Best Nursing Homes in Arkansas

Under the leadership of owner Katherine Barnhill, Nightingale at Arkadelphia is a skilled nursing home on Twin Rivers Drive in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Operated by Courtyard Arkadelphia Healthcare LLC, the community takes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, providing many pathways for families to arrange short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care. With 100 beds and a 73 percent occupancy rate, the home focuses on serving residents who need skilled medical support and specialized services.

The facility caters to an array of clinical needs, including short-term rehabilitation, wound care, hospice services, and geriatric care, plus a dedicated memory care unit and on-site dialysis services. This variety of offerings makes Nightingale at Arkadelphia a pragmatic choice for those recovering from surgery, managing a chronic illness, or needing specialized post-hospital care. The average stay is about 163 days, indicating a mix of short-term rehabilitation residents and those remaining for ongoing nursing care. Total daily nursing care averages 4 hours and 17 minutes per resident, comprising registered nurse time, nurse aides, and licensed practical or vocational nurses working all day and night to support residents’ clinical needs. This level of hands-on staffing is central to the home’s ability to handle the resident population’s medical complexity. The community sits in a really walkable neighborhood, scoring 75 out of 100 for walkability, meaning visiting family members can explore the area on foot for most errands. The home offers respite care for families needing temporary placement as they care for loved ones at home. Meals are served in an expansive country dining room.

Securing a safe environment for residents, state inspections indicate the facility has worked to comply with operational and care standards.

Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Inc., is a 120-bed nursing home in Little Rock, Arkansas. It’s owned by Joan Robbins and operated by Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. Situated at 516 South Rodney Parham Road, the facility welcomes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families flexibility in covering short-term rehabilitation and longer-term care.

The home operates with robust nursing coverage, averaging 4 hours and 20 minutes of total nursing care per resident day, with registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses on staff. This level of daily support suits residents recovering from illness or injury and those requiring ongoing skilled nursing care. The community specializes in rehabilitation services, respite care, and short-term rehab, making it a practical choice for post-acute recovery stays. The average stay length is 79 days, reflecting the mix of rehabilitation residents and those in longer-term care. The facility maintains an occupancy rate of 86 percent, with 103 of its 120 beds currently occupied. The neighborhood scores 37 on the Walk Score, so some errands are manageable on foot, but most trips need transportation.

Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Inc., offers a quieter and more residential character instead of a bustling commercial location, suitable for families visiting from out of town or within the Little Rock area.

The Green House Cottages of Homewood is a 138-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility at 215 Homewood Circle in Mena, Arkansas, Polk County. Privately owned and administered by Vicki Hughes through Mena SNF Operations, LLC, the facility holds dual Medicare and Medicaid certification and accepts private pay. Current occupancy is 62.6 percent, below the Arkansas average of 71.3 percent, ranking 111th of 166 and suggesting availability. The facility’s signature is affiliated with The Green House Project, a nationally recognized culture-change model now operating as AgingIN, which restructures nursing home care around person-directed, relationship-rich environments. It incorporates comprehensive dementia education and training into its care philosophy, setting apart Green House Cottages from conventional skilled nursing facilities in the region.

The inspection record spans three standard surveys: December 2022, February 2024, and February 2025, totaling 20 citations. All 20 were moderate in severity. No critical or serious citations were issued, and all have been corrected. No complaint investigations, fines, or immediate jeopardy findings appear in the record. The leading deficiency categories over the seven-year window are Quality of Life & Care (4 deficiencies), Infection Control (3), Resident Rights (2), and Pharmacy Services (2). The February 2024 survey cited Administration, Infection Control, and Nursing Services, while the February 2025 survey cited Infection Control only, a contained pattern with no escalation in severity. CMS place the facility solidly above the Arkansas average across every measured dimension. The overall rating exceeds the state benchmark by 27 percent, with health inspection performance running 38.9 percent above average, staffing 23.1 percent above, and quality measures 8.1 percent above, earning the facility 4 stars from CMS.

Adjusted total nursing hours reach 5 hours 10 minutes per resident per day, ranking 25th among 164 Arkansas SNFs. The staffing model leans heavily on licensed practical nurses at 1 hour 24 minutes per day, LPN hours at 47 percent, above the state average, and certified nursing assistant hours at 3 hours 19 minutes per day, running 22 percent above state. Weekend nursing coverage of 4 hours 29 minutes per day is 29 percent above the Arkansas average, an indicator that staffing levels reach weekends. RN hours, 23 minutes per day, are modestly below the state average of 24 minutes, worth noting for residents with complex clinical needs. Q2 2025 payroll data shows 147 total staff, including 80 CNAs, 22 LPNs, and 6 RNs, with only 5 percent of total hours coming from contractors. The facility primarily serves short-stay rehabilitation residents: 48 percent of admissions are Medicare-funded with typical stays of one to two months, and 44 percent are private-pay with stays of two to three months. Long-term Medicaid residents account for 9 percent of admissions. Annual revenue is $12.3 million with a $1.3 million profit, while payroll costs of $5.4 million amount to 44.2 percent of revenue.

Green House Cottages of Homewood suits individuals recovering from surgery, illness, or a hospital stay who want above-average staffing, a clean severity record, and a care model built on dignity and personal connection. It’s also a strong option for families seeking memory-care-informed skilled nursing in rural southwest Arkansas near Mena.

The Springs of Mine Creek is a 78-bed skilled nursing facility that runs at a high local capacity, typically accommodating 74 residents. The property logs an extended 216-day average length of stay, which indicates an operational model centered around ongoing long-term care rather than temporary post-hospital stays. Financial options cover standard private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Located on North Main Street in a compact downtown area, the neighborhood provides a somewhat walkable layout where a few local services can be reached on foot.

Direct care records indicate that the floor staff delivers an average of 4 hours and 24 minutes of nursing care per resident each day, with nurse aides accounting for 2 hours and 52 minutes of that total. This nursing team works alongside on-site therapy assistants, speech-language pathologists, a nurse practitioner, a dietitian, and a mental health caseworker. On the compliance side, public records from the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Office of Long Term Care report that the facility carries zero financial fines or regulatory penalties over the past three years.

While state inspectors have previously flagged standard deficiencies involving infection control, environmental maintenance, and medication safety procedures over a four-year window, the operator corrected every finding following the reviews, leaving zero critical or serious citations on its record.

Prospective residents searching for a high-occupancy, long-term nursing placement with consistent daily staffing can check these state health department tracking files to evaluate the building’s history. The public documentation outlines an established home backed by heavy daily direct care hours, a small-town layout, and an unpenalized regulatory history, balanced against typical upkeep and infection control fixes.

Overview of Timberlane Health & Rehab

Nestled in the heart of El Dorado, Arkansas, Timberlane Health & Rehabilitation stands as a beacon of compassionate care and well-being, offering the highest quality healthcare services to the residents of central Arkansas and surrounding communities. Timberlane specializes in short-term rehabilitation, ensuring individuals receive the necessary support during their recovery journey. For those seeking a nurturing home for the long haul, Timberlane provides comprehensive long-term care services, going beyond medical care to promote holistic well-being.

At Timberlane Health & Rehabilitation, the commitment to compassionate care extends beyond medical services, creating an environment where senior residents find comfort, support, and a sense of belonging. Timberlane actively encourages family participation in care planning, recognizing informed family members’ significant impact on their loved one’s well-being. Their mission is clear: to provide diverse healthcare options focusing on enhancing the quality of life for patients, their families, and dedicated associates. Patients at Timberlane experience solace in a warm and comfortable environment that fosters healing and connection. Under the compassionate leadership of Administrator Robin Loony, the entire team works tirelessly to ensure each resident’s comfort, enjoyment, and safety. 

Overview of Oak Ridge Health & Rehab

Nestled in El Dorado, Arkansas, Oak Ridge Health and Rehabilitation is a Medicaid and Medicare-certified nursing home offering short-term transitional and long-term care. With a dedicated team focused on residents’ well-being, Oak Ridge Health and Rehabilitation fosters a warm and supportive environment beyond medical care. 
Oak Ridge Health and Rehab prioritizes quality care and compassionate assistance for senior residents during critical moments. This for-profit facility, committed to caring for residents, provides a spacious environment with 180 beds for those needing rehabilitation or seeking long-term support. Families can trust that their loved ones will receive quality assistance and a compassionate touch at Oak Ridge, making it a comforting haven in El Dorado, Arkansas. 

Overview of Edgewood Health and Rehabilitation

Edgewood Health and Rehabilitation is a 102-bed skilled nursing home in Springdale operates at full capacity on East Don Tyson Parkway in Washington County, Arkansas. Tracie Jones owns the facility, which Bob Martin administers. Most admissions, roughly two-thirds, are private-pay rehabilitation patients staying 1 to 2 months. Medicaid and Medicare fill the remainder, with long-term Medicaid residents comprising 61% of current census.

CMS ratings run high across most measures: 5 stars for health inspections (38.9% above average), 5 stars for quality measures (35.1% above state), and 5 overall (58.7% above average). Yet staffing carries a 1-star designation (7.7% below average), a rating that reflects a structural problem rather than occasional lapses.

The facility maintains zero registered nurses in direct clinical roles; only administrative RN Director positions exist. This creates predictable deficiency patterns. In November 2024, state inspectors cited failure to have a registered nurse work 8 consecutive hours daily, hand hygiene breaches during meal service and personal care, and missed barrier precautions for a resident with pressure ulcers.

Over four years of state oversight, the facility has recorded 32 deficiencies, 52% above the average. Inspection patterns cluster around infection control, medication management, care plan implementation (particularly bathing and feeding assistance), and dietary safety.

Two complaint investigations in 2023 substantiated privacy failures during medication administration, unsanitary conditions with torn furnishings, improper medication storage, and systematic hand-hygiene lapses among dietary staff.

No severe sanctions materialized; no immediate jeopardy findings, no fines, no payment denials. All cited deficiencies were corrected.

Long-stay residents experience low rates of functional decline (22% better than state), rare pressure ulcers (53% better than state), and minimal antipsychotic medication use (86% better than average). Falls with major injury, however, occur in 5.8% of long-stay residents, nearly half again the average.

Rehabilitation outcomes for short-stay Medicare patients are weaker: only 41.8% of residents achieve expected self-care ability at discharge (22% below average), and fall rates during short stays sit at 1.2%, nearly double the average.

Staffing composition includes 15 licensed practical nurses, 64 certified nursing aides, and 40 contractor therapy professionals (26% contractor dependency).

Payroll consumes 37.2% of revenue; below the 47–60% benchmark for well-staffed facilities.

The community offers therapy gym, outdoor courtyard, activity spaces, communal dining, and salon services.

Admissions are supported by 24-hour nursing and respite services.

The facility provides rehabilitation or memory care with strong regulatory ratings but with acknowledged staffing and compliance challenges requiring ongoing attention.

For over two decades, Encore at West Little Rock has remained a beacon of excellence, catering to the diverse needs of the senior community in Arkansas. With a holistic approach, they offer a comprehensive range of long-term care and short-term rehabilitation services. Their dedicated team of professionals is available round-the-clock, equipped with advanced medical resources to meet any healthcare needs. Whether it’s providing exceptional post-hospital or post-surgical care, their expertise shines through, fostering a nurturing environment that promotes healing and well-being. 
With personalized therapeutic approaches and specialized dietary considerations, residents receive the utmost care tailored to their requirements. From immersive culinary experiences to embracing the wonders of technology, residents are encouraged to explore their passions and embark on new adventures. The therapeutic power of pet companionship is harnessed as well, infusing warmth and companionship into everyday life. As a Medicare-approved institution, Encore’s commitment to excellence is undeniable.

Overview of Lake Forest Senior Living at Mountain Home

Situated in the neighborhood of Mountain Home, AR, Lake Forest Senior Living at Mountain Home is an inviting senior living community, offering independent living and assisted living services. Catering to approximately 170 residents, the community provides a safe and secure environment where residents can live full-connected lives with access to daily living assistance and rehabilitation services should they need it. Residents here thrive with the help of a reliable care team and a supportive environment that fosters independence and autonomy.

The community boasts a state of the art wellness center which offers excellent outpatient therapy services, a Hydroworx warm water therapy pool, fitness classes, and smart touch technology workout programs. Residents here also enjoy vibrant daily experiences based on residents’ rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty. Here, residents are guaranteed to enjoy a well-lived life with all the comfort and convenience they could have.