Assisted Living in Hot Springs, AR

Assisted Living Costs in Hot Springs

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Hot Springs is close to the national average of $4,000 and about $900 higher than the state average of $3,037. 

Prices are similar in nearby Little Rock ($3,975) and somewhat lower in Jonesboro ($3,498), while monthly costs are much lower in Pine Bluff ($2,350) and Fort Smith ($2,700). 

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

Arkansas has some of the lowest costs for senior care in the country, thanks in part to the state’s relatively low cost of living. Nursing home care, which provides seniors with 24-hour skilled nursing care in a specialized, licensed residential facility, is the most expensive option. Assisted living costs about $1,200 less than nursing home care does, while in-home options such as a homemaker or home health aide are slightly less expensive than assisted living. 

To compare the true cost of different types of senior care, it’s important to recognize that residential services include room and board. Seniors who opt for in-home care are responsible for ongoing living expenses such as food, utility bills and home maintenance. 

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Hot Springs

Medicaid in Arkansas

Over 65 million low-income Americans receive free basic health care coverage through Medicaid, the nationwide program that’s jointly funded by the federal and state governments. In Arkansas, about one in five residents is on Medicaid, and 65% of Medicaid expenditures in the state go toward services for the elderly and disabled. 

The Arkansas Medicaid program is administered by the Department of Human Services. Seniors 65 and older who meet income and resource eligibility requirements may qualify for Medicaid funding for personal care services in a level II assisted living facility through the Living Choices Assisted Living waiver, a Home and Community Based Services program. 

Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver

To qualify for the ALW, seniors must be at least 65 years old, be legally blind or have a permanent physical disability and prefer to live in an assisted living facility instead of a nursing home. This waiver is available to seniors who require the level of institutional care offered in an intermediate nursing facility and meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Need an extensive amount help to eat, use the toilet or transfer
• Need help performing at least two activities of daily living
• Receive a score of three or greater on the state-approved cognitive performance scale
• Receive a medical assessment indicating significant changes in health or end-stage disease

Seniors must also earn no more than 300% of the current maximum Social Security Income, which is $2,313 for a single applicant and $4,626 for a couple applying together. Resource limits of $2,000 per individual and $3,000 per couple also apply. Cash, stocks, bonds and all real estate except the applicant’s principal residence are counted, while personal belongings such as clothing, one vehicle and an irrevocable burial trust are exempt. 

If approved for the ALW, seniors are responsible for the room and board portion of assisted living fees, and the waiver covers the cost for one or more of the following services:

• Personal care
• Medication management and administration
• Skilled nursing
• Recreational programming
• Homemaker services
• Transportation assistance

Note that there are statewide enrollment caps on the ALW, and seniors who meet the eligibility requirements may be placed on a waiting list. 

For more information about Medicaid and the ALW, contact the Choices in Living Resource Center at (866) 801-3435. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

The VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance are two pension top-up programs for eligible veterans and their survivors. Applicants must either currently receive a regular VA pension or qualify for a VA pension based on the increased rates provided through these programs. Veterans who currently receive a VA disability pension are excluded. 

To qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits, an applicant must meet at least one of the following criteria: 

• Be bedridden due to disability or chronic illness
• Live in a nursing home as a result of a disability or mental or physical deterioration
• Have corrected vision tested at 5/200 or less in both eyes
• Suffer from concentric contraction of the visual field tested at 5 or fewer degrees
• Need help from a caregiver to complete one or more activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting or managing a prosthetic device

If approved for Aid and Attendance, the maximum annual VA pension rates provided are: 

• $22,577 for a veteran without dependents
• $26,766 for a veteran with one dependent
• $14,509 for a survivor without dependents
• $17,309 for a survivor with one dependent

To qualify for Housebound benefits, applicants must have a permanent disability that limits their ability to leave their home. If approved for Housebound benefits, the maximum annual VA pension rates provided are: 

• $16,540 for a veteran without dependents
• $20,731 for a veteran with one dependent
• $11,095 for a survivor without dependents
• $13,893 for a survivor with one dependent

For more information and application assistance including in-home service for disabled and elderly veterans, contact the Garland County Veterans Service Office at (501) 622-3795. 

Assisted Living Resources in Hot Springs

Senior Wellness Centers

Seniors can join free group tai chi and Zumba Gold classes, participate in an arts and crafts program and learn ways to manage diabetes at the Oaklawn Center on Aging. Catholic Health Initiatives also operates a senior wellness center in Hot Springs Village where seniors 60 and older can enjoy communal lunches, participate in fitness classes and learn about area resources. 

Oaklawn Center on Aging
101 McGowan Ct, Hot Springs, AR 71913
(501) 623-0020

CHI St. Vincent Senior Center – McAuley
5010 Hwy 7 N, Hot Springs Village, AR 71909
(501) 984-5594

Community Assistance 

Seniors who need information about local support services can contact the Area Agency on Aging. ADA-compliant door-to-door public transit is available through Hot Springs Intracity Transit. The Oaklawn Center on Aging also offers a number of workshops and programs to support seniors living with chronic diseases.

Area Agency on Aging of West Central Arkansas
905 W Grand Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71913
(501) 321-2811

Hot Springs Intracity Transit 
100 Broadway Terr, Hot Springs, AR 71901
(501) 321-6625

Resources for Veterans

Veterans and their survivors can access information about VA benefits and programs by contacting the Garland County Veterans Service Office, which also offers in-home service for those unable to visit the office. VA health services are available at the Hot Springs community-based outpatient clinic. 

Garland County Veterans Service Office
501 Ouachita Ave Rm 105, Hot Springs, AR 71901
(501) 622-3795

Hot Springs CBOC
177 Sawtooth Oak St, Hot Springs, AR 71901
(501) 520-6250