Arkansas · waiver service
ARChoices in Homecare in Arkansas
ARChoices in Homecare is an Arkansas Medicaid waiver that pays for home care for adults 65 and older and adults 21–64 with physical disabilities who would otherwise need a nursing home. Attendant care is given by agency workers, or the member can self-direct through IndependentChoices and hire a relative other than a spouse.
Also called: ARChoices · ARChoices waiver · ARChoices in Homecare waiver · Arkansas Choices · Arkansas elderly waiver
Who do you care for?
Quick facts
- Pay
- Not published
- Adult children & other relatives
- Sometimes
- Spouse
- Not right now
- Parent of a minor child
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- capped
Who qualifies for ARChoices in Homecare
- Age 65 or older, or age 21–64 with a physical disability determined by Social Security or the DHS Medical Review Team.
- Meets nursing home admission criteria at the intermediate level of care (people at the skilled level are not eligible).
- Meets Medicaid financial criteria.
- Needs at least one ARChoices service.
Who can be paid as the caregiver
- Adult children & other relatives Sometimes
- relatives such as adult children can be paid when the member self-directs attendant care through IndependentChoices.
- Spouse Not right now
- spouses and legal guardians cannot be hired as caregivers.
- Parent of a minor child Not right now
- ARChoices serves adults 21 and older.
- Living together
- not required.
Who employs the caregiver: Either. Licensed agencies provide attendant care by default; members can self-direct through IndependentChoices, where they are the employer and PPL runs payroll.
Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Arkansas.
How much ARChoices in Homecare pays
Not published. No family-caregiver wage is published. In IndependentChoices, the monthly allowance is based on authorized hours at up to 78.11% of the Medicaid personal care rate and is limited by the member's ARChoices Individual Services Budget.
Hours and budget: A DHS nurse assesses the member, and a person-centered service plan (PCSP) sets services and an Individual Services Budget. Services include attendant care, adult day, respite, home-delivered meals, emergency response systems, home modifications and prevocational services.
Compare with other Arkansas programs on the Arkansas caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist?
ARChoices is not an entitlement. Enrollment slots are limited (reported at about 11,500 a year) and a waiting list forms when they are full.
How to apply for ARChoices in Homecare
- Apply at Access Arkansas (access.arkansas.gov) or call Access Arkansas at 855-372-1084, or visit a DHS county office.
- Complete the financial review and a DHS nurse assessment for intermediate level of care.
- Work with your case manager on a person-centered service plan.
- If you want to pay a relative, choose IndependentChoices for attendant care.
- Access Arkansas · 855-372-1084 · official site
- Choices in Living Resource Center · 866-801-3435 · official site
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ARChoices in Homecare questions
Does ARChoices pay family caregivers?
Yes, through IndependentChoices. The member gets a cash allowance and can hire a relative such as an adult child. Spouses and guardians cannot be paid.
Who is eligible for ARChoices?
Adults 65 and older, or 21–64 with a physical disability, who need intermediate nursing-home-level care and meet Medicaid financial rules.
Is there a waiting list?
Often. ARChoices has a limited number of slots, and a waiting list forms when they fill.
What if I need skilled nursing-level care?
People determined to need the skilled level of care are not eligible for ARChoices.
What services does ARChoices cover?
Attendant care, adult day health, adult day services, case management, home modifications, home-delivered meals, emergency response systems, prevocational services and respite.
Sources: humanservices.arkansas.gov · humanservices.arkansas.gov · law.cornell.edu · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Arkansas caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Arkansas — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Arkansas
Each state writes its own rules, and they differ more than people expect — a spouse who can be paid on one side of the line often cannot be on the other.