Respite Care in Morristown, TN: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Morristown, TN: the local picture

5,184

residents 65 or older (16% of Morristown)

62%

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

50%

of residents 65+ report a disability (47% in Hamblen County)

11

Medicare-certified hospices serve Morristown ZIP codes

Most older adults in Morristown live with someone: 62% 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 2,480 Morristown residents aged 65 or older report a disability (50%) (47% in Hamblen County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Morristown compared with Hamblen County and Tennessee

Census figure	Morristown	Hamblen County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	50%	47%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	29%	29%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.7%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	14%	11%
Households with no vehicle	7.5%	4.9%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,278	$41,235	—

Older residents in towns around Morristown

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
White Pine, TN	7.2 mi	387	43%
Bean Station, TN	9.3 mi	712	53%
Jefferson City, TN	12 mi	1,096	43%
Dandridge, TN	14 mi	814	41%
Newport, TN	18 mi	1,289	54%
Mosheim, TN	19 mi	455	60%

Hospices serving Morristown

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
University Of TN Medical Center Home Care Services	Morristown, TN	1.6 mi	(423) 586-7858
Smoky Mountain Home Health And Hospice, Inc	Newport, TN	18 mi	(423) 623-0233
Beacon Hospice	New Tazewell, TN	25 mi	(423) 626-1755
Amedisys Hospice An Adventa Company	Knoxville, TN	36 mi	(865) 689-7123
Covenant Hospice	Knoxville, TN	44 mi	(865) 374-0600

Nursing homes near Morristown (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Heritage Center	Morristown, TN	1.0 mi	3 of 5	197	(423) 581-5100
Life Care Center Of Morristown	Morristown, TN	2.0 mi	5 of 5	161	(423) 581-5435
Jefferson Park At White Pine	White Pine, TN	10 mi	4 of 5	30	(865) 327-4100
Life Care Center Of Jefferson City	Jefferson City, TN	13 mi	3 of 5	121	(865) 475-6097

Straight-line miles from the center of Morristown. 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 Morristown

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 43% of the $3,107 monthly median income of Morristown 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 Morristown: common questions

Which hospices serve Morristown?

Medicare lists 11 hospices for Morristown ZIP codes, including University Of TN Medical Center Home Care Services, Smoky Mountain Home Health And Hospice, Inc, Beacon Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Morristown?

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 43% of the $3,107 monthly median income of Morristown 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 Morristown. 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 Morristown

More senior care near Morristown

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Morristown

More for Morristown 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 Morristown, TN