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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Mena, AR: the local picture

49

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

1,166

residents 65 or older (21% of Mena)

53%

of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Polk County)

2

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Mena has about 49 residents aged 85 or older among 1,166 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.

53% of residents 65 and older report a disability (41% in Polk County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

48% of older Mena 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.

Mena compared with Polk County and Arkansas

Census figure	Mena	Polk County	Arkansas
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.6%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	21%	23%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	53%	41%	40%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	48%	35%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.2%	11%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.3%	5.4%	8.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,050	$42,295	—

Older residents in towns around Mena

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Waldron, AR	24 mi	456	46
Heavener, OK	30 mi	426	53
De Queen, AR	38 mi	718	115
Poteau, OK	40 mi	1,451	168
Booneville, AR	43 mi	572	42
Greenwood, AR	43 mi	1,906	225

Nursing homes near Mena

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Green House Cottages Of Homewood	Mena, AR	2.2 mi	5 of 5	138	(479) 394-3511
The Springs Of Waldron	Waldron, AR	23 mi	4 of 5	105	(479) 637-3171

Hospices serving Mena

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Elite Hospice	Mena, AR	0.9 mi	(479) 394-1134
Visiting Nurses Agency Of Western Arkansas Inc	Mena, AR	0.9 mi	(479) 394-5458
Mercy Hospice	Fort Smith, AR	53 mi	(479) 314-1150
Gentiva	Hot Springs, AR	73 mi	(501) 781-4033

Straight-line miles from the center of Mena. 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 Mena

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 32% of the $3,588 monthly median income of Mena 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 Mena: common questions

What nursing homes are near Mena?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are The Green House Cottages Of Homewood in Mena (2.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall); The Springs Of Waldron in Waldron (23 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Mena?

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 32% of the $3,588 monthly median income of Mena 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 Mena

More senior care near Mena

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Mena

More for Mena 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 Mena, AR