Stroke Recovery Care in Fort Smith, AR: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Fort Smith, AR: the local picture

0.6 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Fort Smith)

31%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (31% in Sebastian County)

13%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (11% in Sebastian County)

10

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Fort Smith ZIP codes in their service area

Hospitals with an emergency department near Fort Smith: Mercy Hospital Fort Smith in Fort Smith (0.6 mi); Baptist Health - Fort Smith in Fort Smith (2.5 mi); Baptist Health - Van Buren in Van Buren (7.6 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

1,765 Fort Smith residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (13%; 11% in Sebastian County), and 4,261 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Fort Smith compared with Sebastian County and Arkansas

Census figure	Fort Smith	Sebastian County	Arkansas
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	11%	8.5%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	31%	31%	26%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	13%	11%	9.9%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	28%	29%
Households with no vehicle	7.6%	6.0%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,235	$44,729	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Smith

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Barling, AR	5.5 mi	990	20%
Van Buren, AR	7.1 mi	4,133	5.7%
Pocola, OK	8.7 mi	924	15%
Roland, OK	8.9 mi	411	14%
Greenwood, AR	12 mi	1,906	9.7%
Alma, AR	13 mi	782	5.1%

Hospitals near Fort Smith

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith	Fort Smith, AR	0.6 mi	3 of 5	(479) 314-6000
Baptist Health - Fort Smith	Fort Smith, AR	2.5 mi	2 of 5	(479) 441-4000
Baptist Health - Van Buren	Van Buren, AR	7.6 mi	not rated	(479) 474-3401
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center	Poteau, OK	24 mi	4 of 5	(918) 647-8167

Home health agencies serving Fort Smith

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Kindred At Home 1	Fort Smith, AR	0.6 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy	(479) 452-0424
Adoration Home Health	Van Buren, AR	7.6 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(479) 474-4892
The Home Health Team	Richardson, TX	213 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(214) 613-0400
Access Home Health	Fort Smith, AR	0.6 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(479) 441-5850
Elite Home Health	Fort Smith, AR	2.5 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(479) 435-7194

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

What it covers

What a caregiver for stroke recovery can help with

Help with bathing, dressing and meals
Safe walking and transfers
Rides to rehabilitation and follow-up appointments
Practising the exercises therapists set

Cost

What stroke recovery support costs in Fort Smith

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 31% of the $3,686 monthly median income of Fort Smith 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 caregiver for stroke recovery

More than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke every year, about 610,000 of them for the first time (CDC). Many go home to recover.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone after a stroke? How do you help with one-sided weakness during transfers? Can you drive to rehabilitation appointments? More in our stroke recovery support guide.

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

Questions

Stroke Recovery Support in Fort Smith: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Fort Smith?

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 31% of the $3,686 monthly median income of Fort Smith 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 does a caregiver do after a stroke?

Helps with personal care, meals and moving safely, takes the person to therapy, helps them practise what therapists set, and keeps the family informed. Medical and therapy decisions stay with the care team.

More near Fort Smith

More senior care near Fort Smith

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Smith

More for Fort Smith 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.

Stroke Recovery Support at Home in Fort Smith, AR