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Free personalized senior living guidance for families
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Arkansas · Everything here is free · Reviewed July 2026
If you or someone you love is getting older in Arkansas, you may be worried about how to pay for care. Maybe the bills are piling up, or a doctor mentioned needing help at home, and you're not sure where to turn. Take a deep breath. You are in the right place, and you are not alone.
Not sure where to start? Call for free1-866-801-3435This is your one-call starting point. They help older adults and people with disabilities understand and find long-term care and support services across Arkansas. Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Arkansas has real programs that help seniors with low income pay for health care, in-home help, food, housing, and more. Many people who qualify never sign up simply because no one told them how. This page walks you through the free help that already exists, in plain language.
Everything listed here is free to call and free to use. You do not need a lawyer, a computer, or a lot of money to get started. You just need a phone and a few minutes. Let's begin with the three numbers worth keeping.
Tap what fits. You'll jump straight to the right help — no reading through the rest.
Still not sure? Just make the call above — they'll help you figure it out. One call is a great start.
Start here for most families
Most people would rather get care at home than move to a nursing home. Arkansas Medicaid has programs — called Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers — that help pay for exactly that.
Call to start the process — they'll guide you to the right waiver.
Or apply for Medicaid directly to begin — they'll guide you to the right waiver.
These waivers have their own eligibility rules and sometimes waiting lists, so it's worth starting early.
Arkansas Medicaid helps low-income seniors get the care they need. For older adults, it can cover doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and — importantly — long-term care. That includes nursing home care, assisted living through a waiver, and help at home so you can stay in your own house longer.
Who qualifies? Eligibility is based mainly on your income and your savings (assets). There are special rules for seniors and for people who need long-term care, and the limits are often higher than people expect. Please don't assume you make "too much" — many people are surprised to learn they qualify.
Important: Income and asset limits change every year, and the rules can be tricky. Always call to check your own situation before deciding you don't qualify. A quick phone call is free.
Apply for Arkansas Medicaid, including long-term care coverage, by phone or online.
Apply in person (Arkansas Department of Human Services county office)
Find your local DHS county office to apply for Arkansas Medicaid in person.
For help with a benefit or bill you already have.
If you're on Medicare
If you have Medicare and a limited income, you may be paying more than you have to. Two programs can help:
Arkansas Medicaid handles Medicare Savings Program applications.
Arkansas SHIIP can help you apply for a Medicare Savings Program.
Apply for the prescription drug subsidy through Social Security.
If Medicare confuses you, Arkansas SHIIP is your friend. SHIIP stands for the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, run by the Arkansas Insurance Department.
Trained counselors give you free, unbiased help. They do not sell insurance and they do not earn commissions. They can explain the parts of Medicare, compare drug plans, help with Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help, and sort out billing problems.
Toll-free, or call 501-371-2782 in the Little Rock area.
If you'd rather find help another way, this is the national SHIP locator.
Everyday essentials
Arkansas's food benefit program helps you buy groceries each month, and many seniors qualify. Apply online, by phone, or at your local DHS county office.
Contact your local Area Agency on Aging through the Choices in Living line, or reach them via the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 (eldercare.acl.gov), for hot meals and home-delivered meals.
If you're struggling to afford your home, or looking for safe, affordable senior housing, help exists.
Help finding affordable senior housing and utility or rent assistance.
Dial 211 for affordable senior apartments, rent and utility assistance, weatherization, and emergency housing help in your community.
Guidance & protection
Arkansas is divided into regions, each served by an Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Your local AAA is a treasure chest of senior help: home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels), rides to the doctor, in-home services, caregiver support, and help understanding your benefits.
Call to be connected to the Area Agency on Aging that serves your county.
The national Eldercare Locator connects you to your local Area Agency on Aging automatically.
Sometimes getting the care you deserve means dealing with a legal problem — a denied benefit, a housing dispute, or protecting yourself from scams and abuse.
Free civil legal help to lower-income Arkansans, including seniors. Also known as 1-800-9-LAW-AID.
Center for Arkansas Legal Services
Serves central and southern Arkansas with free civil legal help.
If you're not sure who to call, the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 can connect you to legal help for older adults in your area.
If you or a loved one lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility and something isn't right, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a free advocate on your side. They help resolve complaints about care, safety, and residents' rights.
Find your local ombudsman online, or call the Choices in Living Resource Center to be connected.
National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center
A national locator, as a backup if you cannot find your local ombudsman.
Dial 211 for local help with food, housing, utilities, and more.
For anything related to aging and senior care.
Call the Choices in Living Resource Center at 1-866-801-3435. Tell them what's going on. They'll help you figure out what you might qualify for and connect you to your local Area Agency on Aging.
Call for free1-866-801-3435Arkansas Medicaid is the state's health coverage program for people with low income and limited savings. ARHOME is Arkansas's version of expanded Medicaid coverage for many lower-income adults. Both can help cover health care, and Arkansas Medicaid can also help pay for long-term care like nursing homes, assisted living, and in-home help.
Usually not for the long term. Medicare covers doctors, hospitals, and short recovery periods, but it does not pay for ongoing personal care at home or the cost of assisted living. For that, look to Arkansas Medicaid and its waivers (ARChoices and Living Choices). Call 1-855-372-1084 or 1-866-801-3435 to learn more.
Very possibly, yes. Income and asset limits are often higher than people expect, especially for long-term care and Medicare Savings Programs. The limits change each year, so please don't count yourself out. Call 1-855-372-1084 and let them check for you.
Ask about Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI) through Arkansas Medicaid at 1-855-372-1084, or get free help from Arkansas SHIIP at 1-800-224-6330. QMB can even pay your Part B premium (about $185/month) plus certain copays and deductibles. For prescription costs, apply for Extra Help through Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
Often, yes. Arkansas Medicaid's ARChoices in Homecare waiver helps pay for in-home care so you can stay in your own home. PACE programs, where available, also help you live independently. Start by calling the Choices in Living Resource Center at 1-866-801-3435.
Absolutely — and you should use it. The Choices in Living Resource Center (1-866-801-3435), Arkansas SHIIP (1-800-224-6330), and the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) all offer free guidance. You never have to figure this out alone.
Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness — it's a smart, loving step for yourself and your family. Pick one number above and make that first call today; help is closer than you think.
Program details, income limits, and contact information can change. The agencies linked above can confirm the most current specifics for your situation. This page is for general information and isn't legal or financial advice.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Program details, income limits, and contact information can change — the linked agencies confirm the most current specifics.