Little Rock Senior AdvisorWhich is better for my parent, Level I or Level II?
Level II if your parent's health is likely to decline or Medicaid may be needed later; Level I if your parent is fairly independent, manages medications with reminders, and wants a less clinical setting, accepting that a move may come if nursing-level needs appear.
| Level I | Level II | |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing home level of care | May not be served | May be served, including Living Choices residents |
| Medications | Staff assist self-administration | Licensed nurses may administer |
| Registered nurse | Not required | Employed or under contract |
| Short-term nursing | Through a licensed home health agency | Through its own nursing staff or home health |
| Beds in the six counties | 276 | 2,166 |
How common is each level around Little Rock?
Level II dominates: of the 2,442 licensed assisted living beds in the six counties, 2,166 (89%) are Level II, spread across 27 buildings, while 4 buildings hold the 276 Level I beds.
That balance means most families touring in Pulaski, Saline and Faulkner counties will mostly see Level II buildings, and should ask Level I buildings early about what happens when care needs grow.
Do Level II buildings cost more?
Often, because they carry nursing staff, though Arkansas publishes no price split by level; ask each building for a written price sheet and the cost at the next care level up.
CareScout's 2025 Arkansas median for assisted living, $4,562 a month, covers both levels. The real difference often shows up later, when a Level I resident must move and the family pays moving costs and a new entrance fee.
Can a resident move from Level I to Level II in the same building?
Only if the building holds Level II beds; Arkansas rules say a person who meets Level II criteria may not live in a Level I unit or bed, so a facility with only Level I beds cannot keep that resident.
Some campuses hold both kinds of beds. Ask whether the building has Level II apartments and how many are open.
What happens to a Level I resident whose needs grow?
The building must arrange outside home health for short-term needs, but once a resident meets nursing home level of care the Level I rules do not let them stay, so the family needs a Level II apartment or a nursing home.
Ask a Level I building how many residents moved out in the last year because of rising care needs, and where they went. A clear, practiced answer is a good sign.
Side by side
| Level II | Level I | |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing home level of care | Can be served | May not be served |
| Medications | Licensed nurses may administer them | Staff assist self-administration only |
| Registered nurse | Employed or contracted | Not required |
| Living Choices waiver | Possible if the building participates | Not available |
Sources: Arkansas Office of Long Term Care assisted living rules, the Health Services Permit Agency's Bed Need Book, Arkansas DHS waiver and PACE fact sheets, CMS, CareScout and VA rate tables, each cited in the text. Our editorial standards explain how we check them.
