Respite Care in Pigeon Forge, TN for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Pigeon Forge, TN: the local picture

1,009

residents 65 or older (16% of Pigeon Forge)

69%

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

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Sevier County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Pigeon Forge ZIP codes

Most older adults in Pigeon Forge live with someone: 69% 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 391 Pigeon Forge residents aged 65 or older report a disability (41%) (36% in Sevier County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Pigeon Forge ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Pigeon Forge compared with Sevier County and Tennessee

Census figure	Pigeon Forge	Sevier County	Tennessee
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	36%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	23%	29%
Residents 65 or older	16%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.8%	1.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.9%	11%	11%
Households with no vehicle	4.1%	4.1%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,673	$54,415	—

Older residents in towns around Pigeon Forge

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Gatlinburg, TN	6.4 mi	838	38%
Sevierville, TN	6.4 mi	3,392	38%
Seymour, TN	13 mi	2,935	47%
Dandridge, TN	18 mi	814	41%
Strawberry Plains, TN	19 mi	466	35%
Eagleton Village, TN	21 mi	1,219	32%

Hospices serving Pigeon Forge

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Smoky Mountain Home Health And Hospice, Inc	Newport, TN	23 mi	(423) 623-0233
University Of TN Medical Center Home Care Services -Knoxville TN	Knoxville, TN	24 mi	(865) 544-6222
Amedisys Hospice An Adventa Company	Knoxville, TN	27 mi	(865) 689-7123
Covenant Hospice	Knoxville, TN	28 mi	(865) 374-0600
Shalom Hospice Of Greater Knoxville LLC	Knoxville, TN	30 mi	(865) 551-7001

Nursing homes near Pigeon Forge (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Smoky Mountain Health And Rehabilitation Center	Pigeon Forge, TN	0.9 mi	1 of 5	120	(865) 428-5454
Sevierville Health And Rehabilitation Center	Sevierville, TN	5.3 mi	4 of 5	98	(865) 453-4747
Jefferson County Nursing Home	Dandridge, TN	18 mi	3 of 5	160	(865) 397-3163
Asbury Place At Maryville	Maryville, TN	20 mi	1 of 5	181	(865) 984-1660

Straight-line miles from the center of Pigeon Forge. 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 Pigeon Forge

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 32% of the $4,223 monthly median income of Pigeon Forge 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 Pigeon Forge: common questions

Which hospices serve Pigeon Forge?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Pigeon Forge ZIP codes, including Smoky Mountain Home Health And Hospice, Inc, University Of TN Medical Center Home Care Services -Knoxville TN, Amedisys Hospice An Adventa Company.

How much does respite care cost in Pigeon Forge?

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 32% of the $4,223 monthly median income of Pigeon Forge 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 Pigeon Forge. 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 Pigeon Forge

More senior care near Pigeon Forge

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pigeon Forge

More for Pigeon Forge 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 Pigeon Forge, TN