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.
I liked the value for cost. The cleanliness was a plus. I toured several places. The location suited my needs in relation to other places within easy driving distance. I liked the appearance.
Staff is friendly, patient, caring and are always flexible and available to answer questions. They treat family members who live in memory care with patience, respect, and concern.
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...
What our family likes the most about the Parkway Village community is that it has a sense of family and the staff members are very helpful. Based on the experience so far, we would recommend this community...
Everyone who interacted with myself and my father-in-law were very polite and caring. Always kept us informed of any situation. Facility is very clean and the Memory Care unit is very secure. No worries...
Overall, the facility is very clean. Dad's room is not always cleaned though. A couple of things made us choose the Summit. It was a new facility for one, and the director and staff were just so awesome that...
Willow Grove surpasses anything that I have ever seen. Staff is great. Food is great. Likes the fact of having a private room.
I would give it a 5 in all areas. The staff and residents were very friendly. My Dad enjoyed his short time there. The food was excellent and the food service staff knew what he liked. We chose Vitality...
Always good to visit several times to see how the day goes when looking to find a place for your aging parents. They are willing to work with the family to find the best care and value for her money. I do...
This is a nice community to live in if the resident can keep themselves occupied. There is a patio in the back and great scenery. There is help if you need help but for more independent living . Its just...
There's no perfect facility nor staff, but they try. Your love one may have a hard time adjusting so don't beat yourself up when you are no longer able to be there for them full time'. I would recommend...
My mother in law had since a great respite stay experience here at this community, we are planning on using them again this summer. We knew she was safe, and in good hands at this community. The staff was...
I've only been contacted by the facility one time when my mother fell but I know she's fallen several times while living there. I feel the staff could be more communicative, even if over text, about her...
The staff are truly family! The CNA's are wonderful. They treat mom as a grand mom or mom. They are very playful with my LO. I've seen them dance with her, fix her hair. Her room and restroom are always...
My mother is in the Memory Care unit and that area opened a month ago. They are still establishing that area, there have been a few issues, but I don't feel right about judging the facility at this point. ...
I would tell them they have lots of activities and parties that families are invited to. I'd tell them the food is good and that my parents are receiving adequate care. I would tell them I think they have...
I can't say that my experience here was wonderful. Only because my friend was here at the end of his life. It was just his time. The staff were exceedingly caring, friendly, and helpful at all times. They...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Little Rock community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
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.
Seniors often have some personal assets to help them cover the costs of a nursing home or senior care facility in Little Rock. These assets might include retirement pensions, investment returns, savings accounts, or any of the following:
Veterans in Little Rock can take advantage of several benefits provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help offset the costs of a nursing home, assisted living, or memory care community. Little Rock also offers several local resources and qualified individuals, like benefit counselors, to help veterans get access to these benefits.
How does Little Rock support its veteran population?
The city is home to Little Rock Air Force Base, therefore the surrounding area has a high veteran population. To honor this veteran population, Arkansas exempts military pensions and benefits from state income taxes.[04]
Little Rock Air Force Base’s military resources — like the Little Rock Main Exchange and the Commissary — help veterans save money on daily expenses like food, clothes, auto expenses, and more. The city is also home to John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, where veterans can save money on specialized health care services.
What veterans benefits can pay for nursing homes and senior care in Little Rock?
Disabled veterans and their spouses may qualify for the very generous Aid and Attendance benefit. It is especially important for seniors as it can be added to any existing VA Pension to pay for anything that improves the recipient’s quality of life — including senior care.
Does my loved one qualify for VA benefits?
Qualifying conditions to receive VA benefits may be confusing, so we recommend that you reach out to a local benefits counselor at a veterans service organization (VSO) in Little Rock to see if you can qualify for the Aid and Attendance. Even if your loved one doesn’t currently receive a VA benefit, they may be eligible for benefits that could offset senior care facility costs and not realize it.
Number of veterans living in Little Rock as of 2022
About 42% of Little Rock veterans are 65+
Resources for Little Rock veterans
Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs
501 Woodlane Drive, Suite 401N
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-683-2382
Pulaski County Veteran Service Officer: Al Harkins
3915 W 8th St., 3rd Floor
Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: 501-340-3376
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Email: aharkins@pulaskicounty.net
National Association for Black Veterans, Inc. Chapter #0108
1510 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: 501-777-5421
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1
George L. Douglas Post 1316
2304 S Arch Street
Little Rock, AR 72206
Phone: 501-615-8006
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2
Carl Reed Post 9095
1121 Gamble Road
Little Rock, AR 72211
Phone: 501-225-9849
American Legion
3915 W 8th St., 3rd Floor
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-340-5622
Medicaid is a health insurance program that is both federally and state-funded for low-income seniors and individuals. It’s not unusual for seniors who transition to assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities to find themselves in need of Medicaid to help pay for costs.
Each state has its own Medicaid program. In Arkansas, the Medicaid program is called Access Arkansas. To understand if you or your loved one is eligible for these benefits, take the Access Arkansas online screening survey. If you determine you would like to apply for Medicaid benefits, you can do so online through the Access Arkansas website. You’ll need an online account to do so. You can use their video tutorial to set up an online account for Access Arkansas.
Does Medicaid pay for nursing homes in Little Rock, Arkansas?
If your loved one qualifies for Medicaid under Access Arkansas and requires 24/7 skilled nursing care, they can receive the full range of Medicaid benefits. This means Medicaid will likely pay for all or most of the monthly costs of living in a nursing home if seniors meet the monthly income requirements.[05] However, nursing homes are not required to accept Medicaid, so it’s best to reach out to each community for more information.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living and memory care in Little Rock, Arkansas?
Medicaid doesn’t pay for room and board in Arkansas, but it can pay for portions of care that have been deemed medically necessary. Arkansas offers the Living Choices Assisted Living Program to help seniors pay for care in an assisted living or memory care community. This waiver enables seniors who require an intermediate level of nursing home care to receive care in an assisted living community rather than a nursing home. This program offers supervision and assistance with some activities of daily living (ADLs).
For a senior to receive the full range of Medicaid benefits in an Arkansas assisted living facility, the facility must be categorized as a Level II Assisted Living Facility by the state.
Navigating Medicaid resources for the first time can seem overwhelming. Some ways to make the process smoother include browsing through the Arkansas Medicaid guides, contacting your local Division of Aging, or reaching out to your local public guardian who helps qualifying individuals apply for Medicaid. You can also contact local advocacy programs like the Area Agency on Aging or your local ombudsman with any long-term care-related questions.
Little Rock resident Medicaid resources
Arkansas Medicaid
Phone: 855-372-1084
Arkansas Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services
700 Main St.
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-2441
Office of Public Guardian
Phone: 888-397-2430
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
CareLink — Pulaski County’s Area Agency on Aging
700 W Riverfront Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72114
Phone: 501-372-5300
Email: info@carelink.org
Regina Joyner and Monica Tyler
Phone: 501-372-5300
Emails: rjoyner@carelink.org and mtyler@carelink.org
Medicare is very different from Medicaid, even though it is also a federal health care program for people ages 65 and up. Unlike Medicaid, Medicare doesn’t cover long-term nursing home care, but it covers short-term stays in skilled nursing facilities. Medicare fully pays up to 20 days and partially pays up to 100 days.[06]
Medicare also doesn’t cover the cost of room and board assisted living facilities or memory care facilities. Instead, it is designed to help seniors pay for medical care costs, such as doctors’ visits, hospital stays, bloodwork and diagnostics, specialist care, and some preventative services.
Other health care assistance programs in Arkansas
The following programs can help seniors save on long-term care costs and provide assistance with navigating Medicare:
Families and seniors can also visit their local Social Security Administration office and other senior-focused support organizations to get assistance with Medicare in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Little Rock resident Medicare resources
Little Rock Social Security Administration Office
700 W Capitol Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 866-593-0933
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Arkansas Seniors Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP)
1 Commerce Way
Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: 800-224-6330
CareLink — Pulaski County’s Area Agency on Aging
700 W Riverfront Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72114
Phone: 501-372-5300
Email: info@carelink.org
Regina Joyner and Monica Tyler
Phone: 501-372-5300
Emails: rjoyner@carelink.org and mtyler@carelink.org
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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Number of seniors over the age of 65 living in Little Rock as of 2022
Percentage of Little Rock seniors 65+ with a disability
Average retirement income for seniors 65+ in Little Rock
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:
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center is the No. 1 hospital in Little Rock and No. 2 in Arkansas. It ranks highly in many specialties including heart failure treatment, diabetes procedures, and stroke care.
Baptist Health Medical Center is the largest, nonprofit hospital in Arkansas. It opened in 1920 and is known for its trained specialists and Level II Trauma center. The hospital has been repeatedly recognized by the American Heart Association for comprehensive stroke care.
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 $4,692 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.