3rd
OVERALL STATE RANK
Assisted living in Arkansas is broken into two levels of care. Level 1 facilities offer supervision and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). Level 2 facilities offer more direct assistance with ADLs and must have a registered nurse on staff. The average cost of assisted living in Arkansas is $4,130 per month, which comes out to $49,560 per year.[01] Assisted living in Arkansas is more expensive than independent living but less expensive than memory care.
State scorecard
How we determine rankings
Our 2023 state ranking for assisted living uses A Place for Mom’s proprietary data collected from our community partners. First, we sorted through our metrics and grouped them into three pillars that are key in a quality assisted living experience. We weighted these pillars differently based on insights from our senior living experts. Then, we used these categories and their weighting to determine how each state ranks. Read our full methodology
Top ranked Arkansas cities for assisted living overall
Key findings
State highlights
Southern hospitality plays a large role in Arkansas assisted living communities. About 81% of assisted living communities offer guest meals for visiting friends and family, and nearly 93% offer complimentary transportation for residents.
Top ranked Arkansas cities - Services & Amenities
Key findings
Arkansas vs. the national monthly median cost of assisted living
Top ranked Arkansas cities - Affordability
Key findings
Top ranked Arkansas cities - Ratings
From the initial visit, I noticed the difference in Willow Grove and the many other facilities I had toured. The staff knows everyone’s name and show real concern and care for each person. [name removed]...
West Shores is great! Would I recommend anyone else to live here? Absolutely! It doesn't take much to make a person like me happy. All I need is good friends, good wine, and good music. West Shores offers...
In the struggle of having family away from home, it means so much to feel comfortable with the staff. I am grateful for the service of the care team and their extra effort in showing care especially during...
From the initial visit, I noticed the difference in Willow Grove and the many other facilities I had toured. The staff knows everyone’s name and show real concern and care for each person. [name removed]...
The social director at Brookdale Chenal Little Rock is great. He makes every holiday a special event with decoration, entertainment and holiday food. My husband was recently crowned King of Valentine with a...
The social director at Brookdale Chenal Little Rock is great. He makes every holiday a special event with decoration, entertainment and holiday food. My husband was recently crowned King of Valentine with a...
I haven't eaten there but there is always a nice variety. The value for cost seems good, but I have nothing to compare to. I liked the two big windows in his room and that there were other windows that...
I would definitely recommend Wellington Memory Care to friends and family. They treat your loved one just like family and there's no better feeling than knowing that your loved one is being properly cared...
I've been pleased overall. They had a lot of damage over the winter and many of the amenities were unavailable. No price cut was given and it took a long time to get things back on track! Some of the help is...
We are on our 3rd director and have had significant turnover in housecleaning staff, kitchen staff, and marketing. The new director has been very active and open to the residents. I sense there is difficulty...
Wonderful community for staff and residents. Amazingly genuine group of care givers who work from the heart. Wonderful community for staff and residents. Amazingly genuine group of care givers who work from...
The cost of assisted living in Arkansas ranges from $2,595 to $5,752 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. The national average cost of assisted living is $5,126 per month.[01] Although fees and care needs are included in this monthly average, keep in mind that fees can change along with a senior’s care needs.
In Arkansas, the level assigned to the assisted living facility will likely affect cost. While Level 1 and Level 2 communities both provide 24-hour supervision and help with activities of daily living, Level 2 communities provide more substantial assistance and have a registered nurse on staff. Therefore, you can expect to pay more at a Level 2 facility.
Several factors can affect the cost of assisted living. These include:
Medicare and Medicaid may help offset some of the costs of medical expenses in assisted living.
Average monthly costs
Arkansas
US National average
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
Average monthly costs
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Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Seniors and their families have several options to consider when paying for assisted living. The earlier you plan for assisted living, the more options you’ll have to consider. This is especially true if you’re planning on applying for any public assistance, as some programs, such as some Arkansas Medicaid benefits, have a waiting period.
It’s also helpful to keep in mind that most families use a combination of different private and public payment methods, such as retirement funds and veterans benefits. For an overview of the payment options you may wish to consider, also consult our guide to paying for long-term care.
Private pay options include retirement accounts and life insurance policies, along with other assets.
Seniors who served their country, as well as their surviving spouses, may be eligible for veterans benefits. Many seniors and their families may not know this, or they may assume that they’re ineligible. When you’re considering veterans benefits, it’s important to receive benefits counseling to have a better understanding of all the options.
In Arkansas, seniors can receive information and assistance with applications at these VA offices:
Often great allies and advocates for veterans, veterans service organizations (VSOs) are one of the best resources available for understanding benefits. In Arkansas, look to these VSOs for assistance:
Medicaid is a government program that can help low-income seniors receive necessary medical care. It’s administered jointly by the federal and state governments, meaning that each state has unique Medicaid features and programs. In Arkansas, Medicaid is known as Access Arkansas.
Medicaid doesn’t cover the cost of room and board for assisted living facilities. However, it can help cover some of the costs of care for a senior in assisted living through Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers. Visit Access Arkansas to learn about all your options, including long-term services and supports Medicaid assistance and the Living Choices program, which is specifically for seniors in assisted living communities.
Medicare is federal health insurance available to seniors upon turning 65. While Medicare doesn’t cover custodial costs, including room and board, it can help to offset any medically necessary costs. If you’re unsure whether a service will be covered under Medicare, reach out to the Arkansas Social Security Administration. For additional help and advocacy, the Arkansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a useful resource.
Specific Medicare programs offered in Arkansas can also help seniors cover the cost of health care:
Level 1 or Level 2 care. While both levels of care offer 24-hour supervision, Level 1 facilities focus on supervision and observation when offering assistance with ADLs. Level 2 communities focus on providing more hands-on assistance for seniors and must have a registered nurse on staff. Facilities must be licensed through Arkansas’ Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services, and the Office of Long-Term Care.
After a facility becomes licensed, they must renew their license yearly through the Department of Human Services. Approximately every 18 months, the Office of Long-Term Care conducts on-site surveys and inspections, which may be unannounced. This office also investigates any complaints about an assisted living facility. Although inspection reports aren’t available online, you may ask the facility directly or contact the Department of Human Services for inspection records.
Arkansas has several requirements for assisted living facilities, including the following:
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
We developed a system to rate each state on how easy — or difficult — it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and we compiled tips to help you in your search.
States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.
Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of Arkansas is moderate. Here are some key findings that informed this rating:
We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and we based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:
Overview of assisted living in AR
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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