Mobility Assistance in Alma, AR: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Alma, AR: the local picture

25%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (26% in Crawford County)

111

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

6.9 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Van Buren)

38%

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

About 180 Alma residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25%; 26% in Crawford County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

111 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving Alma that list physical therapy include Adoration Home Health and Kindred At Home 1; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Alma compared with Crawford County and Arkansas

Census figure	Alma	Crawford County	Arkansas
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	25%	26%	26%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.6%	1.8%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.1%	6.9%	8.5%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	40%	40%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	27%	29%
Households with no vehicle	3.2%	4.2%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$26,549	$44,828	—

Older residents in towns around Alma

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Van Buren, AR	8.4 mi	4,133	30%
Barling, AR	12 mi	990	27%
Fort Smith, AR	13 mi	14,381	31%
Charleston, AR	17 mi	519	47%
Roland, OK	17 mi	411	35%
Greenwood, AR	19 mi	1,906	32%

Home health agencies serving Alma (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

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

Emergency hospitals near Alma

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Baptist Health - Van Buren	Van Buren, AR	6.9 mi	not rated	(479) 474-3401
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith	Fort Smith, AR	14 mi	3 of 5	(479) 314-6000

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 caregiver for mobility help can help with

Steadying walks inside and outside the home
Transfers: bed, chair, toilet, shower and car
Help with walkers, canes and wheelchairs
The home exercises a physical therapist set

Cost

What mobility assistance 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 caregiver for mobility help

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and over 14 million, or 1 in 4, older adults report falling every year (CDC).

Questions worth asking: Which transfers are you trained to do safely? Have you used a gait belt, walker or wheelchair with clients? What would you do if my parent started to fall? More in our mobility assistance guide.

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

Questions

Mobility Assistance in Alma: common questions

How much does mobility assistance 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 does a caregiver do to help with mobility?

Walks beside the person, helps them stand and sit, transfers them to bed, chair, toilet, shower or car, and keeps walkways clear. They do not replace a physical therapist.

More near Alma

More senior care near Alma

Mobility Assistance 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.

Mobility Assistance at Home in Alma, AR