Companion Care in Gentry, AR: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Gentry, AR: the local picture

686

residents 65 or older (16% of Gentry)

15%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (22% in Benton County)

6.6%

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

2.2%

of households have no vehicle (2.8% in Benton County)

About 104 residents of Gentry aged 65 or older live alone, 15% of older residents in households (22% in Benton County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

2.2% of Gentry households have no vehicle (2.8% in Benton County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 686 Gentry residents aged 65 or older, 7 are 85 or older (1.0%). 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.

314 Gentry households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 72 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 78 older Gentry residents (11%) live below the poverty line (7.9% in Benton 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 6.6% of Gentry residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (110), other Asian and Pacific Island languages (109), German or West Germanic languages (41). 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.

Gentry compared with Benton County and Arkansas

Census figure	Gentry	Benton County	Arkansas
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	22%	29%
Residents 65 or older	16%	14%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.6%	16%	8.3%
Households with no vehicle	2.2%	2.8%	5.9%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	7.9%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	13%	31%	40%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$75,964	$61,303	—

Older residents in towns around Gentry

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Siloam Springs, AR	5.6 mi	1,977	17%
Centerton, AR	13 mi	1,586	29%
Gravette, AR	14 mi	552	34%
Elm Springs, AR	15 mi	414	12%
Cave Springs, AR	15 mi	532	17%
Tontitown, AR	15 mi	1,128	18%

Hospitals near Gentry (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Siloam Springs Regional Hospital	Siloam Springs, AR	5.9 mi	3 of 5	(479) 524-4141
Ozarks Community Hospital Of Gravette	Gravette, AR	11 mi	not rated	(479) 787-5291
Arkansas Children's Northwest, Inc	Springdale, AR	18 mi	not rated	(479) 725-6800

Straight-line miles from the center of Gentry. 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 Gentry

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 18% of the $6,330 monthly median income of Gentry 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 Gentry: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Gentry?

About 104 residents aged 65 or older, 15% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (22% in Benton County).

How much does companion care cost in Gentry?

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 18% of the $6,330 monthly median income of Gentry 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 Gentry?

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 Gentry

More senior care near Gentry

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gentry

More for Gentry 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 Gentry, AR