Senior benefits in Izard County, Arkansas

White River Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA), based in Batesville, is the Area Agency on Aging for Izard 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 Izard 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 Izard County office is at 674 E. Main Street, Melbourne. Call 870-368-3256 or toll-free 1-877-283-7738. 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 Izard County, Northcentral Arkansas Development Council (NADC) takes LIHEAP applications. Its office is at 1900 Lyon St., Batesville; call 870-793-5765. 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 Izard County is at 278 E Main, Melbourne, AR 72556. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 870-368-4318. 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

North Arkansas Transportation Service (NATS) is a public transit service run by the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. Its service area is Baxter, Boone, Fulton, Izard, Marion, Newton and Searcy counties and parts of Carroll and Madison counties. Anyone may ride; there are no age limits. NATS gives rides for medical visits, shopping and personal trips, and takes Medicaid and Medicare clients to medical visits. Dial-A-Ride trips need a reservation 24 hours ahead. Dial-A-Ride fares are $7.00 for trips of 0 through 10 miles and $10.00 for 11 through 20 miles; rides inside Mountain Home city limits are free and rides inside Harrison city limits are $3.00. Offices in Harrison and Mountain Home are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 4:30. Call 870-741-8008 to schedule.

Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year