If you are a senior or the loved one of a senior, long-term care planning is essential for numerous reasons. Resource planning will allow you to feel confident when making crucial decisions for your aging loved one’s long-term care. While you might have a basic plan for you or your aging loved one, there are likely multiple resources, benefits, and assistance options you haven’t considered.
If you are looking for senior assistance in Arkansas, you must comprehensively understand the numerous options available to you and your loved one. To help you gain the necessary knowledge, the Arkansas Association of Area Agencies on Aging will help you discover valuable resources to prepare for planning long-term care.
What Programs are Available for Senior Citizens in Arkansas?
To begin planning long-term care for your loved one, you must inquire about different options and programs. If you are an Arkansas resident, you might ask: what programs are available for senior citizens in Arkansas, and what government programs are available for seniors?
Many services and programs are available for senior citizens nationwide, so you won't need to be concerned about a lack of resources. Some programs available for your elderly family members in Arkansas include home care, veteran assistance, Senior Community Service Employment Program, Adult Protective Services, PACE, and ARChoices.
Government Programs for Senior Citizens
There are additional programs and services for senior citizens offered by the government to consider when determining how to cope with taking care of elderly parents or relatives. Below are some of the leading programs you should consider.
- Reverse Mortgage Program: available to seniors over the age of 62 who own their homes
- Section 8 Housing Vouchers: vouchers to cover the services available for low-income seniors with vouchers paid to a landlord by the PHA. The recipient is responsible for paying the difference between the voucher and the total cost of rent.
- Medicare: health insurance program for seniors over the age of 65 that provides medical and hospital coverage.
- Medicaid: health insurance program for low-income seniors, and people with disabilities.
- SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help low-income seniors and caretakers afford food.
- SSI: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for citizens over the age of 65 that meet low-income requirements.
- Social Security: a monthly benefit for individuals who paid into Social Security through income taxes, used to replace about 40 percent of your pre-retirement income.
What Services Do Local Agencies Offer?
Though you have multiple options for programs to help care for your elderly loved ones, you should be aware of different services in Arkansas that you can take advantage of when developing a long-term care plan. You are likely asking: what services do local agencies provide for senior citizens?
To answer this question comprehensively, it’s best to break down services into their own categories. Below are some crucial services you can expect to find from local agencies to cross one more step off your caring for aging parents checklist.
In-Home Services
Children with elderly loved ones might consider caring for elderly parents at home. In-home services might be the perfect fit for your elderly loved ones if you want to avoid sending them to a more costly facility. Anyone in Arkansas may contact the Arkansas Association of Area Agencies on Aging services for more information on high-quality senior home care. If you are considering caring for senior parents at home but are unsure of how this process works, you can seek customized care plans to meet the individual and financial needs of your loved ones.
A variety of services can help your loved one go about life without worrying about exhausting or strenuous activities. Benefits of in-home services in Arkansas include the following.
- Housework
- Shopping
- Personal hygiene
- Meal preparation
- Transportation
- Medication assistance
- Socialization
- Laundry
- Dressing
- Bathing
- Medical alerts
- Home-delivered meals
- Health-related tasks
Senior Centers
Senior centers provide excellent services for anyone with elderly loved ones. A local senior center will help your loved one remain active and social through wellness activities, hobby groups, health education classes, and grief support groups. If your elderly loved one is mobile, they can help by volunteering with their local charity through the senior center.
If your loved one needs transportation to a senior center, you can quickly secure free transportation to and from your home. Additionally, you might find further transportation options for any medical appointments or activities. Senior centers are a fantastic service because they help senior citizens meet their nutritional needs while ensuring they are happy and healthy.
Care Coordination
When figuring out a long-term care plan for your elderly loved ones, many questions come to mind. For example, you might ask: is there financial assistance for seniors in Arkansas? Will Medicare pay me for taking care of my parents?
Navigating different resources available to you and your loved ones is challenging and overwhelming when unfamiliar with the process. Anyone seeking clarification about the services available to low-income seniors can contact Care Specialists from their local Area Agency on Aging to identify eligibility and apply for services.
Your Area Agency on Aging will immediately assign you to a Care Specialist to help you create an effective care plan for your loved ones. A Care Specialist will give you resources to guide you through applications for any program or service you need if you are curious about financial assistance or government programs. Additionally, your Care Specialist will help you order medical equipment and arrange outside assistance from different programs to give your loved one the best care possible.
Find Long-Term Senior Care in Arkansas
If you or a loved one lives in Arkansas and requires long-term elderly care, you can find numerous tips and resources by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging today. Arkansas Association of Area Agencies on Aging experts can help you access crucial care and services to ensure that your loved one lives an independent, fulfilling, and happy life.
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