Care Cost in Arkansas
2026 average monthly costs for assisted living, nursing homes, memory care, home care, and adult day services in Arkansas.
Monthly Care Costs
Home Care
$4,767/mo
$57,204 per year
Home care services in Arkansas include personal care aides and home health aides who help seniors age in place with assistance for bathing, meals, and mobility. In-home caregivers in Arkansas offer a flexible alternative to facility-based care.
Adult Day Care
$1,647/mo
$19,764 per year
Adult day care programs in Arkansas offer structured daytime activities, socialization, and health monitoring — providing essential respite for family caregivers. Adult day services in Arkansas are among the most affordable long-term care options available.
Assisted Living
$4,637/mo
$55,644 per year
Assisted living facilities in Arkansas provide personal care, meals, and medication management for seniors who need daily support but not round-the-clock medical attention. Assisted living costs in Arkansas typically cover a private room, housekeeping, and access to social activities.
Memory Care(Est.)
$5,800/mo
$69,600 per year
Memory care facilities in Arkansas provide specialized support for seniors with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. These secured communities offer structured routines, cognitive therapies, and 24-hour supervision. Memory care costs in Arkansas are estimated at approximately 1.25× the assisted living rate.
Nursing Home (Semi-Private)
$7,452/mo
$89,424 per year
Skilled nursing facilities in Arkansas offer 24-hour medical supervision, rehabilitation therapy, and long-term care for seniors with complex health needs. Nursing home costs in Arkansas reflect round-the-clock licensed nursing staff and specialized medical equipment. This rate reflects a semi-private room.
Nursing Home (Private Room)
$8,060/mo
$96,720 per year
A private room in a Arkansas nursing home offers greater privacy and comfort for residents requiring 24-hour skilled nursing care. In Arkansas, a private room costs about 8% more than a semi-private room (the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey).
How costs vary across Arkansas
Arkansas care costs and service availability shift by region. Little Rock offers the broadest range of senior living, memory care, and home health providers, with prices commonly near or somewhat above state levels. Fast-growing Northwest Arkansas also tends to be around or slightly above the average for assisted living and home health. Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Hot Springs generally track near statewide costs with moderate provider availability. Pine Bluff and the Mississippi Delta can be less costly, but limited facilities and longer travel distances may make respite, memory care, or immediate nursing home placement harder to arrange.
Read the full Arkansas planning guideAnnual Cost Breakdown
| Care Type | Monthly | Annual | National Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $4,767 | $57,204 | $6,673 | -29% |
| Adult Day Care | $1,647 | $19,764 | $2,058 | -20% |
| Assisted Living | $4,637 | $55,644 | $6,200 | -25% |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $5,800 | $69,600 | $7,800 | -26% |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $7,452 | $89,424 | $9,581 | -22% |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $8,060 | $96,720 | $10,798 | -25% |
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (released March 2026)
Cost Projections
Estimated future monthly costs based on a 3% annual care cost inflation rate.
| Care Type | Today | In 5 Years | In 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $4,767 | $5,526 | $6,406 |
| Adult Day Care | $1,647 | $1,909 | $2,213 |
| Assisted Living | $4,637 | $5,376 | $6,232 |
| Memory Care(Est.) | $5,800 | $6,724 | $7,795 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $7,452 | $8,639 | $10,015 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $8,060 | $9,344 | $10,832 |
* Projections are estimates based on historical care cost inflation trends. Actual costs may vary.
Total Cost of Care Over Time
Cumulative cost if care begins today, including 3% annual inflation. These totals show what families in Arkansas can expect to pay over multi-year care periods.
| Care Type | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Care | $176,812 | $303,704 | $655,780 |
| Adult Day Care | $61,089 | $104,930 | $226,572 |
| Assisted Living | $171,990 | $295,422 | $637,896 |
| Memory Care | $215,127 | $369,516 | $797,886 |
| Nursing Home (Semi-Private) | $276,401 | $474,764 | $1,025,146 |
| Nursing Home (Private Room) | $298,952 | $513,500 | $1,108,786 |
* Cumulative totals assume continuous care starting today with 3% annual inflation compounding each year.
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Today's Monthly Cost
$8,060/mo
NH Private Room · Arkansas
Monthly Cost Today
$8,060/mo
3% inflation · 3 years of care
Don't rush to sell the home
Bridge loans, HELOCs, and reverse mortgages can fund care without selling.
Care costs rise 3–5% annually
Factor long-term inflation into all planning models.
Medicaid lookback is 5 years
Planning must begin well before care is needed to protect assets.
Source: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey (updated March 2026)
* AK NH Private Room: A Place For Mom. ADC — DE: Genworth; DC: PayingForSeniorCare; ID: MedicaidLongTermCare.org; SD: Genworth; VT: VT Adult Services Div.; WV: CareCostIndex.com.
Key Insights for Arkansas
Updated October 2026Assisted living in Arkansas costs $4,637/month in 2026 — 25% below the national median of $6,200.
A semi-private nursing home room in Arkansas runs $7,452/month, 22% below the national median of $9,581.
In-home care in Arkansas averages $4,767/month for roughly 44 hrs/week ($25/hr) — 29% below the national median.
The most affordable long-term care option in Arkansas is adult day care at $1,647/month.
Memory care in Arkansas runs about $5,800/month — roughly 25% above the assisted living rate, the typical industry markup (CareScout does not publish memory care data separately).
A private nursing home room in Arkansas costs $8,060/month — 25% below the national median of $10,798.
Medicaid in Arkansas can cover nursing home care for applicants under the $2,982/month income limit (2026); see the Arkansas Medicaid guide for asset rules.
How to Pay for Long-Term Care in Arkansas
Families in Arkansas have several options to help cover the cost of senior care.
Arkansas Medicaid
Arkansas Medicaid is administered by the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services.
- ARChoices in Homecare Waiver: Helps older adults and people with physical disabilities with services such as meals, adult day care, and home changes.
- Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver (ALW): Covers personal care and related support in assisted living, but not housing or meals.
- Medicaid State Plan Personal Care: Helps with everyday tasks such as bathing, cooking, and shopping in a person's home or residential care setting.
Arkansas requires a Miller Trust (Qualified Income Trust) if your income is over the limit for nursing home or waiver Medicaid.
Read the Arkansas Medicaid guideVeterans Benefits
The VA Aid and Attendance benefit can provide up to $2,424/month for single veterans (or $2,874/month with a spouse) in Arkansas to help pay for assisted living, nursing home care, or in-home caregivers.
Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance policies purchased before care is needed can cover a significant portion of assisted living, nursing home, and home care costs in Arkansas.
Personal Savings & Home Equity
Many Arkansas families use a combination of retirement savings, Social Security income, and home equity (through reverse mortgages or home sales) to fund long-term care.
Who to call in Arkansas
- Arkansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- 501-682-1001
Help with resident rights, complaints, and care-quality concerns in nursing homes and assisted living.
- Adult Protective Services
To reach Adult Protective Services in Arkansas, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
- Arkansas Area Agencies on Aging
Find local aging services for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and care-planning resources.
View Arkansas's Area Agencies on Aging list
Frequently Asked Questions About Arkansas Care Costs
The average cost of assisted living in Arkansas is $4,637 per month, or $55,644 per year. This is 25% below the national average of $6,200 per month. Assisted living facilities in Arkansas typically include personal care, meals, medication management, and social activities.
Nursing home care in Arkansas costs an average of $7,452 per month for a semi-private room. A private room runs $8,060 per month, or $96,720 per year. Arkansas nursing home costs are below the national average of $9,581 per month for a semi-private room. Medicare only covers short rehab stays. For long stays, most families pay privately until savings run low, then Medicaid steps in.
Arkansas is more affordable than average for long-term care, with costs approximately 25% below the national average. The most affordable option is adult day care at $1,647 per month. Even with lower costs, it's important to plan ahead as care needs can change over time.
There are several ways to pay for nursing home and long-term care in Arkansas: (1) Medicaid — Arkansas's Medicaid program covers nursing home care for eligible residents who meet income and asset limits. (2) Medicare — covers short-term skilled nursing after a hospital stay, but not long-term custodial care. (3) Long-term care insurance — if purchased in advance, policies can help cover assisted living, nursing home, and home care costs. (4) Veterans benefits — the VA Aid and Attendance benefit helps eligible veterans and surviving spouses pay for care. (5) Personal savings and assets — many families use a combination of savings, home equity, and retirement funds.
The most affordable long-term care option in Arkansas is adult day care at $1,647 per month, followed by assisted living at $4,637 per month. Adult day care provides daytime supervision, activities, and meals while allowing seniors to return home in the evening — making it a popular choice for families with a caregiver at home.
Yes, Living Choices can help eligible residents with personal care in assisted living. Its benefits also include medication oversight, nursing evaluations, and non-medical transportation. Residents remain responsible for room and board.
Start with your local Area Agency on Aging for benefits counseling, caregiver support, and help finding community services. LTCareNav's Arkansas Area Agencies on Aging list helps you find local care-planning resources. For questions about resident rights or concerns about nursing home or assisted living care, contact the Arkansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 501-682-1001.
Compare Nearby States
See how Arkansas's long-term care costs compare to neighboring states.
Louisiana
+6%Missouri
+8%Mississippi
+9%Oklahoma
+14%Tennessee
+24%More Arkansas Long-Term Care Resources
Check Medicaid Eligibility
See Arkansas's Medicaid income and asset limits, programs, and how to apply.
View Arkansas Medicaid GuideGet a Personalized Plan
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Create Free AccountSource: CareScout Cost of Care Survey, July–November 2025, released March 2026 (Genworth/CareScout). Monthly NH figures = annual ÷ 12 (365-day basis). Non-medical caregiver = 44 hrs/week × 52 weeks ÷ 12. Memory care is an estimate (assisted living x 1.25). CareScout does not publish memory care data.