The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Knoxville, TN for 2024

Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in Knoxville, TN, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies 4.3 out of 5 stars across the 37 options below.

While the 2024 Genworth Cost of Care Survey doesn’t list Knoxville's home care rates, seniors calculate the cost of services by reducing home health care rates by 10%. Based on this, the projected monthly home care rate for this city comes to about $4,891, over $1,000 below Tennessee’s median and about $829 less than the national norm. Local rates also compare favorably to fees in Johnson City, where agencies charge around $6,292 for care.

Knoxville seniors pay approximately $4,891 for non medical in-home care. By comparison, those who attend adult day health care facilities pay lower fees of around $1,679. However, seniors who need skilled nursing services pay more for specialized care, with home health care agencies charging higher baseline rates of around $5,434 and nursing home care coming in at approximately $8,410.

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-Term Care Insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living.Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.