ARChoices in Home Health Care and Elderly Care Services
ARChoices is a Medicaid program that includes home and community-based services for adults ages 21 through 64 with a physical disability and seniors age 65 or older.
Arkansas, like many other states in the US, has been struggling with how to provide Medicaid services to people who are at risk of losing their homes due to health conditions. Often these senior health care needs result in unnecessary home loss.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services has been working on a project called AR Choices since 2013 that would provide some flexibility for Medicaid recipients who are at risk of losing their homes.
This program offers an alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes for people on Arkansas’ ARChoices Medicaid program who are facing health struggles or diagnosed with dementia and have serious mental impairments. They can live in their home and have in-home care from a trained professional while still receiving medical coverage through Medicaid.
Arkansas is the first state to provide Medicaid coverage for in-home care and at home elderly care.
The main idea of this AR Choices Medicaid program is to lower the cost of long-term care or assisted living costs and help people stay in their homes longer. The program will cover many of the costs of in-home care assistance per year.
For more information, visit the Arkansas Division of Aging, Adult, & Behavioral Health Services
Am I Eligible?
To qualify for for ARChoices in Homecare, you must be:
Age 21 through 64 with a physical disability OR Age 65 and older
and
Meet established financial criteria.
Meet nursing home admission criteria at the intermediate level.
Have a need for at least one of the available services
What Services Are Available?
In-Home or At Home Attendant Care
When someone helps you do the things like get out of bed, take a bath, get dressed, fix and eat meals, or use the bathroom. In home care is the #1 approach to keeping your home and living your life comfortably at home.
Home-Delivered Meals
Nutritious meals that can be delivered fresh each day or frozen for weekends.
Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
A call button you can use to get help in an emergency.
Adult Day Care Services
Adult daycare provides supervised care and activities during the day. Seniors Serving Seniors in Sherwood, Arkansas offers a robust Adult Daycare center.
Adult Day Health Skilled Nursing Services
a place that provides skilled nursing, supervised care, and activities during the day.
Facility-Based Respite Care
Short Stays in a facility so your caregiver can go on vacation.
In-Home Respite Care
Someone to stay with you in your home for a short time so your caregiver can get some rest.
Environmental Modifications
Changes to your home that will help you get around more easily and safely like grab bars or a wheelchair ramp.
How do I apply?
Call your local DHS county office or contact Seniors Serving Seniors to help guide you through the process.
You can reach Seniors Serving Seniors at 501-920-6217 or 501-819-0151. We will be happy to discuss your options and put together a care plan that utilizes the AR Choices program under Mediaid.
