Blytheville, Arkansas

Companion Care for Seniors in Blytheville, AR

Conversation, outings, meals together and a steady, friendly presence for an older adult who lives alone or spends long days by themselves. Post what you need in Blytheville for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

A younger woman and an older woman looking at a phone together on a park bench
Local figures

Companion Care in Blytheville, AR: the local picture

2,302
residents 65 or older (18% of Blytheville)
35%
of residents 65+ in households live alone (35% in Mississippi County)
3.9%
of residents 5+ speak a language other than English at home
14%
of households have no vehicle (11% in Mississippi County)

About 783 residents of Blytheville aged 65 or older live alone, 35% of older residents in households (35% in Mississippi County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

14% of Blytheville households have no vehicle (11% in Mississippi County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 2,302 Blytheville residents aged 65 or older, 261 are 85 or older (11%). Before the first visit with someone in that oldest group, ask the family about hearing, eyesight, walking and any memory changes, so the visit is planned around them.

1,049 Blytheville households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 533 rent. A companion visiting a house may also help with mail, light chores and keeping an eye on things; in an apartment building, ask whether visitors sign in.

About 225 older Blytheville residents (10%) live below the poverty line (13% in Mississippi County). For them, Medicaid home and community-based services or the local Area Agency on Aging may cover some companion or homemaker hours, depending on the state program; private pay is not the only route.

About 3.9% of Blytheville residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (428), other Asian and Pacific Island languages (18), other Indo-European languages (8). If the person you care for is more at ease in one of these languages, say so in your posting; many caregivers list the languages they speak.

Blytheville compared with Mississippi County and Arkansas

Census figureBlythevilleMississippi CountyArkansas
Residents 65+ in households who live alone35%35%29%
Residents 65 or older18%16%18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home3.9%4.2%8.3%
Households with no vehicle14%11%5.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)10%13%12%
Residents 65+ with a disability43%46%40%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$49,524$41,458—

Older residents in towns around Blytheville

TownDistanceResidents 65+Live alone (65+)
Gosnell, AR4.1 mi42544%
Manila, AR15 mi55151%
Osceola, AR17 mi88430%
Caruthersville, MO22 mi89431%
Kennett, MO23 mi2,13029%
Ripley, TN25 mi1,06025%

Hospitals near Blytheville (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Great River Medical CenterBlytheville, AR0.9 mi2 of 5(870) 838-7300
South Mississippi County Regional Medical CenterOsceola, AR17 minot rated(870) 563-7000
Pemiscot County Memorial HospitalHayti, MO23 minot rated(573) 359-1372

Straight-line miles from the center of Blytheville. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a companion caregiver can help with

  • Conversation, cards, puzzles and shared hobbies
  • Walks and outings to the park, library or senior center
  • Company at meals, and help preparing them
  • Rides or escort to appointments, church and visits
Cost

What companion care costs in Blytheville

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,127 monthly median income of Blytheville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

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.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a companion caregiver

Isolation is a health risk, not only a mood. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly one in four Americans aged 65 and older living in the community is socially isolated, and linked isolation to higher risks of dementia, heart disease and early death (2020 report).

Questions worth asking: What do you enjoy doing with the people you care for? Are you comfortable driving, and is your car insured for passengers? How do you handle a client who does not want company at first? More in our companion care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Companion Care in Blytheville: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Blytheville?

About 783 residents aged 65 or older, 35% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (35% in Mississippi County).

How much does companion care cost in Blytheville?

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,127 monthly median income of Blytheville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Blytheville?

A companion keeps an older adult company and helps around the visit: conversation, activities, walks, meals, errands, rides and reminders. It suits someone who is mostly independent but lonely, or a family that wants someone to check in on weekdays.

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.

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