Located on the Arkansas River just east of the Oklahoma border, Fort Smith is centrally located near major roadways, cultural amenities and world-class medical facilities. It has about 90,000 residents, including a senior community that makes up nearly 15% of the population. Two hospitals are located within the city proper, including Baptist Health-Fort Smith and Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, and nine more major medical facilities are within 30 miles. For those who are coming out of inpatient care or otherwise need a high degree of skilled nursing services, the Fort Smith area has numerous nursing homes to choose from. Local care is affordable at $5,551 per month, which is nearly 30% lower than the national median.
Nursing homes are suited for those who need around-the-clock medical monitoring and extensive skilled nursing. These residential facilities are staffed by licensed professionals who provide care for those who would otherwise need extended periods of time in a hospital. For those with less extensive care needs, assisted living or home health care may be more appropriate options.
This guide provides more information on senior care costs in Fort Smith and highlights some local resources for older adults.
Directory of Nursing Homes in Fort Smith AR
4623 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, AR, 72903
Best place to be.No regrets
Best place to be.No regrets
4500 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, AR, 72903
My wife is at Covington Court Health and Rehabilitation Center. Everything I have seen so far is just very good. The staff had been good so far. They don’t accept visitors. Up until yesterday, or a da
… (read more)
My wife is at Covington Court Health and Rehabilitation Center. Everything I have seen so far is just very good. The staff had been good so far. They don’t accept visitors. Up until yesterday, or a day before maybe, she was in a private room; they moved her. I have only seen the place from the outside, and it is very clean. They have limited parking, but there was enough, sufficient, but I could say that they might overflow. She’s undergoing PT, but I don’t know what else has been offered to her. The price is not unreasonable; our 20 days is covered by Medicare.
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My wife is at Covington Court Health and Rehabilitation Center. Everything I have seen so far is just very good. The staff had been good so far. They don’t accept visitors. Up until yesterday, or a da
… (read more)
My wife is at Covington Court Health and Rehabilitation Center. Everything I have seen so far is just very good. The staff had been good so far. They don’t accept visitors. Up until yesterday, or a day before maybe, she was in a private room; they moved her. I have only seen the place from the outside, and it is very clean. They have limited parking, but there was enough, sufficient, but I could say that they might overflow. She’s undergoing PT, but I don’t know what else has been offered to her. The price is not unreasonable; our 20 days is covered by Medicare.
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7301 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR, 72917
We were able to do the last mass for dying people. It was one of the most amazing things to ever be a part of. The staff was very comforting and alert but not overbearing. From what I saw that day, ma
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We were able to do the last mass for dying people. It was one of the most amazing things to ever be a part of. The staff was very comforting and alert but not overbearing. From what I saw that day, many elderly people comfortably take there final steps in their life’s journey.
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We were able to do the last mass for dying people. It was one of the most amazing things to ever be a part of. The staff was very comforting and alert but not overbearing. From what I saw that day, ma
… (read more)
We were able to do the last mass for dying people. It was one of the most amazing things to ever be a part of. The staff was very comforting and alert but not overbearing. From what I saw that day, many elderly people comfortably take there final steps in their life’s journey.
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1915 SOUTH 74TH ST, Fort Smith, AR, 72903
My father had been in rehab at Methodist Nursing Home of Fort Smith before, and he was very happy there and happy with the facility. He came out of rehab. Actually he and my mother are both back in re
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My father had been in rehab at Methodist Nursing Home of Fort Smith before, and he was very happy there and happy with the facility. He came out of rehab. Actually he and my mother are both back in rehab there right now. I have seen it from the outside, and I have talked with people there. Very good. The move-in was very smooth. They’re always happy to talk to me if I call to check on them, and they’re always saying, "You can call as many times if you need to." As far as them calling me, maybe once a week. It’s clean. The food is good. The people that work there are always happy, smiling and cheerful. The facility seems pretty nice. They have an enclosed courtyard at the back for the residents, and they have an outdoor covered patio. It seems pretty nice. As far as rehab, they keep the women separated from the men, and they’re both in an individual room. My father is going to be in a nursing home bed, and my mother is going to be in an assisted living room in a dementia unit.
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My father had been in rehab at Methodist Nursing Home of Fort Smith before, and he was very happy there and happy with the facility. He came out of rehab. Actually he and my mother are both back in re
… (read more)
My father had been in rehab at Methodist Nursing Home of Fort Smith before, and he was very happy there and happy with the facility. He came out of rehab. Actually he and my mother are both back in rehab there right now. I have seen it from the outside, and I have talked with people there. Very good. The move-in was very smooth. They’re always happy to talk to me if I call to check on them, and they’re always saying, "You can call as many times if you need to." As far as them calling me, maybe once a week. It’s clean. The food is good. The people that work there are always happy, smiling and cheerful. The facility seems pretty nice. They have an enclosed courtyard at the back for the residents, and they have an outdoor covered patio. It seems pretty nice. As far as rehab, they keep the women separated from the men, and they’re both in an individual room. My father is going to be in a nursing home bed, and my mother is going to be in an assisted living room in a dementia unit.
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5301 WHEELER AVENUE, Fort Smith, AR, 72901
River Valley Health and Rehabilitation does have a great staff. You could tell that the residents there were well taken care of and even on good terms with the staff. The nurses, administration, every
… (read more)
River Valley Health and Rehabilitation does have a great staff. You could tell that the residents there were well taken care of and even on good terms with the staff. The nurses, administration, everyone, was extremely kind to me as well as other visitors and, obviously, the residents, every time I visited. My grandmother also didn’t seem to mind us leaving her there. However, the facility didn’t always smell so great so I think cleanliness isn’t as high a priority as it should be. Also, the building itself seemed old and out of date. You can tell the maintenance staff tries everything they can to keep it up and running and in as good of condition as possible, but it’s just an old building. All in all, that’s why I gave it three stars. It’s a good facility to leave your loved ones if you’re going to have the time to visit but there definitely needs to be some work done on and around the facility before I would give it a better review.
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River Valley Health and Rehabilitation does have a great staff. You could tell that the residents there were well taken care of and even on good terms with the staff. The nurses, administration, every
… (read more)
River Valley Health and Rehabilitation does have a great staff. You could tell that the residents there were well taken care of and even on good terms with the staff. The nurses, administration, everyone, was extremely kind to me as well as other visitors and, obviously, the residents, every time I visited. My grandmother also didn’t seem to mind us leaving her there. However, the facility didn’t always smell so great so I think cleanliness isn’t as high a priority as it should be. Also, the building itself seemed old and out of date. You can tell the maintenance staff tries everything they can to keep it up and running and in as good of condition as possible, but it’s just an old building. All in all, that’s why I gave it three stars. It’s a good facility to leave your loved ones if you’re going to have the time to visit but there definitely needs to be some work done on and around the facility before I would give it a better review.
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3310 NORTH 50 STREET, Fort Smith, AR, 72904
My sister was a resident at Legacy for rehab services for almost 3 months. The therapy department, nursing staff, activities, were all very professional and caring during her time of stay. They showe
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My sister was a resident at Legacy for rehab services for almost 3 months. The therapy department, nursing staff, activities, were all very professional and caring during her time of stay. They showed compassion with their care, the food was good, we are very satisfied with the care she received. Would recommend for your family member!!
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My sister was a resident at Legacy for rehab services for almost 3 months. The therapy department, nursing staff, activities, were all very professional and caring during her time of stay. They showe
… (read more)
My sister was a resident at Legacy for rehab services for almost 3 months. The therapy department, nursing staff, activities, were all very professional and caring during her time of stay. They showed compassion with their care, the food was good, we are very satisfied with the care she received. Would recommend for your family member!!
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8411 SOUTH 28TH STREET, Fort Smith, AR, 72908
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318 STROZIER LANE, Barling, AR, 72923
My father is in Ashton Place and we are very pleased with it. He’s great now, he’s a lot better than he was, and they’ve taken good care of him as well. What I like about Ashton Place probably the mos
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My father is in Ashton Place and we are very pleased with it. He’s great now, he’s a lot better than he was, and they’ve taken good care of him as well. What I like about Ashton Place probably the most is that they do not hesitate to call me whenever there’s an issue and just let me know what is going on with my dad and then kind of ask and to make sure that it’s OK with me or that if I think it will be OK if they do this or the other. They’re very good about calling in and letting me know what’s going on day to day, especially with this COVID shutdown. I can’t go in and see him face to face and be able to get the information. I went there yesterday to take some personal things to him and they were just like Johnny on the spot. I mean, taking care of everything and writing things down, and keeping track of what was going on with him and I appreciate that. We have no issues at all.
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My father is in Ashton Place and we are very pleased with it. He’s great now, he’s a lot better than he was, and they’ve taken good care of him as well. What I like about Ashton Place probably the mos
… (read more)
My father is in Ashton Place and we are very pleased with it. He’s great now, he’s a lot better than he was, and they’ve taken good care of him as well. What I like about Ashton Place probably the most is that they do not hesitate to call me whenever there’s an issue and just let me know what is going on with my dad and then kind of ask and to make sure that it’s OK with me or that if I think it will be OK if they do this or the other. They’re very good about calling in and letting me know what’s going on day to day, especially with this COVID shutdown. I can’t go in and see him face to face and be able to get the information. I went there yesterday to take some personal things to him and they were just like Johnny on the spot. I mean, taking care of everything and writing things down, and keeping track of what was going on with him and I appreciate that. We have no issues at all.
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1404 North 28th Street, Van Buren, AR, 72956
Great facility with friendly staff. Wouldn’t want my family members anywhere else.
Great facility with friendly staff. Wouldn’t want my family members anywhere else.
2010 MAIN STREET, Van Buren, AR, 72956
1008 Arkansas Street, PO Box 410, Arkoma, OK, 74901
228 Pointer Trail West, Van Buren, AR, 72956
701 Taylor Dr, Roland, OK, 74954
Nursing Home Costs in Fort Smith, AR
In Fort Smith, nursing homes charge $5,551 per month for shared rooms. Seniors in private rooms typically pay $5,703 monthly.
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Nearby Cities
Nationally, seniors pay $7,756 per month for semiprivate rooms in nursing homes, and in Arkansas, monthly fees are well below average at $5,931. Nursing home care in Fort Smith is very competitively priced at $5,551 monthly.
Nursing homes in Fort Smith charge among the cheapest rates in the state for nursing home care. However, care in all surveyed cities across the state is affordable compared to the national average. In Jonesboro and Fayetteville, respective monthly fees come in at $5,779 and $6,007. Seniors in Hot Springs pay $6,083 for care, and those in Pine Bluff pay a little more at $6,183.
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
Fort Smith is a relatively affordable city for all types of senior care. Nursing homes charge the highest rates of $5,551 for shared rooms and $5,703 for private accommodations. Older adults seeking residential services but who only need personal care services may save money by opting for assisted living, which costs $3,406 monthly. In-home care, including home care and specialized home health care, costs $3,586 per month. Local data for adult day health care isn’t available, but statewide, monthly fees average $1,820.
Nursing home (semiprivate room)
Nursing home (private room)
Financial Assistance for Nursing Home Care in Fort Smith, AR
Many seniors and their families use some form of financial assistance to help them pay for nursing care. The main options available are Medicare, Medicaid and veterans benefits. These programs can be complicated, especially when it comes to benefit terms. Below, we give a brief overview of how these programs may be used to pay for skilled nursing care.
- Medicare: Medicare will typically cover all skilled nursing costs for the first 20 days of one’s stay in a nursing home and a portion of the costs until day 100. After 100 days in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare will not cover any part of the cost of the stay. While this is adequate when short-term care is needed, those in need of long-term care will need to either pay out-of-pocket or use another source of financial assistance.
- Medicaid: Medicaid covers most of the costs of living in a skilled nursing facility for those who qualify. Care, room, and board are covered with no time limit, but residents may be charged for extras like specially prepared food or cosmetic services. Medicaid eligibility standards are strict and complex, so not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid benefits.
- Veterans Benefits: Veterans receiving a VA pension may also be eligible for the Aid and Attendance benefit administered by the VA. Aid and Attendance is a monthly allowance that beneficiaries may use to pay for their long-term care, including skilled nursing care.
If these options aren’t available to you, check if your loved one has long-term care insurance or contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about any local financial assistance programs for seniors.
Free Resources for Seniors in Fort Smith, AR
Numerous nonprofit programs and resources help seniors in Fort Smith make informed decisions regarding their long-term care options. Through the following resources, older adults can connect with community-based supports that may enable them to avoid or delay nursing home placement. The table also features information specialists who can help seniors understand their care options and identify ways to cover monthly nursing home fees.
The AAA provides 24-hour in-home care for medically needy individuals in Fort Smith, which seniors can pay for through Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance, private pay and donations. Home health care staff includes licensed nurses, nurse aides, therapists and medical social workers. It also has a personal care program with trained aides who prepare meals, change linens, provide housekeeping and laundry and complete essential shopping.
The county’s Veterans Service Office helps older veterans in Fort Smith apply for VA benefits, including pension, disability compensation, health insurance and medical care through the VA Regional Center and Milwaukee Pension Center. Staff members also help with overpayment waivers and applications for Aid and Attendance and Housebound status.
SHIIP is a statewide program that provides free, impartial health insurance counseling to Medicare beneficiaries. Through the helpline, trained volunteers help callers understand their Medicare coverage for in-home and nursing home care, as well as benefits under available Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. They can also help individuals determine whether paying for nursing home care through Medicaid is an option.
Arkansas Lifespan Respite is a statewide initiative that helps families in Fort Smith connect with caregiver resources and relief. The program maintains a database of registered respite care options. It also administers the Arkansas Lifespan Respite Voucher Program, which provides funds for those who need financial assistance for respite care. Funds are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis and may be up to $300 quarterly or $1,200 annually.
Legal Aid of Arkansas provides free legal assistance to older adults in Fort Smith. It has licensed legal professionals who help seniors obtain public benefits and resolve issues, such as Social Security overpayment or denied health insurance claims. It can also help address nursing home issues, including billing errors, problems with intake or discharge procedures and insufficient or excessive care services.
