Live-In Caregivers in Helena-West Helena, AR

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Helena-West Helena, AR: the local picture

170

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

665

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (64%)

61%

of Helena-West Helena homes have 3 or more bedrooms (67% in Phillips County)

$11.00

Arkansas minimum wage per hour

About 170 Helena-West Helena residents are 85 or older. Live-in care is most often arranged for this age group, when help is needed through the day and someone should be close at night.

A live-in caregiver needs a private room. 61% of homes in Helena-West Helena have three or more bedrooms (67% in Phillips County), while 11% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.2 rooms.

Of Helena-West Helena households headed by someone 65 or older, 665 own their home and 376 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 42 owners and 49 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Helena-West Helena compared with Phillips County and Arkansas

Census figure	Helena-West Helena	Phillips County	Arkansas
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.7%	1.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	32%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	46%	40%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	21%	12%
Residents 65 or older	18%	21%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.6%	1.9%	8.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$33,380	$31,843	—

Older residents in towns around Helena-West Helena

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Marianna, AR	19 mi	614	65
Clarksdale, MS	24 mi	2,332	300
Forrest City, AR	35 mi	1,468	149
Senatobia, MS	37 mi	1,295	122
Brinkley, AR	41 mi	648	153
Hernando, MS	42 mi	3,087	217

Emergency hospitals near Helena-West Helena

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Helena Regional Medical Center	Helena, AR	0.6 mi	not rated	(870) 338-5800
Northwest Missississippi Regional Medical Center	Clarksdale, MS	19 mi	3 of 5	(662) 627-3211
Quitman Community Hospital	Marks, MS	27 mi	not rated	(662) 712-2370

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

What it covers

What a live-in caregiver can help with

Help across the day: meals, housekeeping, personal care
Someone in the home overnight if help is needed
Medication reminders and appointment rides
Companionship and a steady routine

Cost

What live-in care costs in Helena-West Helena

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $13.30 an hour (the Arkansas median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $2,882 a month (104% of the $2,782 monthly median income of Helena-West Helena households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $9,682 a month (348% of the $2,782 monthly median income of Helena-West Helena households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. 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 live-in caregiver

Put the arrangement in writing: hours on duty, sleep time, days off, the room and pay (federal rules: DOL Fact Sheet 79B).

Questions worth asking: Have you lived in with a client before, and for how long? What days off and sleep time do you need? How do you handle being woken at night? More in our live-in caregivers guide.

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

Questions

Live-In Caregivers in Helena-West Helena: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Helena-West Helena?

Helena Regional Medical Center in Helena, about 0.6 mi in a straight line from the center of Helena-West Helena (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (870) 338-5800. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Helena-West Helena?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $13.30 an hour (the Arkansas median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $2,882 a month (104% of the $2,782 monthly median income of Helena-West Helena households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $9,682 a month (348% of the $2,782 monthly median income of Helena-West Helena households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Live-in or 24-hour care in Helena-West Helena?

A live-in caregiver sleeps in the home and has protected sleep and break time. 24-hour care uses two or three caregivers in shifts so someone is always awake; in Helena-West Helena it costs more than three times as much a month (see the cost section above). Choose shifts if help is needed several times a night.

More near Helena-West Helena

More senior care near Helena-West Helena

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Helena-West Helena

More for Helena-West Helena 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.