Home Care in Tennessee

Home care in Tennessee costs $30 per hour, compared with the national average rate of $32 per hour. Rates can differ by community based on caregiver availability, travel distance, and local demand.^[01] What a family pays will also depend on the agency, the services provided, and how often care is scheduled.

Monthly expenses depend largely on the number and length of caregiver visits. A lighter schedule may provide enough time for companionship, meal preparation, errands, or help around the house. Someone who needs regular assistance with bathing, dressing, mobility, or other personal care may need more frequent visits.

• Part-time care (20 hours/week): $2,529 per month
• Full-time care (44 hours/week): $5,564 per month

Home care rates in Tennessee may also be affected by:

• The type and amount of help your loved one needs
• Specialized support, such as dementia care
• The number and length of visits
• Evening, overnight, weekend, or holiday schedules
• 24-hour or live-in care
• Caregiver experience and training
• The availability of caregivers in the local area
• Agency minimum-hour requirements

Tennessee families may use private funds, public benefits, or a combination to pay for nonmedical home care. Depending on eligibility, VA benefits or TennCare CHOICES may help cover some support delivered at home.

Private pay options

Private pay can give families more control over the agency, schedule, and type of assistance their loved one receives. Families may rely on one payment source or combine several. Common private payment sources include:

• Social Security benefits
• Savings, investments, or pensions
• Long-term care insurance
• Life insurance conversion
• Reverse mortgages

VA benefits

Eligible veterans and surviving spouses in Tennessee may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that help with care at home. Depending on the program, this support may include help with daily activities, temporary relief for family caregivers, or additional pension payments that can be used toward care.

Veterans enrolled in VA health care may qualify for home- and community-based services, including:^[02,03,04]

• Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care, which may provide help with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and other daily activities
• Respite Care, which provides short-term support while giving family caregivers time away from caregiving responsibilities

Eligibility and availability can vary based on the veteran’s needs and local VA resources. Some veterans may also have a copay.

VA Aid and Attendance provides additional monthly pension payments to eligible veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities or are largely confined to their homes. Families may be able to use these funds toward the cost of nonmedical home care.^[05]

The Tennessee Department of Veterans Services and county veterans service offices can help veterans and their families understand benefits, prepare claims, and connect with accredited assistance.^[06]

Read more: Home Care Options for Veterans: Eligibility and Services

Tennessee Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps eligible people pay for health care and long-term services. TennCare is Tennessee’s Medicaid program. Its CHOICES program provides long-term services and supports to adults age 65 and older and adults age 21 and older with physical disabilities who meet medical and financial eligibility requirements. CHOICES Group 2 serves people who qualify for nursing home care but choose services at home, while Group 3 serves people who need support to delay or prevent nursing home care.^[07]

Depending on the member’s group, assessed needs, and approved plan, home- and community-based services may include:^[08]

• Personal care and help with daily activities
• Household tasks and errands related to the member’s needs
• In-home respite care
• Companion care
• Adult day care
• Home-delivered meals
• Personal emergency response systems
• Assistive technology and minor home modifications
• Community transportation

CHOICES members who use Consumer Direction become the employer of their workers and can hire, train, schedule, and supervise them rather than receiving all services through a provider agency. Members may be able to hire family members, friends, neighbors, or other people they know, although program limitations and worker requirements apply.^[07]

Access depends on TennCare financial eligibility, a medical level-of-care assessment, the CHOICES group requirements, and an approved service plan. All services must be medically necessary and authorized before they are provided.^[07,08]

Read more: Medicaid Home Health Care and Nonmedical Home Care: Your Questions, Answered

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. It may cover limited help with bathing, dressing, grooming, or toileting when your loved one is also receiving qualifying skilled care through Medicare’s home health benefit. Medicare generally doesn’t pay for ongoing personal care, companionship, meal preparation, or housekeeping when those are the only services needed.^[09]

Read more: Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?

Tennessee licenses nonmedical personal support services agencies through the Office of Licensure within the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Personal support services include self-care assistance, household assistance, personal assistance, and education services. Home health agencies that provide skilled medical care follow separate requirements. Because A Place for Mom’s network consists of nonmedical home care providers, the information below focuses on personal support services agencies.^[10,11]

Does Tennessee require home care agencies to have a license?

Yes. A company that operates as a personal support services agency must be licensed by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Applicants submit required forms, background-check documentation, financial information, and licensing fees before the Office of Licensure completes its review.^[10,12]

Does Tennessee conduct inspections of home care agencies?

Yes. The Office of Licensure conducts unannounced inspections and follow-up reviews of licensed facilities and services and investigates reports involving licensed or unlicensed providers. Initial reviews for new personal support services agencies are currently completed through an electronic desk audit.^[10,12]

How to check licensing and inspection reports for home care agencies in Tennessee

Use Tennessee’s interactive map or searchable licensed-provider database to confirm that an agency has a current personal support services license. Families can also contact the appropriate regional Office of Licensure to ask questions, file a complaint, or request available information about a provider.^[13] Licensed agencies must meet requirements related to:

• Staff qualifications
• Safety protocols
• Care standards

Some agencies may also seek voluntary accreditation from organizations like The Joint Commission, which can indicate a commitment to meeting nationally recognized quality standards.^[15]

What are hiring practices for home care agencies in Tennessee?

Tennessee requires personal support services agencies to maintain personnel records and complete required caregiver screening. Caregivers must have a criminal background check every two years and within 10 days of employment or certain changes in job duties. Agencies must also check the Tennessee Abuse Registry and Sexual Offender Registry before a caregiver has direct contact with clients, and at least once a year after that.^[14]

Agencies must also make sure caregivers can perform their assigned duties, and caregivers must receive training based on the needs of the people they support and have access to supervision or consultation when needed. ^[14]

When comparing agencies, ask about background checks, reference checks, caregiver training, supervision, backup care, and how the agency handles complaints or missed visits.

Choosing a home care agency is easier when you understand how caregivers are selected, how care will be supervised, and what happens when plans change. Look for a provider that communicates clearly, explains its policies, and can offer the services and schedule your family needs. Consider the following as you compare agencies:

• Verify licensing. Confirm that the provider has a current Tennessee personal support services agency license. A Place for Mom verifies the licensing status of agencies in its network twice each year.
• Review caregiver screening. Ask about criminal background checks, reference checks, and how the agency handles concerns about a caregiver.
• Ask about training. Find out what caregivers learn before working independently and whether they receive ongoing education.
• Read reviews and testimonials. Look for patterns in feedback about reliability, communication, compassion, and caregiver consistency.
• Request clear pricing information. Ask about hourly rates, minimum service requirements, weekend or holiday rates, overnight care, cancellation fees, and additional charges.
• Confirm available services. Make sure the agency can provide the support your loved one needs, such as companionship, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, or dementia care.
• Ask how care is supervised. Find out who manages the care plan, how often supervisors check in, and whom your family should contact if your loved one’s needs change.
• Plan for backup care. Ask what the agency does when a scheduled caregiver is sick, late, or unable to visit.
• Meet potential caregivers. A good personality fit can help your loved one feel more comfortable receiving support at home.

Read more: How to Choose a Home Care Agency