Respite Care in Erwin, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Erwin, TN: the local picture

1,357

residents 65 or older (23% of Erwin)

65%

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

62%

of residents 65+ report a disability (44% in Unicoi County)

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Erwin ZIP codes

Most older adults in Erwin live with someone: 65% 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 772 Erwin residents aged 65 or older report a disability (62%) (44% in Unicoi County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Erwin ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Erwin compared with Unicoi County and Tennessee

Census figure	Erwin	Unicoi County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	62%	44%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	29%	29%
Residents 65 or older	23%	24%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	2.6%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	13%	11%
Households with no vehicle	7.5%	4.0%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$24,623	$40,673	—

Older residents in towns around Erwin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Unicoi, TN	7.0 mi	844	37%
Jonesborough, TN	11 mi	1,309	39%
Johnson City, TN	14 mi	11,382	38%
Elizabethton, TN	17 mi	2,950	48%
Tusculum, TN	19 mi	744	31%
Oak Grove, TN	19 mi	1,100	31%

Hospices serving Erwin

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Caris Healthcare	Johnson City, TN	12 mi	(423) 929-2044
Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company	Elizabethton, TN	18 mi	(423) 547-0852
Ballad Health Hospice	Bristol, TN	32 mi	(423) 844-5252
Gentiva	Nashville, TN	248 mi	(615) 889-5995

Nursing homes near Erwin (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Christian Care Center Of Unicoi County	Erwin, TN	0.9 mi	4 of 5	50	(423) 743-3141
Center On Aging And Health	Erwin, TN	1.0 mi	3 of 5	120	(423) 743-7669
Erwin Health Care Center	Erwin, TN	1.7 mi	2 of 5	125	(423) 743-4131
Four Oaks Health Care Center	Jonesborough, TN	11 mi	4 of 5	84	(423) 753-8711

Straight-line miles from the center of Erwin. 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 Erwin

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 65% of the $2,052 monthly median income of Erwin 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 Erwin: common questions

Which hospices serve Erwin?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Erwin ZIP codes, including Caris Healthcare, Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company, Ballad Health Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Erwin?

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 65% of the $2,052 monthly median income of Erwin 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 Erwin. 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 Erwin

More senior care near Erwin

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Erwin

More for Erwin 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 Erwin, TN