Under the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services, Office of Long Term Care regulations, an assisted living facility is defined as a building, group of buildings, part of an entity or any other physical entity, whether non-profit or for profit, providing assisted living services exceeding 24 hours to more than three elderly residents unrelated to the owner or administrator under a contractual agreement. Assisted living in Arkansas is also synonymous with personal care.
The services defined in an assisted living community under the state of Arkansas are as follows:
There are currently 600 assisted senior care homes operating in Arkansas.
| City | Monthly Minimum | Monthly Maximum | Monthly Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conway | $1,706 | $4,238 | $3,050 |
| Fayetteville | $1,025 | $3,950 | $2,700 |
| Fort Smith | $1,300 | $4,033 | $1,975 |
| Hot Springs | $1,300 | $4,000 | $3,490 |
| Jonesboro | $3,300 | $3,300 | $3,300 |
| Little Rock | $1,706 | $4,238 | $3,050 |
The average cost of an assisted living facility in Arkansas is $3,063 per month, which is right in line with the national average of assisted living or personal care costs. Like a majority of the south, Arkansas is named the fifth cheapest state for long-term care annually. Compared to the surrounding states, Arkansas falls on the lower end of the cost spectrum for senior assisted living.
For more information about assisted living costs in Arkansas, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.
Located in the heartland of America, Arkansas has been in the midst of many important civil rights, political and historical events, which shaped the United States. Museums like the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Clinton Presidential Center and the Mid-America Science Museum present interactive exhibits and informative displays about the chronicled political and historical happenings enjoyable for all ages.
State parks and forests mix Arkansas culture and history for a unique experience of the heartland lifestyle. Living Arkansas history such as food, music, and culture can be found at the Ozark Folk Center and at the Crater of Diamonds State Park. For those looking for outdoor recreation, fishing, hiking, camping, walking trails and hot springs can be found at one of Arkansas beautiful nature preserves such as the Hot Springs National Park or the Ozark–St. Francis National Forest.
Indigenous wildlife can be seen at the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo or the Little Rock Zoo. Arkansas’ urban areas offer variable theaters and sports entertainment such as the notable and decorated college basketball team University of Arkansas’ Arkansas Razorbacks.
Residents in Arkansas are known for their hospitality, as well as their conservative and religious views. In Arkansas, you will find traditional country fried cooking, delicious barbecues, and don’t forget the grits. Another huge part of Arkansas culture is football, especially at the collegiate level.
Because of its central location, Arkansas is susceptible to influencing weather systems from all directions. Primarily, Arkansas weather is described as fairly hot and humid especially in the summers. Winters are fairly mild with temperatures never dropping below freezing even in the dead of winter. As spring follows, temperatures steadily climb into the 60 degrees Fahrenheit range. Summers are characterized by average temperatures falling into the mid to high 80 degrees Fahrenheit range. The summer heat continues into the fall with temperatures hovering around the 70 degrees Fahrenheit range.
Rain falls approximately 30 percent of the year resulting in roughly 50 inches of rain annually. Extreme weather in the state includes thunderstorms, ice storms, hailstorms, and tornadoes.
Assisted Living facilities are regulated by a state-to-state basis. Every state has a publicly accessible legal document outlining the regulations, licensing, operation and other rules for assisted living. Official regulations for assisted living facilities, including personal care services, in the state of Arkansas, can be obtained by following this link.
The Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services, Office of Long-Term Care is responsible for the oversight including inspections of all assisted living senior homes in Arkansas. Inspection records, citations, violations and other public records on assisted living communities in Arkansas can be obtained through written request; however, this is only available to Arkansas residents.
When moving to a new community, it is important to take note of your surroundings and make sure you choose a safe place to live. Arkansas ranks slightly higher than the national crime averages, so it is important to choose your community wisely. Listed below are some of the safest communities in the state.
| Location | Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents | Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents |
|---|---|---|
| Greenbrier | 0.00 | 1.57 |
| Malvern | 0.73 | 4.46 |
| Bella Vista | 0.94 | 4.82 |
| Centerton | 1.83 | 6.07 |
(Source: safewise.com)
For those looking for financial assistance, Arkansas provides Medicare beneficiaries with monetary help for assisted living via the Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver. This waiver falls under the jurisdiction of the State of Arkansas Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS). Because this is a government program, a cap may be in place resulting in a waiting list for services.
Alternate payment options are available. Families can apply for an assisted living family loan. This provides temporary or long-term financial assistance when paying for assisted senior care. The program allows multiple people to contribute to payment.
While residing in the facility, a resident retains constitutional civil rights, rights of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. The resident also retains the right to personal possessions, autonomy over personal finances, bodily autonomy, and power of attorney. The resident has a right to be informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations, abuse, neglect and the like. In the state of Arkansas, legal regulations of assisted living facilities concerning residents can be found in the Rules and Regulations for Assisted Living Facilities created by the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Specific rules concerning residents unique to Arkansas are as follows:
Assisted living homes in Arkansas are required to provide any type of heath services that are ordered by an attending physician, as well as keep all medical information confidential, accurate, and complete. All medical records must be kept at least 7 years from the date of discharge.
Residents have access to their medical records and can request a copy of all or a portion of their medical records, and access them within 24 hours. They can also request a copy of some or all of the information at a cost not to exceed the community standard for photocopies.
