For seniors who want all the charm the South provides in a thriving cultural metropolis, Little Rock, Arkansas, is a great place to settle down during their later years. Older adults who are somewhat active, yet require help with certain tasks might find that an assisted living facility in Little Rock could be a great fit. Assisted living facilities combine all the independence and accessibility seniors want with tailored care, including assistance with activities of daily living (such as bathing or getting dressed). Residents also receive health-conscious meals, many opportunities to socialize, and a sense of community in a safety-focused environment. The average cost of assisted living in Little Rock in 2023-2024 is approximately $4,700, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data from its partner communities.
Whether you envision moving to a casual or more luxury-style Little Rock assisted living facility, you can explore your options on this page. As an added benefit, we’ve included information in this guide about paying for assisted living, laws and regulations, high-ranking medical facilities, transportation options, and things to do in the city. Together, these insights can help you or a loved one make a decision about where to live and what to expect before moving into an assisted living facility in Little Rock.
How do we rank Little Rock assisted living?
Our goal is to help you find high-quality assisted living facilities that fit your needs. Using our 20+ years of experience in senior living, we developed a proprietary rating system based on the following:
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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. ...
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
Assisted living in Little Rock costs an average of $4,700 a month, based on A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. [01] The estimate is an average of what families paid monthly to our partner communities in Little Rock for services they needed, amenities they chose, and base rent and fees.
The monthly fees assisted living residents in Little Rock pay will generally cover basic services such as these:
However, each assisted living facility in Little Rock has its own unique amenities and services that it offers residents. Some of these could be considered add-on services, meaning they could increase a senior’s monthly fee. These may include, but are not limited to the following:
The following chart outlines the average baseline costs for the area without any additional fees.
In Little Rock, seniors and their families generally cover the costs of assisted living with a combination of personal and public funding. For example, it’s not unusual for someone to use their personal savings to pay for a room in an assisted living facility and rely on Medicare to cover qualifying care-related fees.
If you’re looking to fund an assisted living stay in Little Rock, your options may include the following:
We’ll cover each payment method so you can find the most accessible option for you or your loved one.
Private payment may be a viable option for prospective assisted living residents and their families, especially when first moving into an assisted living community. For more information on these private payment methods, see the linked resources below.
Estimated number of veterans who live in Pulaski County – the county Little Rock is located in – as of 2023
Percent of Little Rock veterans that are 75 or older in 2021
With veterans making up almost 10% of the adult population in Arkansas, the Little Rock area offers many useful programs, benefits, and resources for veterans and the military community.[04]
While the VA generally cannot pay directly for room and board for assisted living, there are programs for qualified veterans, military retirees, surviving spouses, and other military-connected individuals that may be able to offset the cost of assisted living. Some of these VA benefits or programs may provide money that can be used at the discretion of the eligible person, which can then be used to pay for assisted living or associated expenses.
The following VA programs may be helpful to eligible individuals:
Additionally, the nearby Little Rock Air Force Base offers ways for eligible veterans to save money on food, clothing, health supplies, and other goods through tax-free shopping at the following resources:
For military retirees, it can also be helpful to know that the State of Arkansas does not tax military retirement pay.[05] In addition, utilizing VA health care may help reduce health care costs for senior veterans. The John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans’ Hospital is conveniently located in Little Rock.
If you’re a veteran looking to move to an assisted living facility, local organizations around Little Rock can typically offer helpful assistance. Veterans may consider contacting the VA’s Little Rock Regional Office in North Little Rock, which provides information on programs and benefits for senior veterans.
Some military-connected individuals may find it challenging to navigate all the benefits offered to veterans on their own. Reaching out to a representative at a local veterans service organization (VSO) may be helpful whether you think you’ll qualify for benefits or not. VSOs can help you or your loved one understand your options. You’ll find a list of Little Rock resources listed below.
Resources for Little Rock veterans
Little Rock Regional VA Office
2200 Fort Roots Drive, Building 65
North Little Rock, AR 72114
Phone: 800-827-1000
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs
501 Woodlane Drive, Suite 401N
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-683-2382
National Association for Black Veterans, Inc. Chapter #0108
Phone: 501-777-5421
Veterans of Foreign Wars
George L. Douglas Post 1316
2304 S Arch Street
Little Rock, AR 72206
Phone: 501-615-8006
W. Carl Reed Post 9095
1121 Gamble Road
Little Rock, AR 72211
Phone: 501-225-9849
Pulaski County Veterans Services Officer
Al Harkins
3915 W 8th St., 3rd Floor
Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: 501-650-0311
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Email: aharkins@pulaskicounty.net
American Legion
315 E. Capitol Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: 501-372-2608
Medicaid is a federal-state program designed to help low-income Americans pay for medically necessary services such as in-home health care, including assisted living. The state’s Medicaid program, Arkansas Medicaid, is handled by the Access Arkansas program.[06]
In order to apply for benefits through the Access Arkansas program portal, you will need an online account. If you do not already have one, watch these step-by-step instructions on using Access Arkansas. The website also has a very helpful Access Arkansas screening tool to help you determine if you or your loved one is eligible for this program.
Although Medicaid can’t be used to fund the costs of an assisted living facility, it can help cover certain kinds of in-home care services through the disbursement of home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers.
Eligible seniors can use these programs toward covered services, which may include doctor’s visits, personal care, or medical equipment.[07]
It may be helpful to connect with the following local organizations below to learn more about your Medicaid options. These experts can answer your age-related questions, offer guidance on eligibility and programs, and give you expectations surrounding the application process.
Little Rock resident Medicaid resources
Arkansas Medicaid
Phone: 855-372-1084
Arkansas Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services
700 Main Street
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.
Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas
1510 Rock Springs Road
Harrison, AR 72602
Phone: 501-225-7523
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for seniors. It provides health coverage for seniors 65 and older who don’t want to rely entirely on private health insurance.[08] To apply for Medicare, start with your local Social Security office.
Those looking toward Medicare as a funding option for their assisted living stay in Little Rock should know that it doesn’t cover room and board at assisted living facilities. However, Medicare does cover short-term medically-necessary treatments in a senior’s residence.
Medicare Part A, the program’s hospital insurance, covers services such as inpatient hospital visits, hospice, labs, surgeries, or health care provided at home. Medicare’s Part B covers medical equipment, outpatient care, and certain preventive services.[09]
The Arkansas Medicare Savings Program is for covered low-income seniors who might have trouble paying their deductibles and copayments.
Arkansas’ Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides and coordinates medical and social services for people 55 years of age or older who need nursing facility care but want to remain in the community, including in assisted living.
Arkansas’ Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is another invaluable resource that connects seniors and their caregivers to counselors ready to discuss Medicare.
It may be helpful to contact the local organizations below and an area ombudsman to determine how Medicare can help you cover medically-necessary costs during an assisted living stay. These local advocates can help you with any aging-related questions you might have and offer guidance surrounding Medicare eligibility and benefits.
Little Rock Medicare resources
Little Rock Social Security Office
700 W. Capitol Street
Room 1201, Federal Building
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 866-593-0933
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Arkansas Ombudsman Program
706 W. Fourth St.
North Little Rock, AR 72119
Phone: 800-482-6359
Email: mtyler@carelink.org, rjoyner@carelink.org
Arkansas SHIIP
1 Commerce Way
Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone: 800-224-6330
Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas
1510 Rock Springs Road
Harrison, AR 72602
Phone: 501-225-7523
All assisted living facilities in Arkansas must be licensed by the state’s Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services, and Office of Long-Term Care.
Assisted living communities are either labeled as “Level I” or “Level II” facilities. Both provide 24-hour supervision, assistance with activities of daily living, and help with laundry and medication.
However, the Level II facility provides a greater depth of assistance, as well as health care services. These may include services, such as medication administration and having a nurse on staff.
Regardless of their designated level, every facility is meant to promote the health, independence, safety, dignity, and privacy of residents — all while providing services in a comfortable atmosphere.
It’s expected that assisted living facilities will be transparent with potential residents about services, fees, and similar information in any agreements. This includes (but is not limited to) the following:[10]
You can learn more about the laws and regulations that apply to assisted living in this state through A Place for Mom’s Arkansas assisted living guide.
Inspections occur periodically or may be in response to complaints.[10] Assisted living facility inspection reports are not available online. You can ask a facility directly to see their most recent inspection report or reach out to DHS.
Contact information
4815 W. Markham St.
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: 501-661-2000 or 1-800-462-0599
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Little Rock doesn’t require assisted living facilities to maintain specific COVID-19 policies. However, Arkansas’ government recommends that people in the state follow Arkansas COVID-19 safety best practices.
It’s important to add that individual assisted living facilities might have their own expectations for residents and staff regarding keeping everyone protected from the spread of COVID-19 and other contagious illnesses.
Are you curious to know what it’s like to live in A Place for Mom-partnered assisted living facilities in Little Rock? You’ll find quite a bit of uniqueness and variety among these communities. Read on for more insight into what these communities can offer you or a loved one.
If you’re worried about finding an assisted living facility with a wide variety of care options that will flex to your lifestyle as you grow older, rest assured that there are many options in Little Rock that offer a variety of care types.
The majority of our partner facilities offer a combination of offerings on one campus. Some communities may have an assisted living and a memory care wing, while others may offer independent living and assisted living. Other communities in Little Rock offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care.[01]
This community design can help you or your loved one avoid the need to move to new facilities as care needs change over time. Moving just once can be a way to reduce senior living expenses by staying in one community versus transporting household goods between two communities that may be a distance apart from one another. Additionally, your loved one may become accustomed to the people and offerings in a particular community that may make it challenging for them to want to leave that community.
Discovering the assisted living facility that resonates most with you or with your loved one can seem overwhelming. One way to make the process easier is to make a checklist of “nice-to-have” versus “need-to-have” amenities. Taking this step helps narrow your choices.
In general, A Place for Mom’s partner communities offer a variety of ways to promote socialization and prevent elderly isolation, which may include the following:[01]
Depending on your preferences, you might want to prioritize facilities that offer the services and amenities that are the highest priority in your life.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Little Rock in 2020
Percentage of seniors 65 and older within the Little Rock population in 2020
Number of LGBTQ+ pride-focused events in Little Rock
The advantage to moving to an assisted living facility in Little Rock is that you may be introduced to many of the medical providers you need. However, you can certainly choose other providers and hospitals based on the care you want, as well as any existing medical conditions you may have. Below are several highly rated options for health care in Little Rock.
Baptist Health Medical Center is the second-best hospital system in Arkansas and the top provider in Little Rock. It performs particularly well in eight adult procedures and conditions, including diabetes care and surgery for colon cancer.
The CHI St. Vincent Infirmary is rated the third-best medical facility in Arkansas and the city’s second-best hospital system. Its established status makes it a hallmark of the Little Rock region, and it performs well in seven adult procedures and conditions.
Little Rock is most easily traveled by car. However, if you don’t have a car, or don’t plan to bring one with you when moving to Little Rock, you can get around using public or facility-provided transportation. Typically, assisted living facilities in Little Rock offer free or at-cost transportation to residents, which can be helpful for seniors who can no longer drive.
Public transportation rates in Little Rock are budget-friendly, making them feasible for most seniors. Transportation options for seniors in Little Rock may include the following:
The Little Rock Walk Score metrics below are calculated out of 100 and indicate how easy or difficult it is to traverse the city using certain types of transportation.[14] These scores could be useful for visiting loved ones who are wondering how to make their way around the Little Rock area.
Although it might be overlooked by retirees flocking to the Sunshine State or looking for a dry and hot desert atmosphere out West, Little Rock has a variety of attractions to offer seniors of all stripes. In fact, Little Rock is a cultural haven that offers its residents a variety of world-class institutions to visit — meaning there’s no shortage of activities seniors and their loved ones can enjoy.
Whether you like to enjoy nature, are seeking great dining, or anything else, you’ll find quite a bit to do throughout the year while living in this capital city. Below are just some of the more popular ways that Little Rock community members and visitors spend their time.
Indoor activities for seniors in Little Rock
The opportunities to learn and explore go on and on in Little Rock. Among the most popular museums, educational institutions, art venues, and more, are the following:
Outdoor activities for seniors in Little Rock
A popular place to visit for both residents and tourists in Little Rock is the Big Dam Bridge — an iconic landmark in Arkansas. Plus, it features safe biking and walking trails for exercise and relaxation that more active seniors and their family members can enjoy.
Older adults may also enjoy visiting the natural wonders in Pinnacle Mountain State Park or viewing the many species in the Little Rock Zoo.
Willow Grove of Sherwood, Woodland Heights and Brookdale Chenal Heights are the top-rated Assisted Living facilities near Little Rock, AR. These Assisted Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Assisted Living in Little Rock is $4,617 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. (2022, September 7). Population tables: Counties (Table 9L).
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population Estimates 2021: Little Rock, Arkansas. [Data set].
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. State summary: Arkansas.
Absher, J. (2022, February 23). Military retirement and state income tax. Military.com
Benefits.gov. Arkansas Medicaid Program.
Arkansas Department of Human Services. Covered Services.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2022, December 8). Who’s eligible for Medicare?
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. What Medicare covers.
Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services. Rules for assisted living facilities Level I.
Little Rock Convention Center & Visitors Bureau. LGBTQ+.
U.S. News and World Report. Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock.
U.S. News and World Report. CHI St. Vincent Infirmary.
WalkScore. (2023). Living in Little Rock.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. (2022, September 7). Population tables: Counties (Table 9L).
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Population Estimates 2021: Little Rock, Arkansas. [Data set].
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. State summary: Arkansas.
Absher, J. (2022, February 23). Military retirement and state income tax. Military.com
Benefits.gov. Arkansas Medicaid Program.
Arkansas Department of Human Services. Covered Services.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2022, December 8). Who’s eligible for Medicare?
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. What Medicare covers.
Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services. Rules for assisted living facilities Level I.
Little Rock Convention Center & Visitors Bureau. LGBTQ+.
U.S. News and World Report. Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock.
U.S. News and World Report. CHI St. Vincent Infirmary.
WalkScore. (2023). Living in Little Rock.