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Residents of assisted living get to enjoy the privacy of their own apartment while still benefiting from a close community of friends and neighbors. Family caregivers can take comfort in the knowledge that their loved one is safe in a supportive environment, with staff readily able to respond to emergencies, and assist with personal care or other basic needs.

It’s common for assisted living staff to offer assistance with:

In assisted living, residents usually live in small private apartments and share common areas, like dining rooms, patios, and recreation areas.

Some assisted living facilities offer additional amenities, such as:

What Does Assisted Living Offer to Older Adults and their Family Caregivers?

According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, in 2021 the national average for assisted living fees was $4,500 per month. You can find the average monthly cost of assisted living in your specific area using the 

Note that in many cases assisted living facilities charge a base rate for room and board and charge extra for care or services. It’s common to offer “level of care” packages based on the amount of personal care assistance needed or pay-per-use charges for transportation or other services.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost?

Taking the time to find the right assisted living facility, where your loved one will feel comfortable and at home is worth the effort.

Consider using a senior facility referral service. 

Keep in mind that these services are not all the same. It may require a bit of research to ensure you’re working with a reputable one, but doing so is worthwhile. Read more about what to look for: Should I Use a Senior Facility Placement Service?

Consider your preferences, needs, and non-negotiables.

 What would you like to see in a senior living setting and what do you absolutely need? Think about your loved one’s needs now, as well as what they might be in the near future. If you anticipate an increase in needs it might make more sense to move directly to a facility that can accommodate them, rather than having to go through the disruption of another move again next year.

If your loved one has complex medical needs or severely impaired mobility a nursing home may soon be the only type of facility that can accommodate them.

If your loved one has dementia or behavioral concerns a memory care facility might be better suited to your needs.

If you prefer a very small, home-like environment a group home may be a better option.

Do you want a place with a garden? A place that allows pets?

Do you need a place that supports a certain diet, language, culture, or religious tradition?

Review recommendations for assisted living facilities in your area at your Olera dashboard.

 for a list of assisted living facilities in your area.

Ask your doctor, health care provider, family, or friends for recommendations.

Call the facilities to get some basic information.

What are the costs and what’s included? Are there level of care charges? What services are available for additional charges? What happens if a resident runs out of money? Will they accept Medicaid?

What type of care can they support? What would cause the resident to have to leave the facility?

Ask about any non-negotiable deal-breakers you may have.

Arrange to tour several of your favorite facilities.

 to prompt you on questions to ask and details to look for during your tour.

Be sure your ultimate choice is a place your loved one feels comfortable living in and calling home.

How Do I Find an Assisted Living Facility?

Assisted Living by State

Dive into the world of assisted living with our all-inclusive guide, covering essential information on services, costs, benefits, and how to choose the right facility. Equip yourself with insights to make a well-informed decision for your loved one's care and comfort.

Discover Assisted Living for Seniors: A Comprehensive Guide

Assisted Living

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Fort Smith

Fort Smith, located in Arkansas, is a vibrant city with a rich history and a strong sense of community. Situated on the Arkansas River, it boasts a blend of modern amenities and historical charm. Residents enjoy a variety of cultural attractions, outdoor recreational opportunities, and a diverse culinary scene.

Assisted living costs in Fort Smith vary depending on the level of care and amenities provided. On average, monthly fees for assisted living facilities range from $3,000 to $4,500. These costs typically cover accommodation, meals, assistance with daily tasks, and access to recreational activities and healthcare services.

The average income in Fort Smith is around $40,000 per year. However, this figure may vary depending on factors such as occupation, education level, and industry. Despite being below the national average, Fort Smith offers affordable living expenses, contributing to its appeal for retirees and families alike.

Ranking of Fort Smith among Top Cities in Arkansas:

Fort Smith holds a prominent position among the top cities in Arkansas. Known for its strong economy, low cost of living, and excellent quality of life, Fort Smith consistently ranks high in various livability indices. Its strategic location, coupled with a thriving business environment and robust community infrastructure, solidifies its status as a preferred destination in the state.

Top Assisted Living Providers/Facilities in Fort Smith, AR:

Fort Smith, located in Arkansas, is a vibrant city with a rich history and a strong sense of community. Situated on the Arkansas River, it boasts a blend of modern amenities and historical charm. Residents enjoy a variety of cultural attractions, outdoor recreational opportunities...

Best Assisted Living near me in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Arkansas

When it comes to assisted living in Arkansas, families looking for senior care for their elder loved ones have several options to consider. Arkansas offers a variety of assisted living facilities that cater to the unique needs of seniors.

In terms of costs, Arkansas tends to have lower average assisted living expenses compared to the national average. This can be particularly beneficial for families who are working within a budget. However, it's important to note that costs may vary depending on the specific location and level of care required.

Arkansas also has a lower average income compared to the national average. Families should take this into consideration when planning for the cost of assisted living and assessing financial feasibility.

Some of the most popular cities in Arkansas for assisted living include Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Springdale. These cities offer a range of amenities, healthcare services, and recreational activities that can enrich the lives of seniors.

It is important for families to thoroughly research and visit assisted living facilities in Arkansas to ensure they meet the specific needs and preferences of their loved ones. Additionally, consulting with healthcare professionals and seeking recommendations from others who have gone through a similar process can provide valuable insights and guidance.

Explore the world of assisted living in Arkansas, highlighting services, costs, regulations, and important factors when choosing the perfect facility for your loved one. Our concise guide equips you with essential knowledge for making well-informed decisions in the Natural State.

Assisted Living in Arkansas: A Comprehensive Overview & Guide - Olera

Finding care in the Natural State

Assisted Living in Arkansas

Senior Communities

Legacy Heights Retirement Center

Brookfield Assisted Living

Visiting Angels

The Blossoms at Fort Smith Rehab & Nursing Center

Memory Lane

Morada Fort Smith

Peachtree Village Assisted Living of Forth Smith - Senior Retirement Community

Brookdale Fort Smith

Van Buren Health & Rehab

Valley Springs Rehabilitation and Health Center

Covington Court Health and Rehabilitation Center

Legacy Health and Rehabilitation Center

Hope's Creek Retirement Living

The Blossoms at Van Buren Rehab & Nursing Center

Best Assisted Living Fort Smith - Luxury Senior Living Fort Smith AR & Senior Care Arkansas

Courtyard Senior Apartments

Most American families eventually face tough decisions about how to care for their parents, spouses, and themselves as they grow older. Vivian is the caregiver for her husband, who is currently in a rehabilitation center for daily physical therapy to get stronger after a recent hospitalization. She has been kind enough to share her caregiving journey in our 

, which is an effort from our group to recognize the struggles many family caregivers face, like: 

Should she continue caring for her husband at home or move him into a facility after rehab?

In her interview with us, Vivian shared, “At the end of this month, we’re going to have to make a decision whether he should come back home with full-time [home] care, hiring healthcare people, or to put him in an assisted living place where he would get the medical care he needs, but where he would be away from me. Of course, I would go and visit him, but it will be heart-wrenching not to have him live at home where he belongs, really—with me.”

Vivian’s words highlight the emotional heart of a tough decision millions of family caregivers grapple with daily. Using her story as our guide, here’s what family caregivers can consider about the decision of arranging in-home care versus placement at an assisted living facility or nursing home, updated with information for caregiving in 2025.

Home Care vs. Assisted Living

When deciding on in-home care or facility-based care, it is important to first understand your loved one’s current care needs and anticipate what support needs they might require in the future. This way, you can prepare emotionally and financially. Care needs are typically categorized as:

 Essential tasks like bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding, and transferring.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs):

 Complex tasks like medication reminders and management, cooking, transportation, and finances.

 Require licensed (“skilled”) healthcare professionals to handle treatments such as wound care, injections, catheter management, physical therapy, medication administration, and chronic condition management.

Decision-Making Framework: Home Care vs. Assisted Living vs. Nursing Home

These considerations can be a lot to take in. To help orient a family caregiver like Vivian to the options of home- versus facility-based assistance, we can review each factor in the table below carefully and consider care needs and care options together. A family caregiver in Vivan’s situation can check the column that best aligns with their experience. If most factors align clearly with one column, this indicates the type of care setting that might best suit an individual’s care needs.

Assessing Care Needs: ADLs, IADLs, and Medical Needs

Vivian’s husband now needs extensive daily support, medical supervision due to ongoing health issues, and supervision to prevent falls and injuries. Vivian herself has reached significant stress and fatigue, indicating potential for caregiver burnout. Their financial resources could dwindle quickly due to mounting home care costs if this route is chosen. Using this framework, Vivian’s scenario aligns strongly with assisted living or possibly skilled nursing home care, indicating that it may be wise to explore both options to find a situation that is most sustainable for both her husband and herself.

Applying this framework to Vivian’s story

Vivian’s experience reminds us there's no single right answer—only informed, compassionate decisions. We do know that it's most important to prioritize safety, dignity, caregiver health, and realistic finances, and we offer our decision-making framework as a resource to help orient families on what to think about.

Vivian concluded, “These are the only two options, and I’m still struggling to decide—to get to a point where, yeah, that makes more sense or the other one makes more sense. I just don’t know.”

It is clear that decisions about in-home or facility-based care are not easy, but decisions must be made in most families, and it's important to be informed on the options and have a decision-making framework. Our Aging in America campaign team is committed to providing real-life stories and extracting lessons like these that may help support caregivers with insights, resources, and recognition. It's our goal to provide high-quality information on the state of caregiving in our era as often as we can. Join Olera’s Aging in America campaign at 

 to connect, find resources, and share your own story. We can navigate aging in America together with compassion, wisdom, and humanity.

Conclusion: Lessons from Vivian

 is a MD and co-founder of Olera.care. He writes about dementia, Alzheimer's, and other age-related conditions. He is a Texas A&M MD/MBA alum. Olera specializes in merging clinical practice with innovative solutions for the aging population.

Author Bio

Discover Vivian’s heartfelt journey as she faces the emotional decision between home care and assisted living for her husband. This guide uses her real-life story to help family caregivers assess care needs.

Best Assisted Living near me in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Best Assisted Living near me in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Best Assisted Living Fort Smith - Luxury Senior Living Fort Smith AR & Senior Care Arkansas

Courtyard Senior Apartments

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Important things to know about Assisted Living

Home Care vs. Assisted Living: A Brief Guide to Long-Term Care Decisions