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

Local figures

Respite Care in Oak Ridge, TN: the local picture

6,408

residents 65 or older (20% of Oak Ridge)

65%

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

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (42% in Anderson County)

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Oak Ridge ZIP codes

Most older adults in Oak Ridge 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 2,283 Oak Ridge residents aged 65 or older report a disability (37%) (42% in Anderson County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 9 hospices serving Oak Ridge ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Oak Ridge compared with Anderson County and Tennessee

Census figure	Oak Ridge	Anderson County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	42%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	29%	29%
Residents 65 or older	20%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.2%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.0%	13%	11%
Households with no vehicle	5.1%	5.6%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,434	$52,388	—

Older residents in towns around Oak Ridge

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Oliver Springs, TN	5.5 mi	793	64%
Farragut, TN	8.8 mi	5,514	27%
Coalfield, TN	9.3 mi	483	54%
Karns, TN	10 mi	798	35%
Lenoir City, TN	10 mi	2,332	36%
Clinton, TN	13 mi	2,368	45%

Hospices serving Oak Ridge

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Caris Healthcare	Knoxville, TN	9.7 mi	(865) 694-4988
Shalom Hospice Of Greater Knoxville LLC	Knoxville, TN	12 mi	(865) 551-7001
Covenant Hospice	Knoxville, TN	15 mi	(865) 374-0600
Suncrest Hospice	Knoxville, TN	15 mi	(865) 925-5500
University Of TN Medical Center Home Care Services -Knoxville TN	Knoxville, TN	21 mi	(865) 544-6222

Nursing homes near Oak Ridge (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare, Oak Ridge	Oak Ridge, TN	4.8 mi	4 of 5	128	(865) 482-7698
Diversicare Of Oak Ridge	Oak Ridge, TN	5.1 mi	1 of 5	120	(865) 481-3367
Senator Ben Atchley State Veterans' Home	Knoxville, TN	9.9 mi	5 of 5	140	(865) 862-8100
Nhc Healthcare, Farragut	Knoxville, TN	12 mi	5 of 5	106	(865) 777-4000

Straight-line miles from the center of Oak 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 Oak 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 24% of the $5,536 monthly median income of Oak 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 Oak Ridge: common questions

Which hospices serve Oak Ridge?

Medicare lists 9 hospices for Oak Ridge ZIP codes, including Caris Healthcare, Shalom Hospice Of Greater Knoxville LLC, Covenant Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Oak 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 24% of the $5,536 monthly median income of Oak 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 Oak 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 Oak Ridge

More senior care near Oak Ridge

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Oak Ridge

More for Oak 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 Oak Ridge, TN