Respite Care in Brinkley, AR: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Brinkley, AR: the local picture

648

residents 65 or older (25% of Brinkley)

56%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

57%

of residents 65+ report a disability (54% in Monroe County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Brinkley ZIP codes

Most older adults in Brinkley live with someone: 56% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 351 Brinkley residents aged 65 or older report a disability (57%) (54% in Monroe County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 6 hospices serving Brinkley ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Brinkley compared with Monroe County and Arkansas

Census figure	Brinkley	Monroe County	Arkansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	57%	54%	40%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	38%	29%
Residents 65 or older	25%	23%	18%
Residents 85 or older	5.9%	3.9%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	18%	12%
Households with no vehicle	19%	14%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,532	$29,401	—

Older residents in towns around Brinkley

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Forrest City, AR	24 mi	1,468	45%
Marianna, AR	25 mi	614	39%
Wynne, AR	33 mi	1,332	36%
Stuttgart, AR	34 mi	1,315	54%
Bald Knob, AR	36 mi	400	54%
Searcy, AR	39 mi	3,936	38%

Hospices serving Brinkley

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva	Forrest City, AR	24 mi	(870) 494-8067
Elite Hospice	Forrest City, AR	24 mi	(870) 633-4613
Arkansas Hospice Inc	North Little Rock, AR	59 mi	(501) 748-3333
Hospice Home Care Of Pine Bluff PLLC	White Hall, AR	67 mi	(870) 540-0727
Hospice Home Care LLC	Little Rock, AR	71 mi	(501) 296-9043

Nursing homes near Brinkley (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Springs Of Brinkley	Brinkley, AR	1.1 mi	1 of 5	116	(870) 734-3636
Des Arc Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Des Arc, AR	20 mi	5 of 5	98	(870) 256-4194
Maple Healthcare	Hazen, AR	23 mi	2 of 5	70	(870) 255-4323
Crestpark Marianna, L L C	Marianna, AR	25 mi	5 of 5	80	(870) 295-3466

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

What it covers

What a respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite care costs in Brinkley

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 50% of the $2,294 monthly median income of Brinkley 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 respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

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

Questions

Respite Care in Brinkley: common questions

Which hospices serve Brinkley?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Brinkley ZIP codes, including Gentiva, Elite Hospice, Arkansas Hospice Inc.

How much does respite care cost in Brinkley?

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 50% of the $2,294 monthly median income of Brinkley 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).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Brinkley. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Arkansas.

More near Brinkley

More senior care near Brinkley

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Brinkley

More for Brinkley 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.

Respite Care in Brinkley, AR