Little Rock is known for its rich history, stunning riverside attractions, and even its robust senior care options. The city offers several nursing homes for seniors who can no longer live independently and need specialized nursing services due to existing medical conditions. In a nursing home, residents receive 24/7 skilled nursing care along with nutritious meals and opportunities to socialize.
Many use the term “nursing home” to describe any type of senior living facility. It’s often used interchangeably to describe skilled nursing care, assisted living, and memory care. However, assisted living facilities offer support for seniors who need help with activities of daily living. Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living specifically for people with a dementia diagnosis. Neither assisted living nor memory care typically provide 24-hour nursing care on-site, while nursing homes do.
A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with standalone nursing homes, but we do partner with assisted living and memory care facilities, better options for a loved one who doesn’t need round-the-clock skilled nursing care. In this guide, you’ll find more information on the types of senior care facilities in Little Rock, payment tips, laws and regulations governing the facilities, and much more.
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One of the most important and practical aspects of moving a loved one to a skilled nursing care facility is understanding how to pay for the costs involved. In Little Rock, the monthly cost of a nursing home is $6,083.[01]
If a senior loved one doesn’t require the round-the-clock medical care of a nursing home, senior care facilities offer a more affordable option. Here are average costs according to A Place for Mom’s 2023 proprietary data on what actual families paid our partner communities:[02]
The average costs for assisted living and memory care in Little Rock typically cover the following amenities:
Keep in mind that prices may vary between communities. For instance, many amenities like specialized therapies, on-site salon treatments, transportation services, and pet services incur additional fees.
The majority of seniors use a combination of private funds and public assistance programs to cover the cost of a nursing home in Little Rock. Options largely depend on a senior’s personal history and financial situation, but some commonly used programs include veterans benefits, Medicare, and/or Medicaid. Learn more about these private and public pay options and how you can use them to cover nursing home and senior care costs below.
In Arkansas, nursing homes and other senior care facilities must be licensed by the Office of Long-Term Care, which is operated by the Division of Medical Services at the Arkansas Department of Human Services. To help you understand how Arkansas helps ensure a safe long-term care environment, we’ve outlined the regulations that each senior care facility and nursing home must follow.
Nursing homes are inspected by the Office of Long-Term Care and they can be inspected at any time. If a nursing home fails to meet requirements, any deficiencies are noted on form 2567. Nursing homes must display this form in an area where residents, families, and visitors can easily see it.
The Office of Long-Term Care recommends looking at Medicare.gov’s nursing home compare website to find overall ratings and inspection information. These nursing home reports include information on the following:
Beyond being licensed, nursing homes must follow nursing-home specific rules to be ready to provide 24/7 care for residents. In this capacity, “care” is all-encompassing and includes everything from medical treatment and attention to nutritional concerns. Any licensed nursing homes in Arkansas are to be staffed by licensed professionals.
The regulations for assisted living and memory care are both included below because memory care is considered a specialized type of assisted living in Arkansas. Licenses must be renewed annually, and the Office of Long-Term Care performs a survey (or inspection) of each facility approximately once a year. Inspections are not available to view online, but you can contact the Arkansas Department of Human Services or ask a facility to see the most recent inspection.
The Office of Long-Term Care licenses and regulates assisted living facilities (ALFs) as Level I or Level II facilities. Here are the differences between the two:
Both levels of assisted living facilities must provide the following:[08,09]
Arkansas Department of Health contact information
4815 W Markham
Little Rock, AR 72205-3867
Phone: 800-462-0599
Due to the overall decline of COVID-19, the state of Arkansas and the city of Little Rock don’t require senior care communities to follow any specific COVID-19 guidelines. Residents of Little Rock can visit the COVID-19 page on the Arkansas Department of Health website to view any recent updates regarding local COVID-19 protocols.
Even though A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with nursing homes, there are still a few great options for seniors who require 24/7 skilled nursing services. In Little Rock, these communities typically provide the following services:
For seniors who don’t require 24-hour skilled nursing care, one of our partnering assisted living or memory care facilities may be a better fit. They offer assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), some nursing services, nutritious meals, fun amenities, and a robust calendar of activities. Learn more about what our Little Rock senior care partners offer below.
Nearly all of our partner assisted living and memory care facilities in Little Rock offer some on-site nursing services. Services vary between facilities, but seniors can typically expect wellness checks where on-site nurses monitor vitals and help them manage common health conditions like diabetes and incontinence. They also help with medication management, and most of our senior care partners provide visiting physical, occupational, and speech therapists to help senior residents recover after an injury or hospital visit.
Our partner Little Rock senior care facilities help residents lead fulfilling lives by offering a range of amenities and a calendar filled with diverse activities. Activities and amenities differ greatly between senior care facilities and nursing homes because senior care residents are typically more active.
Some of the most common activities found in Little Rock assisted living and memory care facilities include the following:
Residents can also spend their free time in shared spaces using on-site amenities. Here are some of the most common amenities you can expect to find at our partnering Little Rock communities:
Many of these activities can typically be found in both Little Rock assisted living and memory care facilities, however, memory care typically personalizes activities and amenities to meet the needs of individuals with dementia. Amenities and activities like reminiscence therapies, life skill stations that replicate real-life environments, and other specific memory care programs help manage common dementia symptoms in residents.
Another benefit of our Little Rock senior care communities is that they all offer multiple levels of care to enable seniors to age in place. Care levels include independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Here’s a closer look at the types of care offered in combination at these communities:
In Little Rock, more than half of our senior care partners offer all three options — independent living, assisted living, and memory care. And, a little less than half offer only one or a combination of two.[02]
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When your loved one moves to a senior care community in Little Rock, some of their medical needs may be provided on-site. However, they may need to seek out other care providers in Pulaski County. Here’s a brief look at Little Rock’s top-rated hospitals:
Generally speaking, older adults who live in a nursing home are less likely to leave the facility regularly because medical care is typically provided on-site. In the case that nursing home residents do need to leave, Little Rock nursing homes usually accommodate safe transportation with supervision.
For Little Rock seniors who live in our partner assisted living or memory care facilities, transportation is easily coordinated. Most of our partner senior care facilities offer complimentary and/or at-cost transportation services to residents. Keep in mind that some communities may limit rides to essential errands and medical appointments while others offer rides to personal and social events.
Visiting families and friends may also utilize local transportation options to get around Little Rock with their senior loved one. The METRO offers a bus line, a single light rail line, and a limited-run streetcar (METRO StreetCar). Any METRO passengers who are disabled, on Medicare, or over the age of 65 are eligible for discounts. METRO buses are wheelchair accessible, making them a comfortable choice for seniors who rely on one. The CareLink system is specific to Little Rock and helps those ages 60+ who need to go to appointments and who have no other means of transportation.
In Little Rock, residents have several exciting, fun, educational, and rewarding activities to choose from. Just because your loved one lives in a senior care facility, it doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy some of the area’s most popular attractions or experiences with you.
All of the facilities we partner with offer outings to fun local attractions. These outings change from week to week and month to month, making it possible for your loved one to feel more acquainted with Little Rock. Of course, you may also want to plan visits to see your loved one. The following places in and around Little Rock are noteworthy to local seniors.
Museums
Little Rock offers some educational, informational, and unusual museums that might appeal to the seniors in your life. Seniors can learn about the city’s rich history, examine artworks from around the world, or view historic replicas at the famous Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. Luckily, most museums offer accessible accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
Historical landmarks
History lovers can spend an afternoon browsing the Arkansas State Capitol or learn more about the iconic Civil Rights movement — Little Rock Nine — at the Central High School National Historic Site. Seniors can see where history was made and reflect on the day when nine teenagers began the end of segregation in schools. Both provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities, so be sure to call in advance and plan accordingly.
Performing arts
The city has a lively entertainment scene. Families can take out their senior loved ones to attend a comedy show, symphony, orchestra, play, or even a dinner theater. The Arkansas Repertory Theatre is one of the city’s oldest theaters and it’s now a nonprofit known for its showings of famous plays and musicals. If your loved one has a disability, you can reserve accessible seating and ask for an assistive listening device. You can also contact the box office for questions about other accommodations.
Outdoor activities
Many seniors prefer to explore nature areas when they leave their communities. Fortunately, Little Rock has tons of outdoor and recreational areas where seniors can golf, go on a walk, enjoy a picnic, and much more. There are many scenic areas and accessible trails at the Arkansas Arboretum Trail and Riverfront Park.
Shops and restaurants
Little Rock seniors enjoy an array of cuisines with a robust selection of restaurants. Seniors can enjoy comfort foods, a fine dining experience, or a delicious coffee. Seniors who enjoy shopping can also explore the city’s local boutiques or shopping centers.
Willow Grove of Sherwood, Woodland Heights and Brookdale Chenal Heights are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Little Rock, AR. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Little Rock is $4,656 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Genworth Financial. (2021). Cost of Care Survey.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Little Rock City, Arkansas.
MyArmyBenefits. U.S. Army. (2023, July). Arkansas military and veterans benefits.
Arkansas Department of Human Services. (2023). Long-term services and supports (LTSS) Medicaid assistance.
Medicare.gov. Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care.
Department of Health and Human Services. (2015). Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy: 2015 Edition.
Office of Long Term Care. Division of Medical Services. Arkansas Department of Human Services. (2022, June). Rules for assisted living facilities level I.
Office of Long Term Care. Division of Medical Services. Arkansas Department of Human Services. (2022, June). Rules for assisted living facilities level II.
U.S. News and World Report. Best hospitals in Little Rock, AR.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
Genworth Financial. (2021). Cost of Care Survey.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Little Rock City, Arkansas.
MyArmyBenefits. U.S. Army. (2023, July). Arkansas military and veterans benefits.
Arkansas Department of Human Services. (2023). Long-term services and supports (LTSS) Medicaid assistance.
Medicare.gov. Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care.
Department of Health and Human Services. (2015). Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy: 2015 Edition.
Office of Long Term Care. Division of Medical Services. Arkansas Department of Human Services. (2022, June). Rules for assisted living facilities level I.
Office of Long Term Care. Division of Medical Services. Arkansas Department of Human Services. (2022, June). Rules for assisted living facilities level II.
U.S. News and World Report. Best hospitals in Little Rock, AR.