In-Home Personal Care in Walnut Ridge, AR

Local figures

Personal Care in Walnut Ridge, AR: the local picture

14%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (12% in Lawrence County)

32%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (37% in Lawrence County)

193

residents 85 or older (3.6% of all residents)

8

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Walnut Ridge ZIP codes in their service area

About 123 Walnut Ridge residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (14%; 12% in Lawrence County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

284 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (32%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

193 of the 1,020 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Walnut Ridge compared with Lawrence County and Arkansas

Census figure	Walnut Ridge	Lawrence County	Arkansas
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	12%	8.5%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	32%	37%	26%
Residents 85 or older	3.6%	2.7%	1.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	53%	56%	40%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	33%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	17%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$25,152	$30,740	—

Older residents in towns around Walnut Ridge

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Hoxie, AR	3.7 mi	494	16%
Pocahontas, AR	12 mi	1,408	10%
Bono, AR	15 mi	172	21%
Jonesboro, AR	24 mi	11,363	9.3%
Paragould, AR	24 mi	4,624	8.6%
Brookland, AR	25 mi	302	3.3%

Home health agencies with aides serving Walnut Ridge

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Approve Home Medical Services	Batesville, AR	44 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 822-8232
Adoration Home Health	Batesville, AR	44 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(502) 630-7138
St Bernards Home Care	Jonesboro, AR	22 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(870) 207-7400
Elite Home Health	Jonesboro, AR	22 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(870) 520-6034
AR Meth Med Ctr Hh	Paragould, AR	25 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(870) 239-7152
Five Rivers Medical Center Home Health	Pocahontas, AR	14 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(870) 892-6070

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

What it covers

What a personal care aide can help with

Bathing or showering, with a shower chair if needed
Dressing and undressing
Toileting and incontinence care
Grooming: hair, shaving and oral care

Cost

What personal care costs in Walnut Ridge

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 55% of the $2,096 monthly median income of Walnut Ridge 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 personal care aide

The Census Bureau asks whether a person has difficulty dressing or bathing, which it calls a self-care difficulty; it is the clearest sign that someone needs personal care. Medicare does not pay for personal care when it is the only care needed (Medicare.gov), but many state Medicaid programs do for people who qualify.

Questions worth asking: How do you protect a client’s dignity during bathing and toileting? Are you trained in safe transfers? Can you keep the same morning or evening hours each day? More in our personal care guide.

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

Questions

Personal Care in Walnut Ridge: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Walnut Ridge?

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 55% of the $2,096 monthly median income of Walnut Ridge 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 is the difference between personal care and companion care?

Companion care is company and help around the house. Personal care is hands-on help with the body: bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming. Many caregivers offer both; say in your posting which you need.

More near Walnut Ridge

More senior care near Walnut Ridge

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Walnut Ridge

More for Walnut Ridge 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.