Senior Transportation and Escorted Rides in Varnell, GA

About 70 Varnell households, 8.2%, have no vehicle (6.1% in Whitfield County). The Census figure covers all ages, but older adults who stop driving are a large part of it.

Hospitals with an emergency department near Varnell: Commonspirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia in Ringgold (11 mi); Affiliate Of Vitruvian Health in Cleveland (17 mi); Parkridge Medical Center in Chattanooga (20 mi). Distances are straight-line, so allow more on the road.

36% of residents 65 and older report a disability. If walking is hard, look for a caregiver who is comfortable with walkers and car transfers, not only a driver.

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,388 monthly median income of Varnell households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.