My mother is currently living in AZ and wants to go into Assisted Living (ain't that a twist!) but is considering on returning to AR to go into assisted living. The only income she has is SS of $1200 per month and no long term care insurance. Does Medicaid pay for assisted living?
I would have your mom assessed to see exactly what her needs are. My loved one did well in regular Assisted Living for a short time, but then her dementia increased and she needed Memory Care quickly. I would keep that in mind when selecting a place. Some facilities have regular Assisted Living on one wing and Memory Care on the other. I'd explore both to see what your mom qualifies for.
If either of your parents was a war time veteran, there may be some financial help for your mom's expenses. Contact a veterans' service office.
Some Assisted Living Facilities accept Medicaid in payment. Some accept it but only from residents who have been paying out of their own pockets for a specified length of time, like 2 years. Others do not accept Medicaid at all.
Do research in the area Mom is considering moving to. The program involved in AR is called Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver. Find out which facilities, if any, would accept such payments. Is there a waiting list? Would Mom quality medically for the program?
Good luck!