Relocation to the Tri-Cities Area (Memphis, Knoxville: rentals, townhomes, neighborhoods)

[Wishpony0168]

I'm currently living in central Florida. My husband died in April and am looking to start with a clean slate so to speak. Things have been really on a downward slope since his death with losing the rental we had the same day he died, his family being very cold to me, what few friends I did have abandoning ship and then Hurricane Irma. So I am in this journey alone trying to figure out my next step which is getting out of this state because the cost of living is too high on my monthly income. So I'm trying to figure out the best area with inexpensive 1 bedroom rentals along with good medical care as I am a type 1 diabetic so I will need a regular doctor as well as an endocrinologist with my Medicare coverage...I'm 53. Any helpful suggestions are appreciative.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by Wishpony0168

I'm currently living in central Florida. My husband died in April and am looking to start with a clean slate so to speak. Things have been really on a downward slope since his death with losing the rental we had the same day he died, his family being very cold to me, what few friends I did have abandoning ship and then Hurricane Irma. So I am in this journey alone trying to figure out my next step which is getting out of this state because the cost of living is too high on my monthly income. So I'm trying to figure out the best area with inexpensive 1 bedroom rentals along with good medical care as I am a type 1 diabetic so I will need a regular doctor as well as an endocrinologist with my Medicare coverage...I'm 53. Any helpful suggestions are appreciative.

Hi,

I am so sorry to hear of your husbands death and the hurricane and your circumstances. My brother is not far off in age from you and also a Type 1 Diabetic. He lives in the Tri Cities and travels to Knoxville for his Endocrinologist. Also, there are more Medicare providers in the Knoxville area. Overall, I believe that Knoxville does a better job with medical care. You can also find affordable housing. I would encourage you to peruse posts in the Knoxville forum.

Good luck to you.

[Wishpony0168]

Thank you...I will also look into Knoxville as well. I appreciate that. I'll have to have input as to what areas are not good to get a rental as well because I don't want to live in a bad area if there are such areas ... I'm used to living in outside of bigger cities with bad neighborhoods.

[Serious Conversation]

I would also look into Knoxville. I live in the Tri-Cities, and while I don't have any significant health issues, those I know who do sometimes have to be treated in Knoxville or elsewhere.

My mother has a blood disorder and is being treated in Knoxville after failing to get into a specialist in a timely manner here. A local professor who is well known throughout the community has some sort of brain cancer, and is being treated partly here, and partly at Duke. A friend of mine's brother sustained severe burns in an auto accident - Knoxville has a burn center and the Tri-Cities does not. He was airlifted there. While routine things can be treated here, sophisticated medical needs can often see one referred out of area.

Also, the two largest health systems in this area are most certainly merging into one entity. It's inevitable some duplicate/redundant services will be consolidated, and things shuffled around a bit. Wise County, VA has three different community hospitals and multiple urgent cares strewn about a rural county of less than 40,000. Some of these facilities will likely be closed or repurposed. If I was not local and had a significant medical concern, I wouldn't even consider moving here until Ballad Health gets up and running and things start to level out.

Knoxville is generally a bit cheaper, on everything from housing to groceries. I have been looking for 2 or 3 BR/2BA townhomes, one level with a drive-in garage. It has been difficult to find anything in the Tri-Cities at all, but Knoxville has many options. When I have found something in the Tri-Cities, it is almost always more expensive, in worse condition, or both.

https://www.trulia.com/property/5029...ville-TN-37912

I also made a grocery list between a Knoxville Kroger I was at on Saturday and stopped at the local Kroger in Kingsport yesterday. Many of the items I bought in Knoxville were unavailable here, and what I could find was no less than 10% more expensive. Some items were nearly 50% more expensive here. PM me if you want the list.

Knoxville is also generally going to have more in the way of job opportunities, better wages, more shopping, etc. I would much rather start over in Knoxville than the Tri-Cities. I'm personally considering moving to Knoxville next spring and commuting/staying with family until I can find as good of a job in Knoxville, rather than continuing to live in the Tri-Cities.

[sprintuser2014]

Honestly you should consider Knoxville instead, the medical care is far better and the cost of living is still very low.

[Wishpony0168]

Well, the people in Knoxville are telling me to check out the Tri Cities to live because it's too expensive to live there so I guess I will just have to keep hunting around and find a town around Knoxville. Don't mind driving into town for appointments (50 miles at most) but need a hospital near just in case.
Thanks for the help.

[Rangerred]

I wouldn't rule out the Tri-Cities yet. A number of posters here have a somewhat dim view of the region and I will say, there are ever-widening gaps between Johnson City and the rest of northeast TN. Regarding healthcare, my family is fairly young without any serious health issues but I have only had positive experiences in my interactions with the healthcare sector in the region. From doctor visits, to minor surgeries, to the birth of my child, everything has been great. My wife and I see a number of specialists, all in Johnson City and there are several to choose from in each specialty. ETSU has a medical school (one of only three in the state and the only one east of Nashville) and places residents in a number of local hospitals. Niswonger Children's Hospital has one of the few St. Jude clinics outside Memphis and also has a Shriner's clinic along with a partnership with Cincinnati Children's.

When it comes down to it, everyone has different needs, expectations, and experiences when it comes to healthcare. Knoxville is a much larger city and metro compared to Johnson City and the Tri-Cities so it makes sense that more medical services and facilities would be located there. However when comparing JC to similar-sized cities and metros it definitely punches above its weight. If you are considering factors in addition to medical care including overall cost of living, convenience, traffic, congestion, scenery, etc. it makes sense to still look at Johnson City along with Knoxville.

[sprintuser2014]

Originally Posted by Wishpony0168

Well, the people in Knoxville are telling me to check out the Tri Cities to live because it's too expensive to live there so I guess I will just have to keep hunting around and find a town around Knoxville. Don't mind driving into town for appointments (50 miles at most) but need a hospital near just in case.
Thanks for the help.

The cost of living in Knoxville isn't that much more expensive than the Tri-Cities and yes you have access to much more including better health care. That being said you could live in a nearby suburb of Knoxville and still be better off. My mom has Lupus and years ago during a bad flare up she also had to be sent to Knoxville for some care. Also another person I know currently has brain cancer and he's been going to Knoxville for some treatments. So yeah it's pretty common if you have some more serious health issues or need a specialist for something that you gotta be sent to Knoxville and for medical treatment that's a pretty far and inconvenient drive.

[Serious Conversation]

I probably should clarify my earlier comments.

Those are a couple of headline cases that I know. The professor with brain cancer and the child with cancer were both fairly public with their problems. My mother was seeing a specialist here, but the delays in appointments made it easier just to go to Knoxville. She goes to a local infusion center for routine treatment, and only to Knoxville to see the physician on rare occasions.

My guess is that least 90% of all medical needs that arise locally can be treated locally. I would say maybe 5% tops, perhaps substantially less, of medical problems in this area are so sophisticated that they need out of area treatment. My grandfather had numerous heart issues for well over twenty years, and I think he got as good of treatment as could be expected. The other grandfather had a heart attack at 75, and was also going through full blown alcohol detox during the heart attack recovery. He survived, and is doing pretty well now at 82. I've had numerous family in local hospitals and I've never seen anything that I view as lacking. While my health is fine and I'm not on any medication or even seeing a doctor regularly, I did have some issues with my wrist from high school sports, a deviated septum, wisdom teeth removal, some acid reflux problems in the past, basic routine stuff, and I always thought I had good treatment. I am not a clinical professional and do not spend a lot of time needing medical care, so I admit I'm no expert here.

I would not rule the area out based on the local healthcare situation. If you have a specific concern, reach out of the local medical systems and see what they offer.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

I probably should clarify my earlier comments.

Those are a couple of headline cases that I know. The professor with brain cancer and the child with cancer were both fairly public with their problems. My mother was seeing a specialist here, but the delays in appointments made it easier just to go to Knoxville. She goes to a local infusion center for routine treatment, and only to Knoxville to see the physician on rare occasions.

My guess is that least 90% of all medical needs that arise locally can be treated locally. I would say maybe 5% tops, perhaps substantially less, of medical problems in this area are so sophisticated that they need out of area treatment. My grandfather had numerous heart issues for well over twenty years, and I think he got as good of treatment as could be expected. The other grandfather had a heart attack at 75, and was also going through full blown alcohol detox during the heart attack recovery. He survived, and is doing pretty well now at 82. I've had numerous family in local hospitals and I've never seen anything that I view as lacking. While my health is fine and I'm not on any medication or even seeing a doctor regularly, I did have some issues with my wrist from high school sports, a deviated septum, wisdom teeth removal, some acid reflux problems in the past, basic routine stuff, and I always thought I had good treatment. I am not a clinical professional and do not spend a lot of time needing medical care, so I admit I'm no expert here.

I would not rule the area out based on the local healthcare situation. If you have a specific concern, reach out of the local medical systems and see what they offer.

That's just it, you're guessing. Those of us who have actually been involved in care of patients know the facts.