How is a Level II assisted living facility in Arkansas different from a Level I? Brookfield Senior Living and Memory Care is proud to offer both Level I and Level II assisted living communities in Bella Vista, Hot Springs, and Fort Smith, Arkansas.  

When it’s time to choose a long-term care option for yourself or an aging loved one, the multiple categories of care can be overwhelming. 

If you’ve settled on facility-based senior care in Arkansas, it’s helpful to know the different levels of care you can expect at different facilities. Two of the most common levels of assisted living in Arkansas are Level I and Level II.

Here’s what families and residents should know about these different facility levels. 

What Is Level I Assisted Living in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, a Level I Assisted Living Facility (ALF) provides a number of care services to residents, including meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, resident activities and transportation services. 

Residents who are admitted to Level I ALF must be able to perform most Activities of Daily Living (ADLS) without assistance from a nurse or caregiver. ADLs include walking/transferring, using the bathroom, dressing, feeding oneself and maintaining bladder and bowel continence. While staff at Level I facilities cannot administer medications to residents, they can provide medication reminders to residents who need them. 

Most importantly, Level I facilities cannot admit or provide service to individuals who require a nursing home level of care. 

Nursing home level of care (NHLOC)  is defined as formal care requirements that would make an individual eligible for Medicaid funding through the Arkansas home and community-based services waiver. 

According to the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Level I facilities cannot admit or provide service to individuals who:

• Need 24-hour nursing services (exceptions are made for individuals needing care from a certified home health agency for 60 days or less with one 30-day extension)
• Are bedridden
• Are not able to move independently 
• Present a danger to themselves or others
• Require medication to be administered by a staff member or caregiver

Every potential resident at an Arkansas assisted living facility is required to undergo a health needs assessment by a registered nurse. 

Some Level I ALFs are licensed to provide care in an Alzheimer’s Special Care Unit. However, facilities that offer these living quarters must meet special unit and staff requirements. 

What Is Level II Assisted Living in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, Level II ALFs can admit and provide service to individuals who require nursing home level care. However, they cannot admit residents who are bedridden, completely incontinent, or unable to ambulate (move around) independently. 

Similarly to Level I facilities, Level II ALFs cannot provide service to individuals who need 24-hour nursing care. However, Level II’s are permitted to administer medications to residents. 

Additionally, Level II facilities must maintain physically distinct wings for residents who receive a nursing home level of care and those who do not. 

They must also employ at least one registered nurse who must be available to other staff by phone or pager. Level II ALFs must also employ licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, and personal care aides. 

Perhaps the most important distinction between Level I and Level II assisted living is a resident’s ability to have nursing care covered by Medicaid. 

Under Arkansas’s Medicaid 1915(C) home and community-based services waiver, eligible low income residents at Level II facilities can have a portion of their nursing care services covered. Medicaid does not cover cost-of-living fees in assisted living facilities. 

Senior Care at Brookfield Senior Living

Brookfield Senior Living and Memory Care is dedicated to providing assisted living options for Arkansas seniors across multiple care levels. 

Our Level II assisted living community in Hot Springs is perfect for seniors who need a higher level of care. Our Level I communities in Bella Vista and Fort Smith can accommodate seniors who are mostly independent but may need some daily assistance. 

Are you searching for a reputable senior community in Arkansas? Explore our facilities or learn more by contacting Brookfield’s team today.