Respite Care in Dunlap, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Dunlap, TN: the local picture

1,354

residents 65 or older (24% of Dunlap)

69%

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

52%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Sequatchie County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Dunlap ZIP codes

Most older adults in Dunlap live with someone: 69% 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 649 Dunlap residents aged 65 or older report a disability (52%) (36% in Sequatchie County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 11 hospices serving Dunlap ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Dunlap compared with Sequatchie County and Tennessee

Census figure	Dunlap	Sequatchie County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	52%	36%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	21%	29%
Residents 65 or older	24%	22%	17%
Residents 85 or older	4.1%	1.8%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.5%	10%	11%
Households with no vehicle	7.1%	4.4%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,625	$53,247	—

Older residents in towns around Dunlap

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Soddy-Daisy, TN	14 mi	2,752	44%
Signal Mountain, TN	16 mi	2,181	26%
Middle Valley, TN	16 mi	2,491	41%
Sale Creek, TN	17 mi	734	58%
Red Bank, TN	18 mi	1,871	47%
Harrison, TN	22 mi	1,559	25%

Hospices serving Dunlap

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hearth Hospice	Chattanooga, TN	23 mi	(423) 531-6555
Gentiva	Chattanooga, TN	23 mi	(423) 892-3737
Hospice Of Chattanooga Holdings, LLC	Chattanooga, TN	27 mi	(423) 892-4289
Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company	Chattanooga, TN	27 mi	(423) 499-0018
Caris Healthcare	Chattanooga, TN	27 mi	(423) 899-4044

Nursing homes near Dunlap (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare, Sequatchie	Dunlap, TN	0.3 mi	5 of 5	110	(423) 949-4651
Soddy-Daisy Health Care Center	Soddy-Daisy, TN	15 mi	3 of 5	134	(423) 332-0060
Ascension Living Alexian Village Tennessee	Signal Mountain, TN	17 mi	1 of 5	114	(423) 886-0100
Life Care Center Of Hixson	Hixson, TN	18 mi	1 of 5	108	(423) 842-0049

Straight-line miles from the center of Dunlap. 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 Dunlap

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 34% of the $3,885 monthly median income of Dunlap 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 Dunlap: common questions

Which hospices serve Dunlap?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Dunlap ZIP codes, including Hearth Hospice, Gentiva, Hospice Of Chattanooga Holdings, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Dunlap?

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 34% of the $3,885 monthly median income of Dunlap 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 Dunlap. 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 Dunlap

More senior care near Dunlap

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Dunlap

More for Dunlap 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 Dunlap, TN