Senior benefits in Cleburne County, Arkansas

White River Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA), based in Batesville, is the Area Agency on Aging for Cleburne County. It offers in-home care by trained Home Care Assistants working under a Registered Nurse (bathing and personal care, meal help, medication reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, errands and rides to appointments, and relief for caregivers), care management, a Family Caregiver Program, a personal emergency response system, and veteran programs. Through senior centers in Cleburne County and the rest of its area it offers noon meals, home-delivered meals for people who cannot leave home, wellness classes and rides to the center, grocery stores and pharmacies. Some help may be limited by funding. The Cleburne County office is at 1024 Wilburn Road, Heber Springs. Call 501-362-8615 or toll-free 1-877-869-6974. The main office line is 870-612-3000 (toll-free 1-800-382-3205).

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps households with home energy bills: heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer. In Cleburne County, Community Action Program for Central Arkansas (CAPCA) takes LIHEAP applications. Its office is at 707 Robins St. Ste. 700, Conway; call 501-329-0977. Arkansas LIHEAP pays a regular benefit based on household income, household size and the type of energy used, and a crisis benefit that can prevent a shut-off, restore service, or provide fuel when it has run out. Applications are taken first-come, first-served, typically from January to April 30 and from July to September 30 each year. Apply through this agency, not the Arkansas Energy Office. LIHEAP never charges a fee to apply.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) county office for Cleburne County is at 1521 West Main, Heber Springs, AR 72543-1140. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 501-362-3298. DHS county offices are run by the Division of County Operations, which processes applications for public assistance. You can apply for health care (Medicaid) and SNAP food benefits at your local county office, or apply and manage benefits online at Access.Arkansas.gov.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs is part of Baptist Health, which gives emergency or medically necessary care regardless of ability to pay. Patients without insurance (who do not qualify for other coverage) get an automatic 74% discount off hospital charges. Insured and uninsured patients can get more help on a sliding scale based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines, up to 100% of billed charges, by completing an Application for Financial Assistance with the required documents. The policy does not cover outside services such as Radiology Consultants or Pathology Labs of Arkansas. Ask your Admissions Representative for an application, or call the Heber Springs financial counselor at 501-887-3231 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Patient Financial Services is at 501-202-3900.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Charity care is set by Baptist Health's financial assistance policy; the hospital makes the final award decision.