, LP (Abingdon)	Abingdon, VA	14 mi	(276) 494-0465
Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company	Elizabethton, TN	15 mi	(423) 547-0852

Nursing homes near Bristol (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare, Bristol	Bristol, VA	2.6 mi	5 of 5	120	(276) 669-4711
Waters Of Bristol A Rehabilitation And Nursing	Blountville, TN	4.9 mi	4 of 5	120	(423) 274-6191
The Rehab Center At Bristol	Bristol, VA	7.0 mi	2 of 5	90	(276) 594-0032
Greystone Health Care Center	Blountville, TN	13 mi	1 of 5	160	(423) 323-7112

Straight-line miles from the center of Bristol. 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 Bristol

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 36% of the $3,696 monthly median income of Bristol 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 Bristol: common questions

Which hospices serve Bristol?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Bristol ZIP codes, including Ballad Health Hospice, Elite Hospice, Ballad Health Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Bristol?

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 36% of the $3,696 monthly median income of Bristol 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 Bristol. 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 Bristol

More senior care near Bristol

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Bristol

More for Bristol 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 Bristol, TN