Respite Care in Knoxville, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Knoxville, TN: the local picture

28,120

residents 65 or older (14% of Knoxville)

58%

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

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Knox County)

16

Medicare-certified hospices serve Knoxville ZIP codes

Most older adults in Knoxville live with someone: 58% 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 9,860 Knoxville residents aged 65 or older report a disability (36%) (32% in Knox County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 16 hospices serving Knoxville ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Knoxville compared with Knox County and Tennessee

Census figure	Knoxville	Knox County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	32%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	30%	29%
Residents 65 or older	14%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.7%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	9.5%	11%
Households with no vehicle	9.1%	5.3%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,720	$56,033	—

Older residents in towns around Knoxville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Powell, TN	6.4 mi	2,329	34%
Halls, TN	7.7 mi	2,785	28%
Karns, TN	9.0 mi	798	35%
Alcoa, TN	11 mi	2,276	25%
Louisville, TN	12 mi	1,059	32%
Seymour, TN	12 mi	2,935	47%

Hospices serving Knoxville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
University Of TN Medical Center Home Care Services -Knoxville TN	Knoxville, TN	2.7 mi	(865) 544-6222
Covenant Hospice	Knoxville, TN	4.5 mi	(865) 374-0600
Suncrest Hospice	Knoxville, TN	4.5 mi	(865) 925-5500
Amedisys Hospice An Adventa Company	Knoxville, TN	5.7 mi	(865) 689-7123
Shalom Hospice Of Greater Knoxville LLC	Knoxville, TN	7.6 mi	(865) 551-7001

Nursing homes near Knoxville (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare, Ft Sanders	Knoxville, TN	1.0 mi	3 of 5	160	(865) 525-4131
Fort Sanders Tcu	Knoxville, TN	1.2 mi	4 of 5	24	(865) 541-1111
Nhc Healthcare, Knoxville	Knoxville, TN	1.8 mi	3 of 5	127	(865) 524-7366
Creekview Health And Rehabilitation	Knoxville, TN	2.5 mi	2 of 5	91	(865) 686-7300

Straight-line miles from the center of Knoxville. 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 Knoxville

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 $3,393 monthly median income of Knoxville 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 Knoxville: common questions

Which hospices serve Knoxville?

Medicare lists 16 hospices for Knoxville ZIP codes, including University Of TN Medical Center Home Care Services -Knoxville TN, Covenant Hospice, Suncrest Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Knoxville?

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 $3,393 monthly median income of Knoxville 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 Knoxville. 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 Knoxville

More senior care near Knoxville

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Knoxville

More for Knoxville 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 Knoxville, TN