The 5 Best In Home Care Service in Pine Bluff, AR for 2023
Pine Bluff is a large city in the Little Rock metro area and home to about 41,000 residents. While its senior community is small compared to the U.S. average, accounting for 15.2% of residents compared to 16.5% nationally, older adults have high access to home care and medical services. Pine Bluff is among the more budget-friendly places in Arkansas for in-home care, with residents paying $4,004 for monthly services. This type of care includes non-medical services such as housekeeping and personal care, distinguishing it from home health care, which features medical services such as wound care and medication administration. Seniors also have access to world-class medical facilities such as Jefferson Regional Medical Center, a 300-bed not-for-profit hospital.
Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Pine Bluff area – complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.
Directory of Home Care Services in Pine Bluff, AR
Hopkins Home Care Locaters
47 Holly Ridge Rd, Indianola, MS, 38751
Superior Senior Care of Pine Bluff
8608 Dollarway Rd, White Hall, AR, 71602
Superior Senior Care – Jonesboro & Paragould
701 S. Main St., Jonesboro, AR, 72401
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Paying for Home Care in Pine Bluff, AR
The Cost of Home Care in Pine Bluff, AR
The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey reveals Seniors in Pine Bluff pay $4,004 per month on average for home care, which is a little lower than the state rate of $4,185 and substantially cheaper than the national average rate of $4,957. Jonesboro is one of the only cities in Arkansas with cheaper home care rates, with residents paying $3,909 for services. In Fort Smith and Little Rock, respective monthly averages come in at $4,176 and $4,290. In Fayetteville, home care rates are the highest surveyed in the state at $4,957.
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Pine Bluff, AR
Long-term care in Pine Bluff is generally affordable. Adult day health care is the cheapest option at $2,035, and for those who want services in their homes, basic home care and specialized home health care cost $4,004. Seniors may save money by opting for assisted living, which includes personal care services, meals and recreational activities in a residential community for $3,329 per month. Nursing homes have the highest monthly fees, with seniors in shared rooms paying $6,039 for monthly services.
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Pine Bluff, AR
Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.
- Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-Term Care Insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
- Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
- Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
- Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living.Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
- Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.
Free & Low-Cost Home Care Resources in Pine Bluff, AR
Seniors in Pine Bluff have access to a range of free and low-cost programs and services through the county and the state. These services may help qualified individuals reduce their reliance on private pay home care services and lower their monthly living and care-related expenses.
Resource
Contact
Service
(870) 543-6300
The Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas promotes the safety and independence of older adults in Pine Bluff through access to a broad range of free and low-cost programs. This private, non-profit organization has information and assistance specialists who connect you with a Care Coordinator to help you access the services and benefits available to you within the Pine Bluff region. It provides transportation services, the local Meals on Wheels Program, and in-home respite care for seniors. It also has a home care services program that provides low-cost services such as personal hygiene, shopping assistance, meal preparation, medication reminders and friendly visits.
The Central Delta Community Action Agency supports older adults in the Pine Bluff region through several programs and services. It operates SEAT vans to provide non-emergency medical transportation for residents in Pine Bluff, and it has a utility and rental assistance program that provides one-time payments for energy and rental bills, letting older adults avoid evictions or disruptions in services. The agency can also help seniors prepare applications for Supplemental Security Income and Social Security benefits, which may help them pay for in-home care.
2-1-1
Arkansas 211 is a free phone-based information and referral service available to all state residents. This helpline is staffed with live agents who can listen to your needs and help you find solutions in the community. Some services this helpline can connect you with include respite care, durable medical equipment loans, home repair and modification programs, transportation and home-delivered meals.
Determining Your Loved One’s Need for In-Home Care
Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help – oftentimes it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.
Guidelines for Talking About In-Home Care
If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a good home care agency near me in Pine Bluff?
Finding the best home care agency can be a challenge, but considering certain factors can help you refine your search. First, it’s helpful to research client reviews for local home care agencies to determine the experience you can anticipate having with a given company. There are seven reviews available for Pine Bluff’s five home care agencies, and overall, home care in this city is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars. In addition to client feedback, it’s a good idea to consider a home care agency’s availability, pricing and staff screening and training requirements.
What is the difference between in-home care and home health care?
In-home care and home health care provide personalized care services to help individuals remain in their own homes safely and comfortably. However, the types of care meet different needs. In-home care features non-medical services such as custodial care and helps with daily living activities including bathing, eating and providing medication reminders. Home health care provides these services along with skilled nursing services for those who need short-term or intermittent medical care and monitoring. Care is provided by licensed or certified aides and includes services such as occupational therapy, wound care and medication administration.
How do you pay for senior care at home?
There are several ways to pay for senior care at home depending on your own resources and whether you qualify for public benefits. Options such as reverse mortgages, collective sibling agreements, annuities and money from retirement savings accounts may be available to some seniors. Private health insurance doesn’t typically pay for non-medical care, but long-term care insurance generally does. Those with limited resources may qualify for Medicaid programs such as the Medicaid Personal Care Program, the AR Choices in Homecare Waiver or the Independent Choices Program.
What are some popular services with in-home care?
Home care provides services that individuals would be able to complete themselves if disability or age wasn’t a factor. Some popular services include help with basic house cleaning and chores, meal preparation and transportation for medical appointments. Personal care attendants also provide companionship and can play table games with clients, read books aloud or help with physician-directed exercise programs.
Can you write off in-home elderly care?
As a general rule, seniors can only write off medical services that a home care agency provides, such as help with managing a chronic disease or administering medication. Because in-home care doesn’t include medical services, care usually can’t be deducted. There’s an exception to this rule, however. If a licensed health care provider certifies that the individual has a severe cognitive impairment that prevents them from living alone safely, or if the individual has lost functional capacity and can’t perform at least two activities of daily living without substantial help for at least 90 days, they can deduct the cost of services.