Respite Care in Johnson City, TN for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Johnson City, TN: the local picture

11,382

residents 65 or older (16% of Johnson City)

60%

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

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Washington County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Johnson City ZIP codes

Most older adults in Johnson City 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 4,096 Johnson City residents aged 65 or older report a disability (38%) (39% in Washington County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Johnson City ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Johnson City compared with Washington County and Tennessee

Census figure	Johnson City	Washington County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	39%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	28%	29%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.1%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	11%	11%
Households with no vehicle	7.3%	5.2%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,761	$51,119	—

Older residents in towns around Johnson City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Jonesborough, TN	6.2 mi	1,309	39%
Oak Grove, TN	6.4 mi	1,100	31%
Elizabethton, TN	8.0 mi	2,950	48%
Spurgeon, TN	8.4 mi	755	35%
Unicoi, TN	8.8 mi	844	37%
Colonial Heights, TN	12 mi	703	43%

Hospices serving Johnson City

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Caris Healthcare	Johnson City, TN	2.2 mi	(423) 929-2044
Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company	Elizabethton, TN	10 mi	(423) 547-0852
Ballad Health Hospice	Bristol, TN	19 mi	(423) 844-5252
Caris Healthcare, LP (Abingdon)	Abingdon, VA	31 mi	(276) 494-0465
Smoky Mountain Home Health And Hospice, Inc	Newport, TN	53 mi	(423) 623-0233

Nursing homes near Johnson City (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Agape Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, A Waters Cm	Johnson City, TN	0.3 mi	4 of 5	84	(423) 975-2000
Abundant Christian Living Community Rehabilitation	Johnson City, TN	0.5 mi	5 of 5	103	(423) 928-3168
Princeton Transitional Care & Assisted Living	Johnson City, TN	0.8 mi	5 of 5	47	(423) 975-1800
The Waters Of Johnson City, LLC	Johnson City, TN	1.1 mi	2 of 5	84	(423) 434-2016

Straight-line miles from the center of Johnson City. 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 Johnson City

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 33% of the $4,063 monthly median income of Johnson City 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 Johnson City: common questions

Which hospices serve Johnson City?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Johnson City ZIP codes, including Caris Healthcare, Amedisys Hospice, An Adventa Company, Ballad Health Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Johnson City?

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 33% of the $4,063 monthly median income of Johnson City 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 Johnson City. 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 Johnson City

More senior care near Johnson City

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Johnson City

More for Johnson City 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 Johnson City, TN