CNA Home Care in Mena, AR: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Mena, AR: the local picture

2

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

243

certified beds in the 2 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 Mena are The Green House Cottages Of Homewood in Mena (2.2 mi), The Springs Of Waldron in Waldron (23 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).

Mena has about 49 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Mena compared with Polk County and Arkansas

Census figure	Mena	Polk County	Arkansas
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.6%	1.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	53%	41%	40%
Residents 65 or older	21%	23%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	48%	35%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.2%	11%	12%
Households with no vehicle	11%	6.4%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,050	$42,295	—

Older residents in towns around Mena

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Waldron, AR	24 mi	456	46
Heavener, OK	30 mi	426	53
De Queen, AR	38 mi	718	115
Poteau, OK	40 mi	1,451	168
Booneville, AR	43 mi	572	42
Greenwood, AR	43 mi	1,906	225

Nursing homes near Mena

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Green House Cottages Of Homewood	Mena, AR	2.2 mi	5 of 5	138	(479) 394-3511
The Springs Of Waldron	Waldron, AR	23 mi	4 of 5	105	(479) 637-3171

Home health agencies serving Mena

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Angels Care Home Health Vii	Poteau, OK	39 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(918) 647-5100
Elite Home Health	Mena, AR	0.9 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(479) 394-1812
Visiting Nurses Agency	Mena, AR	0.9 mi	not rated	nursing, physical therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(479) 394-5458

Straight-line miles from the center of Mena. 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 Mena

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 32% of the $3,588 monthly median income of Mena 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 Mena: common questions

What nursing homes are near Mena?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are The Green House Cottages Of Homewood in Mena (2.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall); The Springs Of Waldron in Waldron (23 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Mena?

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 32% of the $3,588 monthly median income of Mena 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 Mena

More senior care near Mena

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Mena

More for Mena 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 Mena, AR