In Arkansas, the license families see for assisted living is "Assisted Living Facility (Level I or Level II)", issued by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Office of Long Term Care. Each resident must be examined by a physician, advance practice nurse, nurse practitioner or physician assistant within 60 days of admission, and the exam must be documented in the resident's record. The facility must give 30 days' written notice before an involuntary transfer or discharge, except for an immediate discharge to protect the resident or others.
Key facts
- The median monthly cost of assisted living in Arkansas was $4,637 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $55,644 a year, $1,563 below the national median of $6,200 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- Arkansas's Living Choices Assisted Living Medicaid waiver can pay for services in Level II assisted living facilities for people who need an intermediate nursing facility level of care, but enrollment is limited and a waiting list is used when waiver slots are full. (Arkansas Department of Human Services, 2024)
- Arkansas's Level II assisted living rules do not list a TB test for new residents, though the state tuberculosis rule requires baseline TB screening for long-term care staff who have contact with residents. (Ark. Code R. 007.31.19-001, 2020)
- Licensed nurses (RN or LPN) may administer medications to residents assessed as unable to take their own, and non-licensed staff may help only as far as the state Nurse Practice Act allows. (Arkansas DHS Level II Assisted Living Rules, 2024)
- A Level II facility that advertises a dementia unit, called an Alzheimer's Special Care Unit, must give families a Department-approved written disclosure statement before admission, and a physician must diagnose Alzheimer's or related dementia before a resident enters the unit. (Arkansas DHS Level II Assisted Living Rules, 2024)
Arkansas licenses assisted living facilities at two levels, and the Department of Human Services' Office of Long Term Care licenses both. A Level II license covers residents who are medically eligible for nursing home level of care or use the Medicaid assisted living waiver, and a Level I license covers residents who are not. The facts below are for the Level II license, which can house residents who need more care and which Medicaid's assisted living waiver pays for.
Rules change and communities can set stricter policies. Before you sign, confirm the details with the community and the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Office of Long Term Care. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance
| Medical assessment before move-in | Each resident must be examined by a physician, advance practice nurse, nurse practitioner or physician assistant within 60 days of admission, and the exam must be documented in the resident's record. Before admission, the facility must also evaluate whether it can meet the person's needs. [2] More on this |
|---|---|
| TB test | Arkansas's Level II assisted living rules do not list a TB test for new residents, though the state tuberculosis rule requires baseline TB screening for long-term care staff who have contact with residents. Ask the facility what screening it requires before move-in. [7][1] More on this |
| Notice before a move-out | The facility must give 30 days' written notice before an involuntary transfer or discharge, except for an immediate discharge to protect the resident or others. The notice must state the reason, such as care needs beyond the license, 24-hour nursing needs or unpaid fees, and the right to appeal to the Office of Long Term Care within 7 calendar days. [3] More on this |
| Who may give medications | Licensed nurses (RN or LPN) may administer medications to residents assessed as unable to take their own, and non-licensed staff may help only as far as the state Nurse Practice Act allows. Allowed help includes reminders, handing the medicine container to the resident and opening it, and the rules do not mention insulin injections. [4] More on this |
| Memory care and dementia | A Level II facility that advertises a dementia unit, called an Alzheimer's Special Care Unit, must give families a Department-approved written disclosure statement before admission, and a physician must diagnose Alzheimer's or related dementia before a resident enters the unit. Unit staff must complete at least 30 hours of dementia training. [5] |
| Long-term care ombudsman | Arkansas's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, part of the Department of Human Services' Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services, serves residents of long-term care facilities, including assisted living facilities, and its brochure lists the contact as 1-501-682-1001 and arombudsman.com. [9][10] Official page More on this |
| Medicaid help | Arkansas's Living Choices Assisted Living Medicaid waiver can pay for services in Level II assisted living facilities for people who need an intermediate nursing facility level of care, but enrollment is limited and a waiting list is used when waiver slots are full. Room and board costs are not covered by the waiver. [11][12][13] Official page More on this |
What assisted living costs in Arkansas
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Arkansas was $4,637 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $55,644 a year, $1,563 below the national median of $6,200 a month. [15]
A median is the middle of the rates communities reported, so many charge more or less. Rates differ between regions and by the care a resident needs, so ask each community for its full fee list in writing. More: assisted living costs in every state, a monthly budget and the costs that aren't in the base rate.
How to check a community in Arkansas
A Level II facility must post the Statement of Deficiencies from its latest state survey in a public area and give the last 12 months of deficiency notices to anyone applying for residence who asks. Complaints go to the Office of Long Term Care hotline at (800) 582-4887. [6][8]
The licensing agency: Arkansas Department of Human Services, Office of Long Term Care. [1][14] Our guide on how to read an inspection report explains what to look for.
Put Arkansas's paperwork on a date
Parent Move Plan counts every task back from the move-in day, including the medical assessment and TB screening the community will ask for, so nothing lands in the last week.
Get your first 3 days freeFrequently asked questions
How much does assisted living cost in Arkansas?
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Arkansas was $4,637 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $55,644 a year, $1,563 below the national median of $6,200 a month. A median is the middle of the rates communities reported, so many charge more or less, and rates differ between regions and by the care a resident needs.
What medical assessment does Arkansas require before moving into assisted living?
Each resident must be examined by a physician, advance practice nurse, nurse practitioner or physician assistant within 60 days of admission, and the exam must be documented in the resident's record. Before admission, the facility must also evaluate whether it can meet the person's needs.
Does Arkansas require a TB test for assisted living?
Arkansas's Level II assisted living rules do not list a TB test for new residents, though the state tuberculosis rule requires baseline TB screening for long-term care staff who have contact with residents. Ask the facility what screening it requires before move-in.
How much notice must an assisted living community in Arkansas give before a move-out?
The facility must give 30 days' written notice before an involuntary transfer or discharge, except for an immediate discharge to protect the resident or others. The notice must state the reason, such as care needs beyond the license, 24-hour nursing needs or unpaid fees, and the right to appeal to the Office of Long Term Care within 7 calendar days.
Who can give medications in assisted living in Arkansas?
Licensed nurses (RN or LPN) may administer medications to residents assessed as unable to take their own, and non-licensed staff may help only as far as the state Nurse Practice Act allows. Allowed help includes reminders, handing the medicine container to the resident and opening it, and the rules do not mention insulin injections.
Who can help with a complaint about assisted living in Arkansas?
Arkansas's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, part of the Department of Human Services' Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services, serves residents of long-term care facilities, including assisted living facilities, and its brochure lists the contact as 1-501-682-1001 and arombudsman.com.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Arkansas?
Arkansas's Living Choices Assisted Living Medicaid waiver can pay for services in Level II assisted living facilities for people who need an intermediate nursing facility level of care, but enrollment is limited and a waiting list is used when waiver slots are full. Room and board costs are not covered by the waiver.
Sources
- Arkansas DHS Level II Assisted Living Rules, Sections 100 and 400, Scope and Licensure (R. 01/01/2024), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas DHS Level II Assisted Living Rules, Sections 601.2 and 702.1, Pre-Admission Evaluation and Physician Exam (R. 01/01/2024), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas DHS Level II Assisted Living Rules, Sections 602 and 602.1, Involuntary Transfer or Discharge (R. 01/01/2024), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas DHS Level II Assisted Living Rules, Sections 701.1 and 703, Direct Care and Medications (R. 01/01/2024), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas DHS Level II Assisted Living Rules, Sections 800 to 805, Alzheimer's Special Care Units (R. 01/01/2024), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas DHS Level II Assisted Living Rules, Sections 603.1 and 1001(f), Residents' Bill of Rights and Survey Results (R. 01/01/2024), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Ark. Code R. 007.31.19-001, Rules Pertaining to the Control of Communicable Disease - Tuberculosis, Section VI (via Cornell LII), 2020 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas Department of Human Services: Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility, Office of Long Term Care (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas Department of Human Services: Long-Term Care Ombudsman Policies, Office of the State Ombudsman (October 1, 2020) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: A Guide to Residents' Rights brochure (2019) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas Department of Human Services: PUB-125, Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Information (R. 01/24), 2024 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Ark. Code R. 016.27.20-020, Medical Services Policy, Section 211.100 Eligibility for the Living Choices Assisted Living Program (via Cornell LII), 2020 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas Department of Human Services: Living Choices, Aging, Adult, & Behavioral Health Services (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Arkansas Department of Human Services: Office of Long Term Care (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)