Respite Care in Mena, AR: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Mena, AR: the local picture

1,166

residents 65 or older (21% of Mena)

52%

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

53%

of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Polk County)

6

Medicare-certified hospices serve Mena ZIP codes

Most older adults in Mena live with someone: 52% 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 566 Mena residents aged 65 or older report a disability (53%) (41% in Polk County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

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

Mena compared with Polk County and Arkansas

Census figure	Mena	Polk County	Arkansas
Residents 65+ with a disability	53%	41%	40%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	48%	35%	29%
Residents 65 or older	21%	23%	18%
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.6%	1.8%
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+	65+ with a disability
Waldron, AR	24 mi	456	44%
Heavener, OK	30 mi	426	44%
De Queen, AR	38 mi	718	71%
Poteau, OK	40 mi	1,451	43%
Booneville, AR	43 mi	572	56%
Greenwood, AR	43 mi	1,906	48%

Hospices serving Mena

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Elite Hospice	Mena, AR	0.9 mi	(479) 394-1134
Visiting Nurses Agency Of Western Arkansas Inc	Mena, AR	0.9 mi	(479) 394-5458
Mercy Hospice	Fort Smith, AR	53 mi	(479) 314-1150
Gentiva	Hot Springs, AR	73 mi	(501) 781-4033
Dierksen Memorial Hospice	Texarkana, AR	82 mi	(903) 793-6464

Nursing homes near Mena (ask about short stays)

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

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 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 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 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 Mena: common questions

Which hospices serve Mena?

Medicare lists 6 hospices for Mena ZIP codes, including Elite Hospice, Visiting Nurses Agency Of Western Arkansas Inc, Mercy Hospice.

How much does respite care 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).

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 Mena. 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 Mena

More senior care near Mena

Respite Care 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.

Respite Care in Mena, AR