Dementia Care in Alma, AR: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Alma, AR: the local picture

111

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

782

residents 65 or older (13% of Alma)

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Crawford County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Alma has about 111 residents aged 85 or older among 782 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

38% of residents 65 and older report a disability (40% in Crawford County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

44% of older Alma residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

Alma compared with Crawford County and Arkansas

Census figure	Alma	Crawford County	Arkansas
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.6%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	13%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	40%	40%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	27%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.4%	8.5%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.3%	7.3%	8.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$26,549	$44,828	—

Older residents in towns around Alma

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Van Buren, AR	8.4 mi	4,133	343
Barling, AR	12 mi	990	104
Fort Smith, AR	13 mi	14,381	1,843
Charleston, AR	17 mi	519	122
Roland, OK	17 mi	411	60
Greenwood, AR	19 mi	1,906	225

Nursing homes near Alma

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Alma Nursing And Rehab	Alma, AR	1.0 mi	1 of 5	105	(479) 632-4343
Van Buren Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Van Buren, AR	6.8 mi	5 of 5	140	(479) 474-8021
The Blossoms At Van Buren Rehab And Nursing Center	Van Buren, AR	8.0 mi	1 of 5	129	(479) 474-6885
Valley Springs Rehabilitation And Health Center	Van Buren, AR	8.7 mi	4 of 5	105	(479) 474-5276
Legacy Health And Rehabilitation Center	Fort Smith, AR	11 mi	2 of 5	115	(479) 783-3101
Methodist Health And Rehab	Fort Smith, AR	12 mi	3 of 5	145	(479) 452-1611

Hospices serving Alma

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mercy Hospice	Fort Smith, AR	14 mi	(479) 314-1150
Heart Of Hospice, LLC	Fort Smith, AR	14 mi	(479) 494-0100
Area Agency On Aging Of Western Arkansas Inc	Fort Smith, AR	14 mi	(479) 783-5550
Elara Caring Xi	Sallisaw, OK	32 mi	(918) 775-9500

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

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in Alma

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 52% of the $2,212 monthly median income of Alma 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 dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

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

Questions

Dementia Care in Alma: common questions

What nursing homes are near Alma?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Alma Nursing And Rehab in Alma (1.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Van Buren Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center in Van Buren (6.8 mi, 5 of 5 overall); The Blossoms At Van Buren Rehab And Nursing Center in Van Buren (8.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Alma?

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 52% of the $2,212 monthly median income of Alma 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).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near Alma

More senior care near Alma

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Alma

More for Alma 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.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Alma, AR