Companion Care in Forrest City, AR for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in Forrest City, AR: the local picture

1,468

residents 65 or older (12% of Forrest City)

42%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (31% in St. Francis County)

4.3%

of residents 5+ speak a language other than English at home

18%

of households have no vehicle (13% in St. Francis County)

About 563 residents of Forrest City aged 65 or older live alone, 42% of older residents in households (31% in St. Francis County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

18% of Forrest City households have no vehicle (13% in St. Francis County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 1,468 Forrest City residents aged 65 or older, 149 are 85 or older (10%). 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.

625 Forrest City households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 295 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 335 older Forrest City residents (25%) live below the poverty line (20% in St. Francis 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 4.3% of Forrest City residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (379), German or West Germanic languages (89), French, Haitian or Cajun (17). 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.

Forrest City compared with St. Francis County and Arkansas

Census figure	Forrest City	St. Francis County	Arkansas
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	31%	29%
Residents 65 or older	12%	18%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.3%	2.8%	8.3%
Households with no vehicle	18%	13%	5.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	20%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	43%	40%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,889	$35,293	—

Older residents in towns around Forrest City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Wynne, AR	15 mi	1,332	39%
Marianna, AR	17 mi	614	36%
Brinkley, AR	24 mi	648	44%
Helena-West Helena, AR	35 mi	1,622	33%
West Memphis, AR	35 mi	3,648	36%
Marion, AR	36 mi	1,714	20%

Hospitals near Forrest City (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Forrest City Medical Center	Forrest City, AR	0.4 mi	not rated	(870) 261-0000
Crossridge Community Hospital	Wynne, AR	15 mi	not rated	(870) 238-3300
Helena Regional Medical Center	Helena, AR	35 mi	not rated	(870) 338-5800

Straight-line miles from the center of Forrest City. 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 Forrest City

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 50% of the $2,324 monthly median income of Forrest City 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 Forrest City: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Forrest City?

About 563 residents aged 65 or older, 42% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (31% in St. Francis County).

How much does companion care cost in Forrest City?

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 50% of the $2,324 monthly median income of Forrest City 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 Forrest City?

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.

More near Forrest City

More senior care near Forrest City

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Forrest City

More for Forrest City families

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.

Companion Care for Seniors in Forrest City, AR