Nursing Homes in Arkansas

Arkansas is home to 215 nursing homes tracked by Clear Care Connect, part of 267 senior care providers statewide, making it a mid-sized senior care market with real choice in most metro areas. Families comparing nursing homes in Arkansas weigh the same three questions: how safe is the building, how well is it staffed, and what will it really cost each month. Coverage is deepest around Little Rock, Hot Springs, Fort Smith, while smaller towns among the state's 125 communities often have one or two options within a reasonable drive. Clear Care Connect answers those questions with official federal inspection data, CMS star ratings and real cost estimates instead of sponsored listings.

What nursing homes in Arkansas provide

Nursing Homes in Arkansas provide round-the-clock licensed nursing, medication management, rehabilitation therapy and help with every activity of daily living. We track 215 nursing homes statewide, alongside 52 other providers — nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health — that families often compare before deciding.

Every Medicare-certified nursing home in Arkansas is surveyed by state inspectors on behalf of CMS roughly once a year, and those survey results feed the star ratings shown on each profile. That makes nursing homes the most transparent care type in Arkansas: you can see deficiencies, staffing hours per resident per day and penalty history before you ever tour.

Typical pricing for nursing homes in Arkansas runs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent. Expect the higher end of that range in Little Rock and other high-cost metros, and the lower end in rural counties.

How to choose a nursing home in Arkansas

With 215 nursing homes in Arkansas, families need a repeatable way to narrow the list. These six steps work in any county.

  • 1. Check the government inspection reports first

    Every Clear Care Connect profile shows the real CMS inspection record — deficiencies cited, their scope and severity, and how fast they were corrected. Read that before any brochure.

  • 2. Compare star ratings across a shortlist, not in isolation

    A three-star facility reads differently next to the Arkansas average of 3.37. Line up four or five nursing homes side by side instead of judging one alone.

  • 3. Visit at least three facilities, including one unannounced

    Tour options in Little Rock plus one nearby community, then drop in once outside tour hours to see normal staffing and resident engagement.

  • 4. Ask about staff-to-resident ratios and turnover

    Ask for nursing hours per resident per day and annual turnover in writing. High turnover is the strongest predictor of inconsistent care in Arkansas facilities.

  • 5. Understand exactly what the monthly price includes

    Get the base rate, care-level surcharges, medication fees and past annual increases. Two Arkansas communities quoting the same headline number can differ by thousands once care tiers apply.

  • 6. Read the most recent inspection findings, not just the score

    One old citation matters far less than a repeated pattern. Clear Care Connect publishes the full history so you can compare Arkansas providers on that record in one place.

Top cities for nursing homes in Arkansas

Senior care in Arkansas clusters around its largest population centers. These 8 cities hold the highest concentration of nursing homes statewide, and each links to a local directory with ratings and costs.

  • Little Rock — 18 facilities, 14 of them nursing homes, averaging 2.7 CMS stars.
  • Hot Springs — 10 facilities, 8 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.3 CMS stars.
  • Fort Smith — 10 facilities, 7 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.3 CMS stars.
  • Springdale — 8 facilities, 6 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.8 CMS stars.
  • El Dorado — 7 facilities, 5 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.4 CMS stars.
  • Jonesboro — 7 facilities, 4 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.5 CMS stars.
  • Texarkana — 7 facilities, 3 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.3 CMS stars.
  • North Little Rock — 6 facilities, 5 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.8 CMS stars.

Understanding CMS ratings for nursing homes in Arkansas

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services scores certified facilities from one to five stars using three inputs: on-site health inspections, payroll-reported staffing levels, and clinical quality measures. Five stars means much above average within that state's peer group; one star means much below.

In Arkansas, 218 of the 267 providers we track carry a published CMS rating, and 110 — roughly 50% — hold four or five stars. The statewide average is 3.37 stars. That average is close to the national midpoint, so quality varies widely from one provider to the next and comparing individual facilities matters more than comparing states.

Weight the health inspection component most heavily: it is the only piece built from unannounced on-site visits by state surveyors. Staffing is the next best signal, and quality measures are partly self-reported. Clear Care Connect shows all three sub-scores, the inspection date and any penalties on every Arkansas profile.

Nursing Homes costs in Arkansas

Nursing Homes in Arkansas typically runs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent. Pricing tracks local housing and wage costs closely, so expect Little Rock to price above the Arkansas median while rural counties come in below it.

For comparison, Arkansas families budget $7,900–$11,200 a month for a nursing home, $4,500–$7,500 for assisted living, $6,000–$9,000 for memory care, and little to nothing for Medicare-covered home health or hospice. Clear Care Connect publishes an estimated monthly range on each facility page so you can sanity-check any quote.

Frequently asked questions

How many nursing homes are in Arkansas?

Clear Care Connect tracks 215 nursing homes in Arkansas, out of 267 senior care facilities statewide spanning nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health.

What is the average cost of nursing homes in Arkansas?

Nursing Homes in Arkansas typically costs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent.

How do I find the best nursing home in Arkansas?

Use Clear Care Connect to compare Arkansas providers on official government star ratings, inspection findings, staffing data and estimated monthly cost, then tour your top three in person. 110 rated Arkansas facilities currently hold four or five stars.

Does Medicare cover nursing homes in Arkansas?

Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay in Arkansas, not long-term custodial care. Longer stays are paid privately, through long-term care insurance, or by Arkansas Medicaid once assets are spent down.

Ready to find the right nursing home in Arkansas?

Clear Care Connect shows real government inspection data, CMS star ratings and cost information for all 215 nursing homes in Arkansas. Compare them side by side, see what inspectors found, and choose the right care for your loved one without a sales call.

Browse Arkansas Nursing Homes

Other care types in Arkansas

Browse every Arkansas senior care facility profile · Arkansas Medicaid eligibility estimator · Arkansas senior care costs