Paying for assisted living in Arkansas
Most Arkansas families pay for assisted living privately at first, usually from a mix of retirement income, savings, the sale of a home, long-term care insurance, or help from family. Costs vary widely depending on the community, the apartment size, and how much daily help a resident needs. You can compare current pricing for communities in your area in the pricing tables below.
It helps to plan early. Knowing roughly what a community costs each month, and what public programs might offset later, makes it easier to choose a place you can sustain over time.
Does Living Choices cover assisted living in Arkansas?
Arkansas Medicaid can help pay for the care portion of assisted living through the Living Choices Assisted Living waiver, a Home and Community-Based Services (1915(c)) waiver. It does not pay for room and board, which the resident still covers.
- Living Choices serves adults 65 and older, and adults 21–64 who are physically disabled, who would otherwise need a nursing-home level of care.
- It covers services such as 24-hour response staff, personal care, limited nursing, and help with daily living in a licensed Level II assisted living facility enrolled as a Medicaid provider.
- Eligibility depends on age, income, assets, and a medical level-of-care assessment. Arkansas is an income-cap state for long-term-care Medicaid.
- Enrollment is limited, so a waiting list can form.
You can apply through Access Arkansas or your local DHS county office, or call the Choices in Living Resource Center at 1-866-801-3435 for help.
Does Medicare cover assisted living in Arkansas?
Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, and other daily activities), which is the bulk of what assisted living provides.
Medicare may still help with related medical care, such as:
- A short, medically necessary stay in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay
- Doctor visits, hospital care, and prescription drugs
- Medicare-covered home health or hospice services when you qualify
For free, unbiased help understanding Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D, contact Arkansas's State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at the Arkansas Insurance Department, 1-800-224-6330.
