The 3 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Benton, AR for 2024

The Arkansas Department of Human Services is ultimately responsible for ensuring quality and safety standards are met within the state’s assisted living facilities. Families comparing assisted living options in the community can contact the department for information about local providers. 

• Although Benton is above average for property and violent crime when compared to national averages, it’s often more beneficial to focus on state and local figures. For violent crimes, Benton is above average but below the average for the Little Rock metro area of which it’s a part. Additionally, property crime happens less frequently in Benton than in the rest of Arkansas and the Little Rock metro area.
• The minimum combined sales tax rate for Benton as of 2021 is 9.38%. This is broken down to 6.5% Arkansas, 0.38% Saline County and 2.5% Benton. However, seniors purchasing groceries should see less of an impact on their wallets as the State of Arkansas taxes groceries at the lower rate of 0.125%. 
• Seniors in Benton get more sunny days than most of their peers around the country. The city averages 216 days per year, 11 days more than average. In winter, lows of 30 degrees are typical, while in summer it’s not unusual to see highs of 92 degrees. Benton also has above-average rainfall, typically 54 inches per year. The national average is 38.
• AirNow.gov records a good average air quality for Benton and the surrounding area. This means that the air quality is considered to pose little or no risk to high-risk groups, such as seniors and people with asthma. Occasionally, during some days in summer, air quality may temporarily drop to the amber zone, but not enough to change the average green zone statistics.
• Sperling’s Best Places gives Benton a cost of living index of 82.7, significantly below the national average of 100. This means that the city is more affordable than the typical American city. In every category, Benton came out less costly than most, particularly in housing and health care costs.
• Saline Memorial Hospital is the only major medical facility in Benton. Its services include orthopedic and health care. Due to its location, seniors in Benton also have quick and easy access to the numerous hospitals in Hot Springs and Little Rock, including the UAMS Medical Center, which is nationally ranked in Ear, Nose & Throat procedures. 

Per Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2024, assisted living costs about $4,433 monthly in Benton. Although slightly pricier than the Arkansas median price of $4,146, Benton’s norm comes to $917 below the typical national rate. Benton is among the priciest places in the state for residential assisted living, though prices only dip somewhat in nearby Fayetteville to $4,325. Fort Smith boasts the lowest monthly costs, with a median fee of $3,376.

In Benton, senior long-term care options range from $1,907 monthly for adult day health care to $8,441 for a semi-private room in a nursing facility. Assisted living lies between, running about $4,433 each month. When it comes to aging in place, non medical in-home care costs about $810 less than assisted living, while home health care costs roughly $1,287 more.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Arkansas page.