Home Health Aides in Alma, AR: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Alma, AR: the local picture

7

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Alma ZIP codes in their service area

$13.30

median hourly wage of home care aides in Arkansas (BLS, May 2025)

782

residents 65 or older (13% of Alma)

38%

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

7 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Alma ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 2 of those list home health aide services. Agency aides are usually part of care a doctor orders. For help beyond those visits, families hire an aide directly.

Home health and personal care aides in Arkansas earn a median $13.30 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $12.61 and $14.06.

Alma has about 782 residents aged 65 or older, 38% of whom report a disability.

Alma compared with Crawford County and Arkansas

Census figure	Alma	Crawford County	Arkansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	40%	40%
Residents 65 or older	13%	18%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.6%	1.8%
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+	65+ with a disability
Van Buren, AR	8.4 mi	4,133	40%
Barling, AR	12 mi	990	42%
Fort Smith, AR	13 mi	14,381	43%
Charleston, AR	17 mi	519	54%
Roland, OK	17 mi	411	58%
Greenwood, AR	19 mi	1,906	48%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Alma

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Adoration Home Health	Van Buren, AR	6.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(479) 474-4892
Kindred At Home 1	Fort Smith, AR	14 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy	(479) 452-0424
Access Home Health	Fort Smith, AR	14 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(479) 441-5850
Elite Home Health	Fort Smith, AR	14 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(479) 435-7194
Mercy Home Health	Rogers, AR	57 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(479) 936-2978
Area Agency On Aging Of Western Arkansas, Inc.	Fort Smith, AR	14 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy	(479) 783-5550
Trinity River Valley Home Health	Russellville, AR	63 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy	(479) 968-4544

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 home health aide can help with

Bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting
Transfers, walking and positioning
Meals and help with eating
Medication reminders

Cost

What home health aides 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 home health aide

Federal rules require home health aides who work for Medicare-certified agencies to complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, or pass a competency evaluation (42 CFR 484.80). Many states add their own requirements.

Questions worth asking: Where did you train, and can I see the certificate? Have you worked for a home health agency? Which transfers and equipment are you trained on? More in our home health aides guide.

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

Questions

Home Health Aides in Alma: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Alma?

Medicare lists 7 certified agencies whose service area includes Alma ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Adoration Home Health (4 of 5), Kindred At Home 1 (4 of 5), Access Home Health (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides 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).

What is the difference between a home health aide and a CNA?

Both are trained in personal care. A certified nursing assistant (CNA) has passed a state exam and is on the state nurse aide registry, and often works in nursing homes and hospitals. A home health aide is trained for care in the home. Neither does skilled nursing.

More near Alma

More senior care near Alma

Home Health Aides 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.

Home Health Aides in Alma, AR