What You Should Know About Assisted Living In Arkansas
Assisted living communities in Arkansas may be referred to as residential long-term care facilities or simply residential care facilities. The state differentiates between two levels of care. Level I assisted living communities are for seniors who are fairly independent and need only an occasional hand with the activities of daily living. A Level II community is designed for seniors who require more care than a Level I community provides but do not need the level of care given in a nursing home.
Admission Requirements In Arkansas Memory Care Facilities
Once you decide that a transition is the need of the hour, you first need to check if your patient fits the eligibility criteria. Seniors diagnosed with dementia and requiring a higher level of care can be admitted to memory care facilities in Arkansas, following a facility assessment. In addition, patients suffering from dementia due to traumatic brain injuries and those with physical and developmental disabilities are eligible to be admitted after thorough assessments.
An inability to evacuate on their own, immobility, incontinence, incapability to communicate with staff may be grounds for ineligibility for admission. In addition to this, people who require intravenous feeding, special dietary needs that the facility cannot readily meet, physical restraints, and temporary nursing services may be denied admission too. Lastly, individuals who have infectious diseases and pose a threat to the health and safety of other residents’ may not be admitted as well.
However, please note that these requirements apply to special care units and its best to clarify with each facility about their admission requirements and eligibility criteria.
What About Altcs Assisted Living Communities
I did a video and post years ago for another extremely common question I have received through my senior living sites some variation of:
How Do I Find ALTCS Assisted Living Facilities in Arizona?
Another good question with a very easy solution. I explain how to find ALTCS assisted living communities in this video tutorial:
Note/Update: The link in the video has changed, so please visit this page to search for ALTCS assisted living communities Statewide in Arizona.
Do you want to learn more about Assisted Living in Arizona?
We have put together a comprehensive Research Guide for Arizona Assisted Living that covers numerous additional topics including:
- Additional ways to find facilities
- Facility Complaints / Violations
Our guide is comprehensive and highly informative.
Arizona Residents:
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Arkansas Memory Care Facilities Vs Assisted Living Facilities
In an assisted-living home, people with special needs can continue to live independently, with immediate access to healthcare and support services. Aside from boarding and lodging, assisted-living centers may also provide physical, mental and emotional support and allow for social interactions with other community members.
However, given that they are mostly unregulated by the central government there are chances for significant discrepancies in the care quality, facilities development, amenities acquisition, building maintenance, and overall community management. Although nursing homes and Arkansas assisted living homes can have a special memory care unit separate from the rest of the institution, with qualified staff to provide the specialized care that patients with dementia require, not every facility may have it.
On the other hand, memory care communities are equipped and trained to provide care to people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
In addition to providing meals, rooms and other support services, they also offer behavioral health services, assisting in the administration of memory care-specific treatments, and supervising individual and group therapies together with any additional services as required.
Assisted Living Choices Waiver
People who are nursing home-eligible and wish to reside in an assisted living facility may qualify for the Assisted Living Choices program. Assisted Living Choices is a Medicaid waiver which allows for 24-hour personal care services to be covered for a limited number of people, helping nursing home-eligible recipients avoid being institutionalized. Other forms of assistance are available through this program, including:
- Extended prescription drug coverage for non-Medicare residents
- Periodic nursing evaluations and services
- Medication oversight and administration
- Therapeutic, social, and recreational activities
Who is Eligible?
Those who require intermediate-level nursing home care are eligible, but individuals requiring skilled care are not. Adults who have no physical disabilities must be 65 or older to qualify.
- There is a $2,000 asset cap for individuals, and the assets of married couples are considered individually.
- Only countable assets are considered, including bank accounts, cash, and mutual funds.
- There is a $2,250 income cap for individuals, with no separately designated amount for couples.
How to Apply
Applications can be filed at your local Department of Human Services office, or the process can be initiated over the phone by calling the Choices in Living Resource Center at 801-3435.
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Concordia Nursing And Rehab
When looking for dementia care facilities in Bella Vista, Arkansas, you will find Concordia Nursing And Rehab as an excellent luxury memory care option that is located at 7 Professional Drive in the 72714 zip code area. It has a total capacity of 102 Alzheimer’s and dementia units and provides amenities that include secure campus to prevent wandering, special dementia and Alzheimers programs to increase feelings of comfort and emergency pullcords in bedrooms and bathrooms. Concordia Nursing And Rehab provides dementia and Alzheimers care not only to Bella Vista residents, but also to all Benton county residents as well.
Is A Nursing Home Your Only Choice
Make sure to read through the other residential care housing options included on this page. There may be other alternatives for care in a more residential environment including getting the care and services the person needs at home. Learn more about in-home services.
Adults receiving state-funds to pay for long term care services may also be eligible for the Nurse Delegation Program. With Nurse Delegation, a caregiver may be trained to help with certain nursing type care tasks in your home, Assisted Living Facility, or adult family home. Learn more about Nurse Delegation.
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Assisted Living Facility Requirements
The home-like setting of assisted living communities will meet certain logistical requirements for the kinds of living spaces and amenities they provide. All ALF units in Arkansas are discrete apartments, and residents are never housed with a roommate unless they specifically request to live with a partner.
All units must meet these requirements:
- Kitchens in functionally and visually distinct areas
- Wheelchair accessible
- Basic appliances like fridges and microwaves
Here’s An Introduction To Medicaid’s Complicated Rules On Eligibility For Nursing Homes And Home Health Care
If you have limited assets and a low income and you need help paying for nursing home or assisted living care, Medicaid might help you pay for your care. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program, and the states have some flexibility in setting the benefits they will offer and the eligibility criteria for those benefits.
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Facility Scope Of Care
All ALFs are staffed by 24-hour caregivers to respond to residents immediate needs and assist with activities of daily living. Facilities should offer mobility assistance, grooming, bathing, dressing and incontinence care, as well as medication assistance. Along with providing personal care services, facilities must host social and recreational activities for residents, and provide supportive services such as housekeeping and transportation to appointments. ALFs are also required to provide residents with three balanced meals, snacks and fluids each day. Additionally, facilities with ASCUs must offer services and programming specific to the needs of memory care residents.
For Veterans And Surviving Spouses
The Aid and Attendance program through the Veterans Administration is a non-service-connected benefit. It is designed to help veterans or their surviving spouse receive the financial support necessary to ensure their continuing care in an assisted living or nursing home setting.
In 2019, the pension will pay up to:
- $2,230 per month for a veteran with a spouse
- $1,881 per month for a single veteran
- $1,209 per month for a surviving spouse
For general requirements and to find assistance for applying, .
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Is Memory Care Covered By Medicaid
In most states, care in assisted living / memory care is covered by an assisted living Medicaid waiver. Some states also offer personal care assistance through their regular Medicaid program. In these states, the law generally does not put restrictions on the location in which personal care can be provided.
Benefits And Drawbacks Of Assisted Living In Maumelle
- Property taxes in Maumelle are very low, but the state’s sales tax rate is high. Social Security income is not subject to state income tax, and other types of retirement income are only partially taxed.
- The air quality in Maumelle is very good with low levels of ozone and particle pollution. This may be beneficial for seniors, particularly those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
- The Maumelle area has no facilities from which to choose in the event of a medical emergency or illness, with the nearest major hospital located in North Little Rock.
- The overall cost of living in Maumelle is only about 2% higher than the U.S. average but roughly 18% higher than the state average, which may be a consideration for Arkansas natives living on a tight retirement budget. The cost of housing is about 11% higher than the national average, which may drive up assisted living costs.
- As is typical of Arkansas, Maumelle has a warm climate with hot summers and relatively mild winters, which may suit seniors who are sensitive to cold weather. The hottest months of the year are July and August when highs are in the 90s, and the coolest month of the year is January when highs are around 50 degrees.
- The combined property and violent crime rates in Maumelle are lower than the national average, with a majority of the city’s crime being property-related. This may appeal to seniors seeking a safe community for their retirement years.
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The Cost Of Assisted Living
According to Genworths 2018 Cost of Care survey, Arkansas median cost for one months stay in a private, single room is nearly $1,000 less than the national average. Of the states that border Arkansas, only Missouri has a lower monthly cost at $2,844.
Fort Smith has the lowest average monthly cost for assisted living in the state about $1,500 less than the state average and over $2,000 less than the national average. On the other end of the spectrum, Fayettevilles average is about $300 more than the state average.
The average cost of assisted living in Arkansas compares favorably to the cost of nursing home and in-home care in the state. However, it is typically more expensive than adult day healthcare and independent living.
Gauge Cuts Medicaid Assisted
Large numbers of elderly Arkansans are being told they no longer qualify for help from state Medicaid to pay for their care at an assisted-living place as a result of an eligibility assessment tool the state began using this year, facility owners say.
Among those found to no longer qualify is Bobbie Brown, 86, who has lived at the Hopes Creek assisted-living facility in Van Buren since September 2015.
B oth Brown and her daughter, Kathy Davern, said they dont understand why she was found to be ineligible this year after being found eligible in previous years.
I go to bed and I think about it, and I cant hardly sleep, Brown said.
Based on a tool developed in Minnesota, the Arkansas Independent Assessment measures the needs of Medicaid recipients based on a series of up to about 400 questions.
Under a contract with the state Department of Human Services, nurses with Optum Government Solutions, a division of Minnetonka, Minn.-based United Health Group, began using the tool this year to help determine eligibility for two programs serving elderly or disabled low-income Arkansans.
One is the assisted-living program, which serves up to 1,200 people in 60 facilities around the state. The other is ARChoices, which provides in-home care, including help with daily living tasks such as dressing and bathing, to about 8,800 Arkansans.
Previously, Human Services Department nurses performed assessments for the two programs using a different tool, known as the ArPath.
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Assisted Living Laws And Regulations In Arkansas
Assisted living communities in Arkansas have state-enforced rules and regulations to ensure that the facilities are clean and well-maintained and the residents receive proper care. The Arkansas Department of Human Services, the Division of Medical Services and the Office of Long-Term Care license and regulate the states assisted living communities to ensure compliance.
Assisted Living Service Plan Requirements
When residents are admitted, the assisted living community is required to conduct a thorough assessment to determine their care needs. This assessment must be conducted on an annual basis, ensuring that as residents’ needs change, their care plan changes to accommodate.
Assisted Living Admission Requirements
In Arkansas, an assisted living community cannot admit or retain someone who is not independently mobile. Every resident must have the physical and mental ability to leave the building within three minutes. Communities also cannot admit a senior who has a feeding or intravenous tube, is completely incontinent or needs nursing services beyond what the community provides on a day-to-day basis.
Residents cannot pose a danger to themselves or to others, and they cannot be admitted if they have a mental illness or substance addiction. Finally, a community can turn away a prospective resident if that persons religious, cultural or dietary regimens cannot be reasonably met.
A resident may only be discharged if the community can no longer meet medical needs.
Top Rated Assisted Living Communities By City
Medicaid is an entitlement program for persons with limited financial means. Medicaid pays for nursing home care when an elderly individual requires it and cannot afford it. For those who wish to live at home or in assisted living, sometimes Medicaid will pay for care in those locations if it can be obtained at a lower cost than in a nursing home. It does this through Medicaid Waivers, which are also called Home and Community Based Services or Waiver Funded Services.
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Memory Care In Arkansas
Not only is Alzheimers disease the sixth leading cause in the United States, but it was responsible for over 1,400 deaths across the state of Arkansas in 2015. According to the Alzheimers Association, these numbers are projected to increase 19.6% by the year 2025, and the CDC predicts that the number of individuals affected by Alzheimers and other types of dementia will double by the year 2060.
Memory care facilities provide those living with Alzheimers and dementia with care that is tailored to their unique needs. Memory care can take place in its own facility, or as part of a designated wing of another residential care community. Staff members of memory care units or facilities undergo specialized training in caring for those with memory impairment, and the facilities often coordinate social activities and schedules specifically for the needs of those living with Alzheimers or dementia.
This guide will cover the cost of memory care in Arkansas, financial assistance options for paying for memory care, free memory care resources in the state, and a directory of memory care facilities in Arkansas.
Amenities In Arkansas Dementia Care
Along with remarkably affordable room costs, Arkansas’s memory care facilities feature a wide range of high-quality amenities. Like most nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the state, meals are served daily, housekeeping, and other routine tasks like assistance getting in and out of bed, bathing, using the restroom, and more are assured in a memory care community.
Regular activities are scheduled and encouraged by staff to help each resident acclimatize to the community. Residents are always treated with respect, privacy and care and family members are kept up to date with any rapid changes in health, habits or personality.
A common symptom with dementia and Alzheimer’s is that the patient can change demeanor in a heartbeat. Staff are not only trained and equipped to handle these changes but are also prompt in communicating with family about their loved one’s well-being.
Leisure is also encouraged at Arkansas dementia care homes. The activities and interactions are designed to make new residents feel as comfortable and secure in their new environment.
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Arkansas Agencies On Aging By County
Area Agencies on Aging is a network of hundreds of nonprofit organizations across America that provide federally funded services to adults over 60 in their various locales. Arkansas has many Area Agencies on Aging that offer comprehensive information on programs and community supports for seniors. Consult the table below to find your local point of contact for the AAA.
| Area Agencies on Aging |
|---|
| 1 627-6994 |
Does Your State Accept Medicaid For Assisted Living Facilities
ByJill Gilbert | Submitted On April 07, 2009
Before individual state governments passed much-needed legislation, many assisted living facilities were only private pay situations. Fortunately, for many older Americans facing housing dilemmas, Medicaid waiver programs have taken up much of the slack that Medicare did not. Providing funds for placement in assisted living facilities as well as a number of other helpful services, Medicaid helps lower-income, elderly individuals receive the care they need.
All states accept funds from Medicaid waiver programs for placement within a nursing home, which are normally more expensive than assisted living facilities. While many states do not recognize funds from Medicaid waiver programs for assisted living, those that do are located throughout the country and offer many options to aging Americans needing assistance with daily living activities. After searching high and low, finding a general overview of states that offer the Medicaid waiver program for assisted living was rather nonexistent, but my research is your gain.
Medicaid Waiver Programs State Line-Up
i. Arkansas – Aged and disabled program participants are provided with adult residential care, assisted living, and medication assistance and consulting till death.
ii. California – Beginning in 2003, California began offering Medicaid waiver programs to aged individuals.
ix. Missouri – Program participants aged 65 and older needing assisted living services are eligible.
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