Nursing Home Ratings in Arkansas: Data Analysis of Quality, Safety, and Staffing
Arkansas has 217 nursing homes averaging 4.09 HPRD — 0.19 hours above the national average of 3.90. 84.79% meet the CMS benchmark.
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Data updated quarterly
This analysis reflects the most recent CMS data release (Q3 2025). Staffing figures, grades, and benchmarks are refreshed every quarter as new federal data becomes available.
Nursing Home Staffing in Arkansas: What Families Need to Know
If you're evaluating nursing homes in Arkansas, the state-level numbers offer some reassurance — but they don't tell the full story. Arkansas's 217 facilities serve approximately 16,673 residents daily with an average staffing level of 4.09 HPRD, above the national average. About 84.79% meet the CMS staffing benchmark, and 14.7% earn a B or better.
But 127 facilities (58.5%) still earn a D or F — a reminder that state averages can smooth over the gaps between a well-staffed home and one running chronically short.
Registered nurse coverage is the most pressing concern. Only 5.99% of Arkansas facilities meet the 0.75 RN HPRD research recommendation — meaning the vast majority lack the clinical oversight that catches deteriorating conditions before they become emergencies.
Explore the full Arkansas profile → View facility rankings, county breakdowns, and trend data on our Arkansas state page.
The Arkansas Nursing Home Landscape
Arkansas operates 217 Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes serving approximately 16,673 residents daily. Staffing levels range from well above the research recommendation to critically understaffed — a spread that makes facility-level data essential for any family evaluating care options.
The state averages 4.09 total nurse HPRD, which is 0.19 hours above the national average of 3.90. RN coverage averages 0.41 HPRD (national: 0.68), and 5.99% of facilities meet the 0.75 RN research recommendation. The grade distribution shows 32 facilities (14.7%) earning a B or better, while 127 (58.5%) fall to D or F.
Arkansas by the Numbers
Grade Distribution
Staffing Compared to the National Average
Additional Metrics
- Median HPRD: 3.98 (less skewed by outliers than the average)
- Meet Research Recommendation (4.10): 42.4% of facilities
- RN Recommendation (0.75): 5.99% of facilities
- Agency/Contract Staff: 1.98% of total hours
What This Means for Families
The most important number for families to understand is the RN HPRD of 0.41. Registered nurses are the only staff qualified to perform clinical assessments, manage complex medication regimens, and make the judgment calls that prevent emergencies. At this level, many Arkansas facilities have the equivalent of one RN covering dozens of residents during a shift — thin coverage that means subtle changes in condition are more likely to go unnoticed.
Weekend staffing deserves attention. The average 18.86% drop on Saturdays and Sundays means residents receive meaningfully less care on weekends. Since most family visits happen on weekends, the staffing level you observe may actually be better than the weekend norm at many facilities.
Agency staff usage is low at 1.98%, suggesting stable, permanent workforces at most facilities. This is generally positive — staff who know their residents well are better positioned to notice changes in condition and provide consistent care.
How Nursing Home Ratings Are Calculated
Our letter grades are based on Hours Per Resident Day (HPRD) — the total nursing staff hours a facility provides divided by its daily resident count. This metric normalizes for facility size, so a 200-bed home and a 20-bed home are measured on the same scale.
The grade thresholds are anchored to two evidence-based benchmarks:
- 3.48 HPRD — the staffing level CMS established through formal rulemaking as an appropriate standard. (The regulatory requirement was subsequently suspended, but the underlying research remains valid and widely cited.)
- 4.10 HPRD — the level recommended by the landmark CMS-commissioned STRIVE study as the minimum to prevent quality problems.
Grades A+ and A correspond to facilities meeting or exceeding the research recommendation. Grade B meets the CMS benchmark. Grades C through F fall below in progressively concerning ways.
All data comes from CMS Staffing & Quality Data — daily reports that every nursing home is legally required to submit. No facility pays to be rated. No rating is influenced by advertising or referral relationships.
Learn more about how HPRD is calculated in our guide to nursing home staffing metrics.
Key Takeaways for Families in Arkansas
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Check the facility-level grade, not just the state average. Arkansas's 4.09 HPRD average masks a range from A+ to F. Every facility is different.
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RN staffing is the most important single metric. Only 5.99% of Arkansas facilities meet the 0.75 RN recommendation. Prioritize homes with strong registered nurse coverage — that's where clinical problems get caught early.
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Ask about weekends. Arkansas facilities drop staffing by 18.86% on weekends on average. A weekend visit may not reflect typical staffing — check the daily data.
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Look at the trend direction. A facility that's improving from C toward B may be a better choice than one declining from B toward C. Four quarters of trend data reveal the direction.
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Review the inspection history. Staffing data measures resources; inspection data measures outcomes. A facility with thin staffing and repeated citations is showing two different signals pointing the same direction.
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Use the comparison tool to evaluate finalists side by side across every metric — staffing, grades, weekend patterns, inspection history, and CMS star ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are nursing homes rated in Arkansas?
Arkansas nursing homes receive CMS Five-Star ratings based on health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures. Our analysis adds letter grades (A+ through F) based on total nursing hours per resident per day, computed from federal staffing and quality data published by CMS. Arkansas currently has 9 facilities earning A+ or A, and 127 earning D or F.
What is considered a good nursing home rating?
A facility with a B grade or better (3.48+ HPRD) meets the CMS benchmark standard. An A or A+ (4.10+ HPRD) meets the research recommendation for avoiding quality problems. In Arkansas, 14.7% of facilities reach B or better.
How many nursing homes are in Arkansas?
Arkansas has 217 Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes serving approximately 16,673 residents daily.
What factors affect nursing home ratings in Arkansas?
Key factors include total nurse staffing hours, registered nurse coverage, weekend staffing consistency, reliance on temporary agency staff, health inspection deficiency history, and clinical quality measures such as fall rates and infection rates.
How can families compare nursing homes in Arkansas?
Our comparison tool allows side-by-side evaluation of any two Arkansas facilities across staffing grades, HPRD levels, weekend drop-off, agency usage, CMS star ratings, and inspection history. You can also explore the Arkansas state page for county-level breakdowns and rankings.