CNA Home Care in Alma, AR: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Alma, AR: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

739

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$13.30

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

$11.00

Arkansas minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Alma are Alma Nursing And Rehab in Alma (1.0 mi), Van Buren Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center in Van Buren (6.8 mi), The Blossoms At Van Buren Rehab And Nursing Center in Van Buren (8.0 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Arkansas earn a median $13.30 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Alma has about 111 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

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+ with a disability	38%	40%	40%
Residents 65 or older	13%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	27%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.4%	8.5%	12%
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+	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

Home health agencies serving Alma

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
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

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 nursing assistant can help with

Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
Safe transfers, repositioning and walking
Help with eating and fluids
Taking and noting vital signs if asked

Cost

What CNAs 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 nursing assistant

To be certified, a nurse aide completes a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and passes a competency exam (42 CFR 483.152). The state then lists them on its nurse aide registry, which you can search online in most states.

Questions worth asking: Which state certified you, and is it current? Where have you worked as a CNA? Are you comfortable with lifts, catheters and incontinence care? More in our nursing assistants guide.

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

Questions

Nursing Assistants 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 CNAs 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).

Can a CNA give medication?

Generally no. A CNA can remind someone to take medication. Giving medication is usually reserved for licensed nurses, or for aides with a separate state medication certification.

More near Alma

More senior care near Alma

Nursing Assistants 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.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in Alma, AR