The 10 Worst Nursing Homes in Arkansas

Updated as of August 01, 2023

A list of the ten worst skilled nursing homes in Arkansas. Based on the Weighted Health Inspection Score developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Click here to see the best skilled nursing facilities in Arkansas.

Compare the Worst Nursing Homes in Arkansas

Every year, thousands of seniors, their families, and friends are faced with the difficult decision of choosing a skilled nursing facility, either because someone is recuperating after a hospital visit or for end-of-life care. This is usually an issue that arises suddenly, and the decision makers are not equipped with the right knowledge and information to make a good decision. Not knowing how to decide, they turn to others for recommendations. Word of mouth, along with geography, are constantly cited as the most important factors in choosing a skilled nursing facility. Choosing a facility with such limited information can lead to significant problems. Not all skilled nursing facilities are the same and the people that you trust to recommend a facility may not know enough about the facility and the alternatives to be a competent guide.

Providing the type of care that residents of skilled nursing facilities require is very difficult. The range of issues that are being treated is vast and the needs cover both people recuperating and recovering as well as those facing end-of-life issues. Residents require significant help with basic daily activities as well as supplemental needs like oxygen and 24/7 monitoring.

To help people who are facing this difficult situation, we have compiled a list of the worst Arkansas skilled nursing facilities and the the best skilled nursing facilities. (We have also compiled the best and worst nursing homes by city for most cities in the United States, links are shown at the bottom on this page.) The lists are based on data provided by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (“CMS”) and include information gathered from detailed annual inspections, monthly reporting, complaint histories, deficiency reports and much more.

The list below calls out the worst skilled nursing facilities in Arkansas. For the most part these facilities should be avoided. All the facilities have issues with cleanliness and safety and a large number of the facilities have been flagged by CMS as locations where abuse has either occurred or is highly likely.

Avoiding these facilities may not always be an option either because of geographic, monetary, or occupancy constraints. However, being in a bad nursing home does not mean that the resident will not improve. If you have a loved one in one of these facilities, we encourage you to visit often and to ask that friends and other family visit too. It is well documented that positive outcomes for skilled nursing residents is highly correlated with the number and diversity of people visiting the resident. Being there, getting to know the staff, showing the staff that the resident has people that care about him or her is critical. There may not always be a better option, but your direct involvement can make a difference.

To see a more detailed analysis of the performance on skilled nursing facilities in Arkansas, including staffing, COVID-19 infections, historical occupancy levels and recent trends, look at our detailed analysis page.

Nursing Home Rating
Happy Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation
955 DIVISION STREET
MALVERN, AR 		743.50
Trinity Village Medical Center
6400 TRINITY DRIVE
PINE BLUFF, AR 		387.33
Bear Creek Healthcare LLC
322 WEST COLLIN RAYE DRIVE
DE QUEEN, AR 		218.17
Legacy Health and Rehabilitation Center
3310 NORTH 50TH STREET
FORT SMITH, AR 		218.00
The Springs of Pinnacle Mountain
6411 VALLEY RANCH DRIVE
LITTLE ROCK, AR 		197.33
The Springs Jonesboro
1705 LATOURETTE DRIVE
JONESBORO, AR 		193.00
Springdale Health and Rehabilitation Center
102 NORTH GUTENSOHN
SPRINGDALE, AR 		183.50
/
The Villages of General Baptist Health Care West
6810 SOUTH HAZEL STREET
PINE BLUFF, AR 		178.67
Heartland Rehabilitation and Care Center
19701 INTERSTATE 30
BENTON, AR 		176.33
The Blossoms at West Dixon Rehab and Nursing Center
2821 W DIXON RD
LITTLE ROCK, AR 		171.00

Nursing Homes with the warning icon () have been flagged by CMS for abuse.

How We Compile Nursing Home Ratings in Arkansas

Every month, we rank all of the skilled nursing facilities in Arkansas. These rankings are based on data provided by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid measures ("CMS"), including the CMS 5-Star Rating System and the Health Inspection Scores. The list of the Worst Skilled Nursing Facilities in Arkansas is based on the weighted overall health inspection score which is a composite of CMS's three most recent skilled nursing home inspection scores weighted to give the most recent inspection more importance.

The CMS 5-Star Rating System rates skilled nursing facilities from one to five stars, with one star being the lowest and five stars being the highest. The rating system also rates Arkansas nursing homes across five different dimensions including overall rating, health inspection rating, quality measures rating, overall staffing rating, and RN staffing rating (RN is an acronym for Registered Nurse).

In addition to the 5-Star Rating System, CMS provides numerical metrics that summarize:

  • Health Inspection Domain. The health inspection rating is based on the three most recent standard surveys for each nursing home, results from any complaint investigations during the most recent three-year period, and any repeat revisits needed to verify that required corrections have brought the facility back into compliance. CMS calculates a weighted deficiency score based on points assigned to health deficiencies identified in each active provider’s current health inspection survey and the two prior surveys (including revisits), as well as deficiency findings from the most recent three years of complaint investigations. More recent surveys are weighted more heavily than older surveys: the most recent period (cycle 1) is assigned a weighting factor of 1/2, the previous period (cycle 2) has a weighting factor of 1/3, and the second prior survey (cycle 3) has a weighting factor of 1/6. The weighted time period scores are then summed to create the survey score for each facility.
  • Staffing Domain. Using multiple reporting methods, CMS calculates the amount of time that the nursing staff spends with residents. This is measured across multiple dimensions, one each for three different levels of nursing, including Registered Nurses (“RNs”), Licensed Practical Nurses (“LPNs”), and Certified Nursing Assistants (“CNAs”), plus one metric that totals all contributions. These metrics are expressed in hours per resident per day. CMS also provides state-level and national averages for the metrics to allow for additional comparisons.
  • Quality Measures Domain. A set of quality measures (QMs) has been developed from MDS-based indicators to describe the quality of care provided in nursing homes. These measures address a broad range of functioning and health status in multiple care areas. The facility rating for the QM domain is based on performance on a subset of 11 (out of 18) of the QMs. Ratings for the QM domain are calculated using the three most recent quarters for which data are available. This time period specification was selected to increase the number of assessments available for calculating the QM rating, increasing the stability of estimates and reducing the number of facilities that do not have enough data to report QM ratings.
  • Abuse Flag. Abuse is always a concern in skilled nursing facilities. To highlight the issue, CMS has extracted this feature as its own flag. Facilities with an actual abuse event or where the potential for abuse has been shown for the past two years are flagged. The Health Inspection Score is capped at 2-stars for nursing homes that have been flagged for abuse.

Skilled nursing facilities that are new and do not have at least two surveys completed are not rated by CMS. These facilities may have health inspection scores that can be used to evaluate the facility.

One complication in Arkansas nursing home inspections is the COVID-19 pandemic. Although inspections should be performed every 12 months, COVID has decreased this frequency. While CMS admits that only in “rare cases” do these inspections increase to 15 months, our analysis suggests that this time frame may be even longer. This report shows that the time between inspections is now just under 500 days (more than sixteen months). There are now hundreds of skilled nursing homes in the United States that have not been inspected in more than 24 months. This list shows the skilled nursing homes with the longest period since being inspected. According to the CMS data, these homes have not been inspected since 2018!

Skilled Nursing Home Abuse in Arkansas

Abuse is always going to be an issue with skilled nursing facilities. Skilled nursing facility residents need help with so many basic things and they are suffering, confused, and frustrated. If you are the friend or relative of a nursing home resident, we guarantee that you will be constantly fretting about whether your loved one is receiving proper and timely care. Abuse feels like a violation of your trust, but it happens. CMS actively monitors nursing homes not just for actual abuse but also for indicators that suggest that abuse might be occurring. Homes where abuse has either occurred or might be occurring are flagged. A very high percentage of the worst skilled nursing facilities in Arkansas have been flagged for abuse. We have marked these facilities both on the list of the worst skilled nursing facilities and on the detailed page for each of the facilities.

How to Report a Nursing Homes in Arkansas

If you run into an issue at a Arkansas nursing home, there are a few steps you can take to make sure the issue is reported. First, speak with the immediate staff. If the problem is not solved, speak with a director or administrator, doctor, or any other employee of a high level.

As required by Medicare and Medicaid, reports and complaints must go through a grievance procedure. Per the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a grievance is “an expression of dissatisfaction (other than an organization determination) with any aspect of the operations, activities, or behavior of a Medicare health plan, or its providers, regardless of whether remedial action is requested”. All grievances must be filed in writing or verbally within 60 days of the event prompting the grievance.

To report a Arkansas nursing home for quality of care, go through a grievance procedure through your Medicare or Medicaid plan. You can also go through the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care-Quality Improvement Organizations (BFCC-QIO). These groups serve to help with complaints made regarding the quality of care by Medicare providers. You can also choose to go through both Medicare and a BFCC-QIO.

Worst Nursing Homes in the Largest Arkansas Cities

All of the following nursing homes have been given a Weighted Health Inspection Score by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Every year, nursing homes in Arkansas go through an unannounced inspection performed by independent state examiners. These examiners look at factors such as cleanliness, hazards, and safety to perform the inspection. Points are given to nursing homes based on their deficiency in a certain category. Thus, a higher Weighted All Cycles Score means more problems and lower quality of care.

The list below ranks the homes with the highest (worst) weighted scores. The score is shown next to the facility name. The list also shows the two most recent deficiencies for each of the nursing homes.

Worst Nursing Homes in Little Rock

  • The Springs of Pinnacle Mountain (197.333)
    • Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. (2023-06-22)
    • Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2023-06-22)
  • The Blossoms at West Dixon Rehab and Nursing Center (171)
    • Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2023-04-24)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-04-24)
  • The Green House Cottages of Poplar Grove (148.333)
    • Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2023-05-19)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-04-07)
  • The Blossoms at Cumberland Rehab and Nursing Center (129.167)
    • Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2023-01-08)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-01-08)
  • The Springs of Barrow (125.667)
    • Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2023-04-24)
    • Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. (2023-04-24)
  • Cottage Lane Health and Rehab of Little Rock (115.333)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2023-02-23)
    • Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate. (2022-11-16)
  • The Blossoms at Midtown Rehab and Nursing Center (114.667)
    • Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2023-06-09)
    • Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason. (2023-06-09)
  • The Springs of Chenal (99.333)
    • Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money. (2023-03-01)
    • Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2023-03-01)
  • Hickory Heights Health and Rehab, LLC (94.667)
    • Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature. (2023-04-24)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2023-04-24)
  • Colonel Glenn Health and Rehab, LLC (92)
    • Encode each resident?s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment. (2023-01-07)
    • Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition (2023-01-07)

Worst Nursing Homes in Fayetteville

  • Donalson Care Center (215)
    • Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2022-04-08)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2021-09-15)
  • Arkansas Veterans Home at Fayetteville (143.333)
    • Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate. (2023-04-15)
    • Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. (2023-04-15)
  • The Carrolton of Fayetteville (137.667)
    • Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2018-07-27)
    • Use approved construction type or materials. (2018-07-27)
  • Fayetteville Health and Rehabilitation Center (115.167)
    • Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2023-06-25)
    • Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. (2023-06-25)
  • Highland House Rehabilitation and Healthcare (83.333)
    • Ensure therapeutic diets are prescribed by the attending physician and may be delegated to a registered or licensed dietitian, to the extent allowed by State law. (2023-06-30)
    • Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2023-06-14)
  • Carolina Rehab Center of Cumberland (74.333)
    • Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility. (2023-05-26)
    • Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2023-05-26)
  • Katherine's Place at Wedington (71.333)
    • Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2023-06-18)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2023-06-18)
  • Butterfield Trail Village (62.667)
    • Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2023-06-29)
    • Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (2023-06-29)
  • North Hills Life Care and Rehab (61.333)
    • Properly hold, secure, and manage each resident's personal money which is deposited with the nursing home. (2023-07-01)
    • Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. (2023-07-01)
  • Nc State Veterans Home - Fayetteville (46.667)
    • Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. (2022-10-29)
    • Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2022-10-29)

Worst Nursing Homes in Fort Smith

  • Legacy Health and Rehabilitation Center (218)
    • Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being. (2023-04-07)
    • Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2023-02-07)
  • Covington Court Health and Rehabilitation Center (114)
    • Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2023-04-26)
    • Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2022-08-02)
  • Methodist Health and Rehab (96)
    • Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2022-06-12)
    • Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason. (2022-06-12)
  • Fianna Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (87.333)
    • Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2023-06-01)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2023-06-01)
  • The Blossoms at Fort Smith Rehab and Nursing Center (76.667)
    • Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2023-05-28)
    • Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. (2023-05-28)
  • Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab (35.333)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-04-21)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-04-21)

Worst Nursing Homes in Springdale

  • Springdale Health and Rehabilitation Center (183.5)
    • Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2022-11-25)
    • Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2022-11-25)
  • The Maples at Har-Ber Meadows (87.333)
    • Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2023-04-28)
    • Ensure residents have reasonable access to and privacy in their use of communication methods. (2022-04-26)
  • Windcrest Health and Rehab Inc (84.667)
    • Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate. (2023-04-29)
    • Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights. (2022-08-26)
  • Edgewood Health and Rehab (56.667)
    • Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2023-03-09)
    • Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed. (2023-03-09)
  • Shiloh Nursing and Rehab, LLC (36)
    • Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2022-10-09)
    • Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident. (2022-10-09)
  • Westwood Health and Rehab, Inc (33.333)
    • Provide special eating equipment and utensils for residents who need them and appropriate assistance. (2023-01-05)
    • Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (2023-01-05)

Worst Nursing Homes in Jonesboro

  • The Springs Jonesboro (193)
    • Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. (2023-07-21)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-07-21)
  • Arrowhead Health and Rehab (104.833)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2022-05-09)
    • Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice. (2022-05-09)
  • Ridgecrest Health and Rehabilitation (97.333)
    • Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2022-07-29)
    • Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2022-07-29)
  • Craighead Nursing Center (43.333)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-05-03)
    • Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status. (2022-09-08)
  • St Elizabeth's Place (38)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2023-01-14)
    • Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive. (2023-01-14)
  • Jonesboro Rehab and Hcc (24.667)
    • Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds. (2023-01-17)
    • Conduct risk assessment and an All-Hazards approach. (2023-01-17)
  • Forest Haven Nursing and Rehab Ctr, LLC (23.167)
    • Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2023-03-31)
    • Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason. (2023-03-31)
  • Wyatt Manor Nursing and Rehab Ctr, Inc (19.333)
    • Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed. (2022-12-26)
    • Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2022-04-10)
  • Jonesboro Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (4.667)
    • Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2022-03-13)
    • Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited. (2022-03-13)

Worst Skilled Nursing Homes in Other States

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