Respite Care in East Ridge, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in East Ridge, TN: the local picture

4,078

residents 65 or older (18% of East Ridge)

67%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Hamilton County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve East Ridge ZIP codes

Most older adults in East Ridge live with someone: 67% 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 1,505 East Ridge residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (33% in Hamilton County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

East Ridge compared with Hamilton County and Tennessee

Census figure	East Ridge	Hamilton County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	33%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	29%	29%
Residents 65 or older	18%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.0%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	9.4%	11%
Households with no vehicle	6.1%	5.8%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,905	$56,058	—

Older residents in towns around East Ridge

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Lakeview, GA	2.0 mi	897	38%
Rossville, GA	3.8 mi	784	56%
Fort Oglethorpe, GA	4.6 mi	2,805	48%
Chattanooga, TN	4.9 mi	32,190	34%
Fairview, GA	6.0 mi	1,165	38%
Chattanooga Valley, GA	8.2 mi	804	34%

Hospices serving East Ridge

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hearth Hospice	Fort Oglethorpe, GA	3.3 mi	(706) 866-9854
Hospice Of Chattanooga Holdings, LLC	Chattanooga, TN	5.1 mi	(423) 892-4289
Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company	Chattanooga, TN	5.1 mi	(423) 499-0018
Caris Healthcare	Chattanooga, TN	5.1 mi	(423) 899-4044
Gentiva	Chattanooga, TN	5.1 mi	(423) 892-3737

Nursing homes near East Ridge (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Life Care Center Of East Ridge	Chattanooga, TN	1.3 mi	3 of 5	108	(423) 894-1254
Pruitthealth - Fort Oglethorpe	Fort Oglethorpe, GA	3.2 mi	3 of 5	120	(706) 861-5154
Nhc Healthcare, Chattanooga	Chattanooga, TN	3.4 mi	4 of 5	200	(423) 624-1533
Nhc Healthcare Ft Oglethorpe	Fort Oglethorpe, GA	3.6 mi	5 of 5	135	(706) 866-7700

Straight-line miles from the center of East Ridge. 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 East Ridge

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 39% of the $3,409 monthly median income of East Ridge 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 East Ridge: common questions

Which hospices serve East Ridge?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for East Ridge ZIP codes, including Hearth Hospice, Hospice Of Chattanooga Holdings, LLC, Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company.

How much does respite care cost in East Ridge?

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 39% of the $3,409 monthly median income of East Ridge 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 East Ridge. 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 East Ridge

More senior care near East Ridge

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in East Ridge

More for East Ridge 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 East Ridge, TN