Caregiving may be one of the most important, and challenging, roles you’ll ever take on. No matter where you are in your caregiving journey — starting to plan; taking care of a family member in your home, in a facility, or from a distance; or managing end-of-life caregiving responsibilities — having resources at your fingertips will make the process easier.
AARP developed this family caregiver guide with you, the caregiver, in mind and as a starting point to help you find the services and support you might need throughout your journey.
To order a print copy of this online guide, call the toll-free AARP Family Caregiving Resource Line at 877-333-5885 and indicate which state(s) you would like to receive. A copy will be mailed to you.
General Resources
- Supporting Family Caregivers in Your State
- AARP has a website dedicated to providing you with information about how we’re advocating for caregivers in your state.
- Arkansas Association of Area Agencies on Aging (866-379-3901 toll-free)
- 5A allow older adults to choose the home and community-based services and living arrangements that best suit them, making it easier for them to age in place.
- Choices in Living Resource Center: AR Department of Human Services (866-801-3435 toll-free)
- Program specialists help residents understand their long-term care options.
- Arkansas Department of Human Services Access Arkansas (855-372-1084 toll-free)
- The department maintains an online portal offering information for over 20 different state and federal programs, including food assistance and Medicaid enrollment.
Health Resources
- Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) (855-372-1084 toll-free)
- ADH offers residents information about COVID-19 and provides access to more than 100 services offered by public health professionals.
- Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) (800-224-6330)
- SHIIP enlists counselors to give residents unbiased information about Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D (drug plans) and long-term care insurance options.
- Medicare Nursing Home Compare
- Nursing Home Compare provides detailed information about every Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country.
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) (501-508-8858)
- A LTCO identifies, investigates and resolve complaints made by — or on behalf of — long-term care residents. The program also offers education and assistance in obtaining needed services, and coordinates efforts with service providers.
- Arkansas Hospice (877-713-2348)
- Hospice is a type of medical care for patients who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Comfort care and symptom management become the primary focus, rather than ongoing efforts to find a cure.
- Arkansas Alzheimer's Association (800-272-3900)
- Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
- Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
Home- and Community-Based Resources
- ARChoices in Homecare: Arkansas Department of Human Services (866-801-3435 toll-free)
- ARChoices offers home and community-based services for adults over the age of 65 — and people living with disabilities over the age of 21. These services assist with everyday activities like bathing, dressing and preparing meals.
- Independent Choices: Arkansas Department of Human Services (866-801-3435 toll-free)
- The Independent Choices program is an option under Medicaid that helps family members, excluding spouses and legal guardians, receive compensation for personal care services. This program also provides home modifications and assistive technology.
- Living Choices: Arkansas Department of Human Services (866-801-3435 toll-free)
- Living Choices is an assisted living program that enables you to live on your own in an assisted living facility — an alternative to living in a skilled nursing facility.
- Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE): Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- PACE helps people meet their health care needs in the community instead of going to a skilled nursing facility. A team of health care professionals works with you and your family to make sure you get the coordinated care you need.
Financial Resources
- AARP Foundation’s Benefits QuickLINK
- Find public benefits that can help you pay for food, medicine, health care, utilities and more by using AARP Foundation’s Benefits QuickLINK tools.
- Arkansas Department of Human Services Medicare Savings Program
- The program helps residents understand and manage their Medicare premium costs.
- Arkansas Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (866-801-3435 toll-free)
- LIHEAP helps low-income households with home energy costs through Regular Assistance and Crisis Intervention Programs.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (800-482-8988)
- SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides food assistance to eligible households to cover a portion of their food budget. Benefits are distributed through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.
Legal Resources
- Medical-Legal Partnerships in Arkansas (MLP) (800-9 LAW-AID | 800-952-9243)
- MLP, a project of Legal Aid of Arkansas, offers legal help to vulnerable residents, helping eliminate barriers to health care.
- Center for Arkansas Legal Services (CALS) (501-376-3423)
- CALS is a nonprofit law firm offering free civil (noncriminal) legal services to low-income Arkansans. It serves 44 of the state’s 75 counties, or roughly 60 percent of the state, geographically.
Workplace/Employer Resources
- Supporting Caregivers in the Workplace
- AARP offers valuable resources to help employers create a caregiver-friendly workplace.
Transportation Resources
- Arkansas Transit Association (ATA) (501-372-8900, 877-372-8904 toll-free)
- The association advocates for and provides information about transportation options for elderly and disabled people throughout the state.
Housing Resources
- Arkansas: HUD (501-918-5700)
- Assists with housing needs and offers resources and programs to help families stay in their homes.
Specific Audience Resources
- AARP Caregiving Guides
- AARP offers free caregiving guides for specific audiences, including guides for military families and LGBT individuals. The guides, also offered in Spanish and Chinese, are designed to help develop and implement a caregiving plan.
- AR Department of Veterans Affairs (ADFA) (501-683-2382)
- ADVA serves Arkansas Veterans and their eligible dependents, through advocacy and education, so that they can access state and federal benefits, high-quality long-term nursing care and burial honors.
- Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Caregiving Support (501-257-2123)
- The caregiver support program provides caregivers of veterans with resources, training, education, advice and support.
- Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (855-260-3247 toll-free)
- The Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks is affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and offers training, education and resources to veterans’ caregivers.
Care for Caregivers
- Community Connections
- AARP Community Connections is a new website that offers steps to get or give help. You can organize online mutual aid groups to stay connected, share ideas and support those in need.
- Create the Good
- Create the Good connects people with volunteer opportunities and project ideas to share your life experiences, skills and passions in your community.
- Alzheimer’s Arkansas (501-224-0021)
- The organization offers a 24- hour telephone support line for caregivers, caregiver education sessions and financial assistance, among other services.
AARP Resources for Family Caregivers
- AARP Family Caregiving Website (en español: aarp.org/cuidar)
- AARP’s Family Caregiving website is your one-stop shop for tips and tools to help you care for a loved one. It has valuable information about handling medical issues, health records and advance directives, home safety, financial and legal issues, caregiver life balance and much more.
- AARP Family Caregiving Resource Line (877-333-5885 toll-free, en español: 888-971-2013 toll-free)
- Connect with a real person and learn how to access local resources via our toll-free family caregiving hotline.
- AARP Family Caregivers Facebook Group
- Join the AARP Family Caregivers Discussion Group on Facebook to connect, ask questions and share ideas with other family caregivers.
- Community Resource Finder
- Community Resource Finder, a joint service from the Alzheimer’s Association and AARP, is a database of dementia- and aging-related resources powered by Carelike. The online tool makes it easy to find local programs and services.
- I Heart Caregivers
- Join the thousands of family caregivers who have shared their experiences through AARP’s storytelling initiative, I Heart Caregivers. Your story will help AARP continue to fight for more support for family caregivers.
- AARP Online Caregiving Community
- Join our community and connect with other caregivers like you.
- AARP HomeFit Guide
- The AARP HomeFit Guide can help individuals and families make their current or future residence age-friendly. It can also help elected officials, policymakers and local leaders learn about and advocate for the types of housing features and designs that communities need so that their residents can live safely and comfortably and thrive.
- National Resources for Family Caregivers
- A listing of national agencies, groups and organizations that can connect family caregivers with direct services and supports.
If you have thoughts about how AARP can improve this resource guide, we invite you to go to aarp.org/preparetocaresurvey (en español: aarp.org/encuestacuidador).