Little Rock Senior AdvisorWhat should we ask first when touring assisted living in Little Rock?
Ask whether the building is licensed Level I or Level II, how many licensed beds it has, whether it runs an Alzheimer's special care unit, and whether it participates in the Living Choices waiver.
Compare the answers with the state's Bed Need Book entry in our roster.
What should we ask about staffing?
Ask how many direct care staff work each shift, including overnight, how many hours a week the RN is on site at Level II, and how long the administrator and lead caregivers have been there.
| Residents in the building | Day | Evening | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-16 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 17-32 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 33-49 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 50-66 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 67-83 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 84 and above | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Minimum direct care staff by resident census and shift (day / evening / night), Level I rules 504.3(b)(1).
What should we ask about money?
Ask for the base rate, the care-level price sheet, three years of rate increases, any entrance fee, the refund policy and the 14-day rescission right.
Arkansas requires 30 days' written notice of general rate changes.
What should we ask about moving out?
Ask what conditions would trigger a discharge, how much notice is given, and what happened the last time a resident's needs outgrew the building.
Arkansas requires 30 days' written notice and gives seven calendar days to appeal to the Office of Long Term Care.
How many places should we tour?
Two or three that fit the level of care and budget, plus a second, unannounced visit to the favorite at a mealtime or in the evening.
Talk with a resident or family member you meet in the lobby if you can.
What should we ask about memory care specifically?
Ask whether the building runs an Alzheimer's special care unit, for the written disclosure statement Arkansas requires before admission, how many staff work in the unit on each shift, and what would require a move out of the unit.
Visit the unit in the late afternoon, when confusion and agitation are most common, and watch how staff respond.
How do we compare two buildings fairly after touring?
Put the answers side by side on one page: license level, beds, the last survey and how it was corrected, overnight staffing, the total monthly cost now and at the next care level, and the discharge terms.
Add a line for how your parent reacted to each place; a building a parent dislikes rarely works however good it looks on paper. A short respite stay can settle a close call.
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.
