Area Agency on Aging Arkansas: Dementia Care Resources and Support Programs

When you first start looking for help with a parent's dementia care in Arkansas, you'll quickly discover that services are scattered across multiple agencies, programs, and eligibility categories. The Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are your best starting point — they're the local connectors who know which programs exist, which have openings, and how to get your parent through the application process.

What AAAs Actually Do for Dementia Families

Arkansas has eight regional AAAs covering every county in the state. They're funded through the federal Older Americans Act and administered through the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS) within the Department of Human Services.

For families navigating dementia care, AAAs provide:

• Options counseling — a trained counselor walks you through the full range of care options (in-home, adult day care, assisted living, nursing facility) and helps you understand which your parent qualifies for
• Caregiver support program referrals through the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) — including respite care vouchers, support groups, and caregiver training, with no income test required
• Personal Care Referral Form submission — this initiates the ARIA assessment process that determines your parent's eligibility for Medicaid waiver services like ARChoices
• Benefits screening — checking whether your parent qualifies for programs like home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels), transportation assistance, or the Medicare Savings Program
• Elder abuse referrals — connecting with Adult Protective Services when safety concerns arise

Key regional AAAs include CareLink (Central Arkansas/Little Rock metro), White River AAA (Northeast Arkansas), and Northwest Arkansas AAA (Fayetteville/Bentonville area).

DAABHS: The State-Level Coordinator

The Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS) sits above the AAAs within DHS. While you won't interact with DAABHS directly for most services, they oversee:

• The ARChoices in Homecare waiver program administration
• Adult Protective Services statewide
• The Older Americans Act programs distributed through the AAAs
• The state's long-term care planning and policy

The practical contact point for most families is the Choices in Living Resource Center at 1-866-801-3435. This is the statewide information line for long-term care options — they can explain program eligibility, connect you with your regional AAA, and help you start the waiver application process.

Dementia-Specific Programs in Arkansas

Beyond the general AAA services, several Arkansas programs specifically serve families dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia:

Alzheimer's Arkansas Dementia Caregiver Respite Grant — provides direct financial assistance (typically $500 vouchers) for respite care, allowing primary caregivers to take a break from hands-on care. Grants are non-entitlement, meaning funds run out each fiscal year — apply early. Requires a written diagnosis on physician letterhead, updated annually.

Arkansas Lifespan Respite Coalition — coordinates respite care options across the state, including emergency respite when a caregiver has their own medical crisis. Works with both the AAAs and faith-based organizations to maintain a network of trained respite providers.

Silver Alert System — operated by the Arkansas State Police for missing adults with dementia. While not an AAA program, the AAAs can help families understand how to register and what the activation process involves.

PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) — a comprehensive care model available in select Arkansas counties that bundles adult day care, medical care, transportation, and home health services into a single program. For Medicaid-eligible participants, there's no cost. PACE is especially valuable for dementia patients who need multiple services coordinated across providers.

How to Connect with Your Regional AAA

The fastest route is calling the Choices in Living Resource Center at 1-866-801-3435. They'll route you to your regional AAA based on your parent's county of residence.

When you call, have these details ready:

• Your parent's county of residence
• Their current living situation (alone, with spouse, with family, in a facility)
• Any existing diagnoses, especially dementia or Alzheimer's
• Whether they currently receive any government benefits (Medicaid, Medicare, VA)
• Specific needs: respite care, in-home help, facility placement, Medicaid application help

AAA services are free. You don't need to qualify or apply — they serve anyone over 60 (and their caregivers) regardless of income. The counselors won't make decisions for you, but they'll lay out every option you didn't know existed.

What AAAs Can't Do

AAAs connect and counsel. They don't provide legal advice (you'll need an elder law attorney for powers of attorney, Miller Trusts, or guardianship), they don't determine Medicaid eligibility (that's the DHS Division of County Operations), and they don't inspect or rate care facilities (that's the Office of Long Term Care).

For a comprehensive walkthrough of the full dementia care process — from establishing legal authority to navigating Medicaid's income cap to evaluating memory care facilities — the Arkansas Dementia & Memory Care Guide covers every step with Arkansas-specific forms, deadlines, and contact information.

See more Arkansas guides →