Caregiver Resources

The White River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. offers a number of services to caregivers of seniors— and, in limited cases, to a grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver of a child 18 years of age or under. These services are provided to caregivers with the greatest need as determined through assessment.

Services

The White River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. offers the following caregiver services based on need and the availability of funds:

• Respite Services Our respite services provide temporary relief to family members or friends who are providing long term care in their homes.
• Supplemental Services In home services offered to assist the caregiver with the task of taking care of a loved one. May include in-home personal care services and homemaker services.
• Caregiver Training Classes Educational opportunities are available in each county to improve the caregiver's ability to provide care and to offer socialization and support in fellowship with other caregivers.
• Aging Arkansas Monthly Newspaper Available by subscription, this award-winning publication includes articles for caregivers with every issue.
• Care Management A care manager is appointed to work with the caregiver and family to secure and manage appropriate services. He or she also monitors the case on a regular basis.
• Elder Rights WRAAA contracts with various legal advocacy groups who offer free legal assistance to eligible low-income seniors.
• Long Term Care Ombudsman The Ombudsman strives to be a trusted advocate for all residents by educating them regarding their rights; empowering residents to speak for themselves; and providing advocacy for those without a voice, works cooperatively with nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other board and care facilities to improve the quality of life for residents.  The Long Term Care Ombudsman serves as patient’s rights advocates, investigating and negotiating resolutions to concerns voiced by residents and family members in matters of resident service and care. The term Ombudsman is derived from a Swedish word meaning “agent”.

Eligibility

For the purposes of receiving public assisted services, the following definitions apply:

• Family Caregiver Defined as an adult family member, or another individual, who is an informal provider of in-home and community care to an older individual. There are no income guidelines.
• Grandparent or Older Individual who is a Relative Caregiver Defined as a grandparent or step-grandparent of a child, or a relative of a child by blood or marriage, who is 60 years of age or older and (A) lives with the child; (B) is the primary caregiver of the child because the biological or adoptive parents are unable or unwilling to serve as the primary caregiver of the child; and, (C) has a legal relationship to the child, such as legal custody or guardianship, or is raising the child informally. There are no income guidelines, however only a maximum of 10 percent of the agency's allocation for family caregivers may be spent in this category.

These services are also available on a private pay basis.  No eligibility guidelines apply.