Programs for the Aging in Arkansas

Aging Services

A number of services are available to individuals through a variety of funding sources. These sources include funding under the Older Americans Act, state general revenue, dedicated state taxes, and individual and community donations. Please refer to the next section for Medicaid services.

The following services are available through the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA). Eligibility for these services is determined by those offices. In most cases clients must be 60 or older (unless otherwise identified). Eligibility and payment criteria may change as state and federal regulations are amended or renewed. For the most current information, consult the local AAA or the Division of Aging and Adult Services.

Priority consideration is given to applicants in greatest economic and social need. A co-payment is not required from individuals who receive these services, however, clients are encouraged to donate if they are able.

Not every service is available in every region and a service available within a region may not be available in every location.

To obtain an e-mail response to questions
about these services, click on the program title

Adult Day Care: A group program designed to provide care and supervision to meet the needs of 4 or more functionally impaired adults for periods of less than 24 hours, but more than 2 hours per day in a place other than in the adult's own home. Meals, transportation and recreational activities are also provided. Available in AAA regions I, II, III, IV, VII. Also available on private pay basis in some areas.

Chore Service: This is a household service which may include heavy cleaning and/or yard which the client is unable to perform alone and which do not require the services of a trained homemaker or other specialist. This cannot include medically oriented personal care tasks. Clients must be without significant social support systems able to perform services for them. Available in AAA regions I, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII. Also available on private pay basis in some areas. (See also under Arkansas Medicaid Services.)

Medicaid service definition: Provides heavy cleaning and/or yard and sidewalk maintenance only in extreme, specific and individual circumstances when lack of these services would make the home uninhabitable. This service does not include routine lawn and yard maintenance.

Client Representation: Client Representation is an activity under which a client's needs are assessed and services to meet those needs are either provided directly by the Client Representative or arranged for in an organized and consistent manner. Client Representation includes, but is not limited to, such activities as outreach; referral for legal assistance; providing information about and determining eligibility for public benefits such as QMB and SMB; assisting with completion of applications and paperwork; attending meetings on behalf of clients; and providing information and assistance. Clients receiving both Medicaid Targeted Case Management and Client Representation will not receive duplicate services. Available in all AAA regions.

Employment Services: This service provides an organized program of counseling, assessment, training and placement in employment, either subsidized or unsubsidized. Clients must be 55 or older. Financial eligibility requirements vary by funding source.

Health Promotion: May include some or all of the following: provision of information concerning diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of age-related disease and chronic disabling conditions; education programs on the availability, benefits and appropriate use of preventive health services; routine health screening, which may include hypertension, glaucoma, cholesterol, cancer, vision, hearing, diabetes, and nutrition screening; programs related to prevention and reduction of effects of chronic disabling conditions, reduction of alcohol and substance abuse, smoking cessation, weight loss and control, and stress management; nutritional counseling; programs regarding physical fitness and exercise. Also see Socialization

Homemaker Services: Provides basic upkeep and management of the home and household assistance. May include menu planning, running errands, laundry, essential shopping, meal preparation and simple household tasks. Medically oriented personal care tasks are not included as a part of this service. Clients must be in social need and without significant social support systems able to perform services for them. The service provider must be trained in household management tasks and be supervised by the provider agency to assure that tasks are completed accurately and appropriately. Available in AAA regions II, IV, and V. Also available on private pay basis in some areas.

Information and Assistance: A service for older individuals that (A) provides the individuals with current information on opportunities and services available to them within their communities, including information relating to assistive technology; (B) assesses the problems and capacities of the individuals; (C) links the individuals to the opportunities and services that are available; (D) to the maximum extent practicable, ensures that the individuals receive needed services and; (E) makes individuals aware of the opportunities available to them by establishing adequate follow-up procedures. Available to all older persons, their families and friends. Available through all area agencies and senior centers. (See Area Agencies on Aging.)

Legal Assistance: Provides legal advice and representation by an attorney (and, to the extent feasible, counseling or other appropriate assistance by a paralegal or law student under the supervision of an attorney), as well as benefits and rights counseling or representation by a non-lawyer, to older individuals with social or economic need. These cases are only on non-fee generating (unless adequate representation is unavailable from private attorneys) and civil legal problems. Clients must be age 60+ needing legal advice that does not involve criminal charges. Available through all area agencies on aging.

Material Aid: Provides goods or payment of bills to meet or prevent an imminent emergency. (For example, purchase of basic necessities for someone whose house has been destroyed by fire, or payment of a utility bill to prevent imminent shutoff of service or the distribution of such items as clothing, smoke detectors, eye glasses or security devices.) Clients must be without significant support systems. Available in AAA regions III, IV, VI, and VII.

Meals (Congregate): A service providing a hot or other appropriate meal that complies with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and contains 1/3 the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)of nutrients. (2/3 RDA provided if in the same day a second meal is served, and 100% if 3 meals in a day.) The meals are served in a group setting such as a senior center or elderly housing facility and are usually associated with activities to promote social interaction and reduce social isolation. Clients must be 60+ (or spouse or disabled dependent of person age 60+). Available in all AAA regions.

Meals (Home Delivered): A service providing one nutritious home-delivered meal each day to individuals who are homebound, unable to prepare their own meal, and have no one to prepare meals for them. An appropriate meal is one that complies with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and contains 1/3 the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of nutrients (2/3 RDA provided, if in the same day a second meal is served, and 100% if 3 meals in a day). The meals are delivered to applicable clients who live in an area where the meal can be delivered. Clients must be age 60+(or spouse or disabled dependent of person age 60+). Available in AAA regions. Also available on private pay basis in some areas.

Ombudsman Services: Provides statewide advocacy program for residents of nursing facilities and residential care facilities.

Outreach Services: Provides efforts to identify individuals eligible for assistance, with special emphasis on older individuals who live in rural areas; have greatest economic and/or social need (with particular attention to minority individuals); have several disabilities; are limited in English-speaking ability; have Alzheimer's disease (and the caretakers of such individuals) and inform such individuals and their caregivers of the availability of such assistance.

Personal Care Services: Clients must meet medical requirements for personal care. Basic tasks necessary to enable a client to remain living in the community. Services may include assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting; assistance with medications which are ordinarily self-administered by the client; assistance with food preparation and feeding; performance of incidental household services essential to the client's health and comfort in his/her home; and assistance with transportation of the client to and from his/her physician and/or medical facility for necessary medical services. Financial eligibility requirements vary by funding source. Currently funded by Older Americans Act and state appropriations. Available in all AAA regions. Also available on private pay basis in some areas.

Repair/Modification/Maintenance: Provides home repairs essential for the health and safety of the elderly owner who is unable to perform the needed work; modifications to make the dwelling more accessible to physically disabled or frail owner; maintenance and service to basic appliances, pest control, etc. Client must own or be buying the home, frail, in social need, greatest economic need and without significant social support. Financial eligibility requirements vary by funding source. Available in AAA regions IV, V, VII and VIII. Also available on private pay basis in some areas.

Respite: Provides temporary relief to caregiving activities at home or in a facility by providing a substitute caregiver. This care can be provided in the person's home by a trained worker or in a hospital, nursing home, adult day care or other licensed facility by a certified provider.

Socialization: This service is generally associated with Senior Center activities. Facilitating client's involvement in activities to reduce social isolation and promote social interaction and well-being through on-going programs of physical and mental activity. These services include those not otherwise considered under the category of Health Promotion.

Special Events: An organized, structured event that is targeted to the 60+ population. (examples include: Senior Olympics, Older Arkansans Day, Senior Day at the Fair, Silver-Haired Legislature, and Ms. Senior Arkansas.)

Supervised Living: Provision of 24-hour care in a group living facility.

Telephone Reassurance: Client must live alone or temporarily alone, or homebound in isolated areas. Service consists of telephone calls at appointed times to check client status; if contact is not made, assistance is sent. Available in AAA regions III, IV, V, and VI.

Transportation: The service transports a client from one location to another so that the client has access to needed services, care or assistance, such as medical services, shopping, bill paying, etc. Service may include escort assistance.

Medicaid service definition: Medicaid clients may receive assistance with transportation to a medical facility. This may include ambulance services.

Arkansas Medicaid Programs

Questions regarding Medicaid eligibility or Medicaid services may be answered by the Department of Human Services County Offices.

ElderChoices Program- Provides in-home services to individuals 65 and over, meeting financial eligibility (300% SSI), resources eligibility ($2,000 - individual, $3,000 - couple) and medical eligibility (admission criteria to an intermediate nursing facility). These in-home services are designed to delay or prevent institutionalization by maintaining, strengthening or restoring an eligible client’s functioning in his or her own home, that of a care-giver or foster home. Services may include the following:

NEW SERVICE
Adult Companion - Companions may assist or supervise clients with such tasks as meal preparation, laundry, shopping, light housekeeping, bathing, eating, dressing, and personal hygiene when these services are required in accordance with a therapeutic goal and are not purely diversional in nature. These services must be essential to the health and welfare of the client and are needed because of the absence of the client's family. Companion services must be furnished outside the timeframe of other waiver services and state plan personal care.

Adult Day Care - Provides care and supervision to meet the needs of four (4) or more functionally impaired adults for periods of less than 24 hours, but more than two (2) hours per day in a place other than the client’s own home. Services may include meals, transportation and recreational activities.

Adult Day Health Care - Provides a continuing, organized program of rehabilitative, therapeutic and supportive health and social services and activities to individuals who are functionally impaired and who, due to the severity of their functional impairment, are not capable of fully independent living.

Adult Foster Care - Program changes are pending.

Chore - Provides heavy cleaning and/or yard and sidewalk maintenance only in extreme, specific and individual circumstances when lack of these services would make the home uninhabitable. This service does not include routine lawn and yard maintenance.

Home Delivered Meals - Provides one daily nutritious meal to eligible clients who are (1) home-bound and (2) unable to prepare meals and are without an informal provider to do meal preparation. Each meal must equal one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowance.

Homemaker - Provides basic upkeep and management of the home and household assistance. May include menu planning, running errands, laundry, essential shopping, meal preparation and simple household tasks. Medically oriented personal care tasks are not included as a part of this service.

Personal Emergency Response System - Provides an in-home, 24-hour electric support system with two-way verbal and electronic communication with an emergency control center which enables an elderly, infirm or homebound individual to secure immediate help in the event of a physical, emotional or environmental emergency.

Respite - This service provides temporary relief to a primary caregiver who is providing long term care for individuals in their homes. It may be provided outside the client's home to meet an emergency need or as periodic scheduled relief.

Alternatives for Persons with Physical Disabilities: Provides attendant care and environmental modification services to individuals who meet the criteria for intermediate nursing home care. The individual’s income should be less than 300% of poverty and meet the resource limits for Medicaid. Persons who qualify may also receive regular Medicaid benefits. Clients must be able to supervise their service providers whom they may choose from the list of eligible providers.

Other Medicaid Services:

Targeted Case Management - Medicaid clients sixty (60) years of age or older who have limited functional capabilities and need assistance with the coordination of multiple services and/or resources may be eligible for this service. Case management services will assist Medicaid recipients in gaining access to needed medical, social, educational and other services.

Personal Care - A Medicaid client may receive these services if he/she requires assistance with at least two activities of daily living tasks. Services may include assistance with basic personal care, meal preparation, essential household activities and transportation.

Home Health - Medicaid clients may receive assistance with periodic nursing care to preserve life or prevent or delay the necessity of inpatient care. These services include "part-time" or "intermittent" care provided by a registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, student nurse or home health aide.

Hospice - Terminally ill Medicaid clients may receive a continuum of care services under this category. Services may include routine home care, continuous home care, inpatient respite care and general inpatient care.

Transportation - Medicaid clients may receive assistance with obtaining transportation to a medical facility. This may include ambulance services.