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Bottom line
Start with the office that fits the problem today. For care at home, call Choices in Living at 1-866-801-3435. For Medicaid, SNAP, or uploaded papers, use Access Arkansas or call 1-855-372-1084. For meals, rides, caregiver help, and nearby services, contact your Area Agency on Aging. For disability-rights help, call Disability Rights Arkansas or legal aid.
This page is for older adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and helpers in Arkansas. It stays focused on disability-related help. For wider senior programs, use our Arkansas benefits guide after this page.
Urgent help in Arkansas
| Problem | Call or start here | What to say |
|---|---|---|
| Life is in danger | Call 911 | Say the person is older, disabled, and in immediate danger. |
| Suicide or mental health crisis | Call or text 988 | Veterans can press 1 after calling. |
| Abuse, neglect, or exploitation | Adult Protective Services, 1-800-482-8049 | Give the county, address, risk, disability, and who may be causing harm. |
| No food, shelter, heat, or safe place | Arkansas 211 | Ask for food, shelter, utility help, disability help, and senior help in your county. |
| Medicaid ride did not come | NET Helpline, 1-888-987-1200 | Have the Medicaid ID number and trip details ready. |
Fast starting points
| If the main need is… | Start here | Ask for this |
|---|---|---|
| Help bathing, dressing, meals, or staying home | Choices in Living | A long-term services screen and home-care options |
| Medicaid, SNAP, renewal, or upload help | Access Arkansas | Application status, renewal help, or document upload help |
| Meals, local rides, senior center, respite | Arkansas AAAs | The agency serving your county |
| Wheelchair, walker, hearing, vision, or home-safety tools | iCAN | Assistive technology, reuse, and device search help |
| Disability discrimination or rights problem | Disability Rights Arkansas | Intake, information, referral, or advocacy help |
| Medicare plan, drug cost, or Medicare Savings help | AR SHIIP | Free Medicare counseling before changing coverage |
For portal help, our Access Arkansas guide explains the steps.
Contents
- Care at home
- Caregiver and respite help
- Rides and transportation
- Equipment and home changes
- Housing and tax help
- Legal, safety, and rights help
- How to start
- FAQ
Care at home and long-term support
Many disabled seniors need help at home before a crisis turns into a nursing home stay. The best first door is often Choices in Living, Arkansas’s Aging and Disability Resource Center.
ARChoices in Homecare
What it helps with: ARChoices can help with attendant care, adult day services, respite, home-delivered meals, emergency response systems, and some approved home access changes.
Who may qualify: People age 65 or older and adults with physical disabilities may qualify if they meet Medicaid rules and need a nursing-facility level of care.
Where to apply: Call Choices in Living at 1-866-801-3435. You may also need Access Arkansas or a DHS county office.
Reality check: Ask what can start while you wait for assessment, Medicaid review, provider choice, and scheduling.
Personal care and IndependentChoices
Some Medicaid members may get personal care without a full waiver. If the person already has Medicaid and needs help with daily tasks, ask the doctor, Medicaid caseworker, or DHS about personal care. For more control over who helps and when, ask about IndependentChoices.
Family caregiver pay is not automatic. It depends on the Medicaid service, self-direction rules, the care plan, and hiring rules. Our caregiver pay guide covers the Arkansas path.
PACE, Living Choices, and nursing home care
PACE: PACE serves people age 55 or older who need nursing-facility level care and live in a covered service area.
Living Choices: Living Choices can help some people receive care in approved assisted living settings. It is not regular rent help.
Nursing home care: If staying home is unsafe, ask DHS, the hospital discharge planner, or the facility about Medicaid nursing facility rules before signing private-pay papers.
Caregiver and respite help
Your local Area Agency on Aging can explain caregiver support, respite, home-delivered meals, senior center meals, and local support groups. Services vary by county, need, and funding. Use our Arkansas AAAs guide to find the right region.
Rides and transportation
Transportation can be hard outside larger cities. Use the right path for the trip.
- Medical trips with Medicaid: Use Arkansas Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation. Call early. Ask for a wheelchair vehicle if needed. Write down the trip number.
- Senior rides: Ask your Area Agency on Aging about local senior transportation. Some rides are for medical visits only. Some need several days of notice.
- Transit disability service: If public transit serves your city, ask the local transit agency about paratransit, reduced fare, wheelchair access, or curb-to-curb service.
- No ride at all: Call Arkansas 211 and ask for disability transportation, medical rides, and volunteer ride options in your county.
If oxygen, a wheelchair, a walker, a helper, or extra time is needed, say so when scheduling the ride.
Equipment and home changes
Before buying a costly item, check reuse, loan, Medicaid, and local disability paths.
| Need | Best first step | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Walker, wheelchair, shower chair, communication tool, hearing or vision tool | Contact iCAN | Ask about reuse, device search, and try-before-buy help. |
| Medical equipment after hospital discharge | Ask the discharge planner | Ask what Medicare, Medicaid, or the supplier may cover. |
| Spinal cord disability equipment | Ask about the Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission | Some loan closets are for qualifying clients only. |
| Ramps, bathroom safety, or access changes | Ask ARChoices, USDA, AAA, and 211 | Help depends on ownership, income, county, and funding. |
iCAN says its services are available to Arkansans regardless of age, location, disability, income, or other eligibility. For local loan closets and reuse options, our equipment reuse guide lists more paths.
For home repairs, rural homeowners can check USDA repairs. Grants are for homeowners age 62 or older and must remove health and safety hazards. Weatherization may also help through local providers. Check the Arkansas weatherization program before paying a contractor.
Housing and tax help
Accessible rental help: Use HUD’s housing agencies page to find public housing and voucher offices. Ask if the list is open, whether accessible units exist, and how to request a reasonable accommodation. Our housing help guide covers broader rent and repair paths.
Property tax relief: Arkansas homeowners may receive a homestead property tax credit on a principal home. The state property tax page says the credit can be up to $600 beginning with 2026 tax bills. Arkansas also has assessed-value relief for homeowners who are age 65 or disabled. Apply through the county assessor and keep proof that the account is marked correctly. Our property tax guide explains the steps for older homeowners.
Disabled veterans: A disabled veteran, surviving spouse, or dependent may have a stronger property-tax path under Arkansas law if the disability and service rules are met. Start with the county assessor and the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs. Our senior veterans guide covers that veteran-specific path.
Food, utilities, and health cost help
This page is not a full food or utility guide, but these programs often matter for disabled seniors.
SNAP: Arkansas SNAP can help with groceries. Households with a person age 60 or older or disabled may have different deduction rules. List medical costs, rent, utilities, and insurance. Use the DHS SNAP guide and Access Arkansas.
LIHEAP: Arkansas LIHEAP helps with heating and cooling bills when open and funded. The Arkansas Energy Office says applications go through the community-based organization that serves your county, not through the state office. Use the LIHEAP page to find the county office and document list.
Medicare costs: If Medicare premiums or drug costs are hard to pay, ask SHIIP to screen for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help. Our Medicare Savings guide gives Arkansas-specific steps.
Legal, safety, and rights help
Call AR Law Help at 1-800-952-9243 for free legal aid screening and legal information. Legal aid may help with public benefits, housing, debt, abuse protection, powers of attorney, guardianship, and some disability problems. Call early.
For disability-rights issues, contact Disability Rights Arkansas. This can include access problems, discrimination, service denials, abuse or neglect in some settings, and other disability-rights concerns. For residents of nursing homes or assisted living, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman can listen to complaints and help residents speak up without retaliation.
If DHS denies, cuts, or delays benefits, read the notice. The appeal instructions should be on it. Arkansas DHS has a file an appeal page for hearing requests. Circle the deadline, save the envelope, and ask legal aid for help if the loss could affect food, care, housing, or health coverage.
Other Arkansas disability paths to know
Some help depends on the type of disability.
- Blind or low vision: Arkansas Services for the Blind can be a starting point for vision-related supports.
- Work or return-to-work needs: Arkansas Rehabilitation Services helps Arkansans with disabilities prepare for work and independence.
- Developmental disability: Arkansas DHS Developmental Disabilities services may be relevant for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
- Independent living: The independent living centers locator can help you find a center that serves your area.
How to start without wasting time
Use one folder. Put paper copies in it. Take photos of each paper before you send it.
| Bring or save this | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Photo ID, Social Security card, Medicare and Medicaid cards | Identity and coverage checks |
| Proof of Arkansas address | County and residency checks |
| Social Security, SSI, SSDI, pension, or VA letters | Income proof |
| Bank statements and insurance papers | Medicaid, housing, and tax review |
| Medical bills, drug costs, and doctor notes | SNAP deductions, home care, equipment, and appeals |
| Lease, mortgage, deed, tax bill, or shutoff notice | Housing, tax, repair, utility, and emergency help |
| Denial letters and envelopes | Appeal deadlines and proof of notice date |
Phone scripts
Home care script
“Hello, I am calling for a disabled senior in _____ County. They need help with bathing, meals, getting around the home, and staying safe. Can we start a long-term care screen? What papers do you need?”
Equipment script
“Hello, I need help finding a _____ for an older adult with a disability. We need to know if there is a loan, reuse, Medicaid, or low-cost option in Arkansas before we buy one.”
Housing script
“Hello, I need accessible housing help for a disabled senior. Is your waiting list open? Do you have accessible units? How do we ask for a reasonable accommodation?”
Appeal script
“Hello, I received a denial or cut notice dated _____. I want to know the appeal deadline and how to ask for a hearing. Can you tell me where to send the appeal and what proof to include?”
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not assume a program is closed statewide because one local office has no funding.
- Do not miss DHS renewal mail. A missed renewal can stop Medicaid or SNAP.
- Do not buy equipment before checking iCAN, Medicaid, the hospital discharge planner, and local loan closets.
- Do not switch Medicare plans without checking doctors, drugs, prior approvals, oxygen, dialysis, and home health needs.
- Do not ignore an eviction, discharge, shutoff, or denial notice.
- Do not pay anyone who promises “guaranteed” disability grants.
If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
Start with the deadline. Circle it. Then ask the office for the reason in plain words. If papers are missing, send them as soon as you can. If you disagree with the decision, ask for a hearing before the deadline. If the problem could cost you care, housing, food, power, or health coverage, call legal aid.
While you wait, ask your AAA about meals and respite, call 211 for local help, ask SHIIP to check Medicare costs, and ask your doctor about home health.
Local resources to check first
The best local help is usually your AAA, DHS county office, senior center, library, community action agency, housing authority, health clinic, and disability nonprofit. Ask, “Who serves my county if you do not?” Local rides, home care, weatherization, and charities can vary by county.
Resumen en español
Si usted es una persona mayor con discapacidad en Arkansas, empiece con una llamada clara. Para cuidado en el hogar, llame a Choices in Living al 1-866-801-3435. Para Medicaid, SNAP o documentos, use Access Arkansas o llame al 1-855-372-1084. Para comidas, transporte local o apoyo para cuidadores, llame a la agencia de envejecimiento que sirve a su condado. Para abuso, negligencia o explotación, llame a Adult Protective Services al 1-800-482-8049. Guarde copias de cartas, facturas, comprobantes de ingresos y documentos médicos.
Frequently asked questions
Where should a disabled senior in Arkansas start for home care?
Call Choices in Living at 1-866-801-3435 and ask for long-term services and supports. The person may also need to apply for Medicaid through Access Arkansas.
Can family members be paid caregivers in Arkansas?
Sometimes, but not in every case. Ask about Medicaid personal care, ARChoices, and IndependentChoices. The rules depend on the care plan and Medicaid service.
Who helps with disability equipment in Arkansas?
Start with iCAN for assistive technology, reuse, and device search help. Also ask the hospital discharge planner, Medicaid provider, 211, and local loan closets.
What if a Medicaid ride does not show up?
Call the transportation broker first, then call the Arkansas NET Helpline at 1-888-987-1200. Have the Medicaid ID and trip details ready.
Can disabled homeowners get property tax help?
Arkansas has homestead credit and assessed-value relief for some disabled or older homeowners. Apply through the county assessor.
Who helps with disability discrimination or rights problems?
Contact Disability Rights Arkansas for disability-rights intake or referral. For civil legal help, call AR Law Help at 1-800-952-9243.
What should I do if DHS denies or cuts benefits?
Read the notice, circle the deadline, ask DHS how to appeal, and call legal aid if the loss would affect care, food, housing, or health coverage.
About this guide
We check this guide against official government, local agency, and trusted nonprofit sources. GrantsForSeniors.org is independent and is not a government agency.
Program rules, funding, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply.
See something wrong or outdated? Email info@grantsforseniors.org.
Verification: Last verified May 7, 2026, next review August 7, 2026.
Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the official program before acting.
Last updated: May 7, 2026
Next review: August 7, 2026
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