CNA Home Care in Barling, AR: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Barling, AR: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

708

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 Barling are Ashton Place Health And Rehab, LLC in Barling (2.3 mi), Methodist Health And Rehab in Fort Smith (4.8 mi), Chapel Ridge Health And Rehab in Fort Smith (6.5 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).

Barling has about 104 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Barling compared with Sebastian County and Arkansas

Census figure	Barling	Sebastian County	Arkansas
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.2%	1.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	44%	40%
Residents 65 or older	20%	17%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	0.5%	6.0%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,283	$44,729	—

Older residents in towns around Barling

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Fort Smith, AR	5.5 mi	14,381	1,843
Greenwood, AR	8.5 mi	1,906	225
Van Buren, AR	9.4 mi	4,133	343
Alma, AR	12 mi	782	111
Pocola, OK	12 mi	924	81
Charleston, AR	13 mi	519	122

Nursing homes near Barling

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ashton Place Health And Rehab, LLC	Barling, AR	2.3 mi	4 of 5	122	(479) 452-8181
Methodist Health And Rehab	Fort Smith, AR	4.8 mi	3 of 5	145	(479) 452-1611
Chapel Ridge Health And Rehab	Fort Smith, AR	6.5 mi	4 of 5	74	(479) 452-1541
Covington Court Health And Rehabilitation Center	Fort Smith, AR	6.7 mi	5 of 5	140	(479) 646-5700
Brooken Hill Health And Rehab, LLC	Fort Smith, AR	6.8 mi	3 of 5	125	(479) 409-2450
Fianna Hills Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Fort Smith, AR	7.6 mi	3 of 5	102	(479) 648-9600

Home health agencies serving Barling

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elite Home Health	Fort Smith, AR	8.0 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	68 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 Barling. 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 Barling

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 38% of the $3,024 monthly median income of Barling 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 Barling: common questions

What nursing homes are near Barling?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Ashton Place Health And Rehab, LLC in Barling (2.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Methodist Health And Rehab in Fort Smith (4.8 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Chapel Ridge Health And Rehab in Fort Smith (6.5 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Barling?

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 38% of the $3,024 monthly median income of Barling 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 Barling

More senior care near Barling

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Barling

More for Barling 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 Barling, AR