More than 30 years ago, Rita Hurst and Joe Pascual had a shared vision. They saw an increased need for home care services and the coming increase of people needing those services with the aging of the “baby boomers.” In 1985, they started Superior Senior Care with a single office in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Today, there are 23 locations throughout Arkansas, providing at-home senior care to over 2000 people. We would like to tell you a little about the communities where senior caregivers live and provide care.
Batesville Arkansas Home Care
Located in Batesville, this branch of Superior Senior Care provides services to Cleburne, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Sharp, and Stone County seniors. With a population of just over 10,000 people, Batesville is the oldest city in Independence County. Located on the White River, Batesville is the county seat and is the gateway to the Ozark Mountain region. Batesville is home to Lyon College, a private liberal arts college, and the University of Arkansas Community College.
There are plenty of things to see and do in Batesville. The community center and aquatics park is often referred to as the “crown jewel of Batesville.” This magnificent facility was completed in 2017 and includes a 25,000-square-foot gymnasium, an indoor pool complex that includes a competition pool, a zero-depth entry children’s pool, and a zero-depth entry heated therapy pool. Outside, the aquatic park has two 2-story spiral slides, a lazy river, and much more.
Some nearby attractions include the Blanchard Springs Caverns, Bridal Veil Falls, the NASCAR legend Mark Martin Museum, Polk Bayou, Sugarloaf Mountain, and much, much more. Don’t miss events such as the Arkansas Scottish Festival held at Lyon College in April, or the Christmas Season Light Show held on the banks of the White River.
Benton Arkansas Home Care
This branch of Superior Senior Care is located in a suburb of Little Rock and has a population of over 35,000 people. It is the county seat of Saline County. The Saline River runs through Benton and is considered one of the best canoeing and fishing rivers in the area.
The Saline River is the largest undammed river in the Ouachita drainage area. Most of the river banks are lined with dense forest and are unspoiled by man. You will spot lots of wildlife as you canoe the river. Fishing is great for many varieties of bass, as well as sunfish and catfish, and there is a good Arkansas Walleye Fishery on the river as well.
Originally Benton was a mining town. They mined bauxite, which also known as aluminum. There is a museum in Benton dedicated to the history of bauxite and the people who mined it.
Blytheville Arkansas Home Care
This branch of Superior Senior Care provides care to residents of Mississippi County. Blytheville is a town of approximately 15,000 people and is the largest city in Mississippi County. Blytheville was developed as the lumber industry thrived following the Great Fire of Chicago. After the deforestation, the area became farmland, with cotton being the main crop. Today, farmers also raise soybeans and rice. The Blytheville Air Base was an important part of the community, and when it was closed in 1992 it was a devastating blow to the community. Now the former air base houses a variety of businesses, and the growth of the steel industry has greatly helped in the recovery.
Attractions in Blytheville include the Blytheville Greyhound bus station, which was purchased by the Blytheville Mainstreet Organization. It is one of the few remaining Art Deco bus stations surviving in the U.S. Built in 1932, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Mississippi Delta is also the flyway for many migratory birds and attracts bird watchers to Blytheville from all over the U.S.
Brinkley Arkansas Home Care
This branch of Superior Senior Care provides services to residents of Monroe County. Brinkley is the largest city in Monroe County, with a population of over 3,000. In 1872, Brinkley was founded as a railroad town and is named after the president of the railway company. Brinkley is located along some of the overland trails, including the Butterfield Overland Mail Route and the infamous Trail of Tears. These trails are part of the Arkansas Heritage Trail System.
Near Brinkley is the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, where in 2004 the Ivory Billed Woodpecker was rediscovered. This woodpecker was thought to be extinct for 60 years. Since the town of Brinkley is on the flyway for waterfowl, duck hunting has become a major tourist attraction in the winter months, Brinkley is also near the Louisiana Purchase State Park and the Marian McCollum/Greenlee Lake, which has two barrier-free fishing docks.
The city of Brinkley restored the railroad depot, and the 1912 Central Delta Depot Museum and visitor center is located in the downtown district. Also of interest is the Floyd Brown Agricultural School museum. Floyd Brown started the school in 1919 to provide a high school education to black students. Thousands of students have attended high school there over its 30-year history.
Conway Arkansas Home Care
This branch of Superior Senior Care serves Faulkner, Perry, and Van Buren Counties. Conway, with a population of over 65,000, is the county seat of Faulkner County in central Arkansas. Conway was started as a railroad city.
In 1879, Father Strub, the founder of Duquesne University, convinced the railroad to deed land to him for the purpose of building a church and encouraging Germans to immigrate to Arkansas. Land was sold to the German immigrants for twenty-five cents an acre. Many of the city’s German street names come from those immigrants.
Nicknamed the City of Colleges, there are three colleges in Conway: the University of Central Arkansas, Hendrix College, and Central Baptist College.
Conway has a vibrant cultural arts community. The Symphony Orchestra performs a full season, and Conway also has the only professional Shakespeare Company in Arkansas. The Baum Gallery of Fine Art on the UCA campus is open to the public. The Cadron Settlement Park is located on the Trail of Tears and has a restored blockhouse and a mural of the original settlement. The park has picnic sites and many trails, including handicapped-accessible trails.
El Dorado Arkansas Home Care
This branch of Superior Senior Care serves residents of Bradley, Calhoun, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, Ouachita, and Union Counties. El Dorado is the county seat of Union County on the southern border of Arkansas. With a current population of over 18,000, El Dorado began as an oil “boom town.” Oil, along with forestry and the chemical industries, is still an important part of the local economy.
The restored downtown is a reflection of the boomtown days, with architecture of the 1930s prominently featured. There is a guided tour of the downtown available, and it includes many buildings listed on the National Register.
The arts and music are big parts of life in El Dorado. The Murphy Arts District has a restaurant and entertainment complex that features big-name entertainment. El Dorado also is home to the South Arkansas Symphony. There are multiple festivals that take place, including the Mayhaw Festival and Musicfest.
If you are looking for outdoor activities, the South Arkansas Arboretum State Park comprises 12 acres of wooded land featuring native plants such as azaleas and camellias. There are paved trails throughout that are perfect for senior caregivers and family members providing at-home senior care.
Fayetteville Arkansas Home Care
This branch of Superior Senior Care provides in-home care to Madison and Washington County residents. Fayetteville is the third-largest city in Arkansas, with a population of 77,000. It is the county seat of Washington County.
Fayetteville is the home of the University of Arkansas, the largest university in Arkansas. Collegiate sports are enjoyed by all in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks football, basketball, and baseball teams bring in fans of all ages with the call of the Hogs. While the university draws lots of people to its events, there are lots of other activities like roller derby, biking, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.
The arts are very well supported in Fayetteville. From the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas to film festivals, to the Music and Art Festival and the Artosphere Festival, Fayetteville has attracted many of the nation’s best artists. There are numerous art galleries and art auctions. Fayetteville’s support of the arts is apparent, as there are art installations on almost every street corner.
Forrest City Arkansas Home Care
This branch of Superior Senior Care provides home care service to residents of Crittenden, Cross, Lee, St. Francis, and Woodruff Counties. Forrest City is the county seat of St. Francis County and has a population of over 15,000 people. Located in the east-central part of Arkansas, Forrest City refers to itself as the “Jewel of the Delta.”
Forrest City is home to the East Arkansas Community College. The college provides access to the arts through its EACC Fine Arts Center. This “Class A”-designated performance hall is one of only three in the entire state of Arkansas. This facility includes an art gallery, a black box theater, a banquet hall, and an 1100-seat auditorium.
A short distance from Forrest City is the Village Creek State Park located on Crowley’s Ridge. This park includes numerous trails, including a segment of the Trail of Tears. Camping is available, including equestrian camping, and the park features an Andy-Dye-designed championship golf course.
Fort Smith Arkansas Home Care
This branch of Superior Senior Care provides services to Crawford, Franklin, Logan (West), Scott, and Sebastian County seniors. Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas, with a population of 90,000. Located on the border with Oklahoma, on the Arkansas River, Fort Smith was a frontier military post in 1817. This area was part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The fort became the center for the city of Fort Smith.
Fort Smith offers many attractions, such as art museums, history museums, and historic districts. The annual Old Fort Days Rodeo is considered one of the top rodeos held in the country. Take a ride on the A&M Railway through the Arkansas River Valley and the Ozark and Boston Mountains. This year is slated for the opening of the U.S. Marshals Service National Museum in Fort Smith.
Helena Arkansas Home Care
This branch of Superior Senior Care provides home care services to Phillips and Monroe Counties. Helena and West Helena were consolidated in 2006 and are located on the Eastern side of Arkansas on the Mississippi. This consolidation of the two cities brought the population to over 15,000 people.
The area is famous for its roots in the blues. Every October, Helena hosts the King Biscuit Blues Festival—the largest blues festival in the world. The King Biscuit Radio Show is the longest continually running daily blues radio show in the U.S. You can watch the live broadcast at its remote studio in the Delta Cultural Center.
The Mississippi River has a great impact on the town of Helena. You can relive the riverboat days when you see the steamboats The American Queen and The American Duchess make their stops in Helena.
Hot Springs Arkansas Home Care
The Superior Senior Care Hot Springs Office provides care for residents of Garland, Hot Spring, Clark, Montgomery, Pike, and Saline County. Hot Springs, Arkansas is the county seat for Garland County and has a population of about 37,000. The city is located in the Ouachita Mountains and near the Ouachita National Forest. This city is the corporate headquarters for Superior Senior Care.
The city is named after the thermal springs which supply municipal hot water that is said to have medicinal qualities. The springs were the source of revenue to the city as spas featuring the thermal water became popular. To protect the water source, the community asked for government involvement, and the Hot Springs National Park was formed. It includes Bathhouse Row, which consists of eight historic bathhouses and gardens. The downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an historic district.
Hot Springs has a huge baseball history as well. The site of spring training for numerous major league teams, the city also hosted Negro League baseball and was the site of play for many baseball greats, such as Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron.
There is a vibrant arts scene in Hot Springs. In fact, Hot Springs’ fine arts community was named number 4 in the “America’s Top 100 Small Arts Towns.” There are annual festivals, including a music festival and a documentary film festival, a jazz festival, and a blues festival.
The First Half
These are half of the communities and areas served by Superior Senior Care. Part two will introduce the rest of the communities served.]]>