Private pay
One all-inclusive monthly rate.
For families
Family resources
Visiting, staying in touch, paying for care, activities and the menu.
For families
For Hartwell families
How to stay close, and what to expect.
- 01
Write back
Your letters are read aloud at mail call, as many times as wanted. Send a photo with them.
- 02
The writing hour
Two to three every afternoon. Come write a letter together and we'll mail it.
- 03
Weekly note
A short email and a photo from your loved one's household each Friday.
- 04
Support group
Second Thursday evening, open to any family in Benton County.
Insurance & payment
Paying for memory care
Most families combine sources. Our social worker can help.
Long-term care insurance
We'll help with claims and the monthly paperwork.
VA benefits
Wartime veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for a pension benefit that helps pay for care.
Arkansas Medicaid waiver
Some residents qualify for the Living Choices program. Ask about current availability.
Activities & dining
A week at Hartwell House
A sample week. The writing hour happens every day.
Mon
- Writing hour
- Music hour
Tue
- Beauty shop
- Poetry reading
Wed
- Walk to the post office
- Kitchen club
Thu
- Photo labeling
- Creek walk
Fri
- Mail call & postcards
- Barber
Sat
- Birthday supper
- Movie & popcorn
Sun
- Chapel
- Family dinner
Good to know
Questions, answered
What if my mother can't write anymore?
She can dictate, draw, choose a postcard or simply sign her name. Caregivers help every step, and audio letters are an option too.
Who pays for the stamps?
We do. Every letter is mailed at no charge.
Is Hartwell House secure?
Yes. Doors are coded and alarmed, and the garden is walled.
How is memory care paid for?
Most families pay privately or with long-term care insurance. Medicare covers doctor visits and therapy but not room and board. Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for VA pension benefits, and some Arkansans qualify for Medicaid's Living Choices assisted living waiver. Our social worker can help.
How many residents live in each household?
Twelve, with three households sharing the front room and garden.
How do you handle sundowning?
Late afternoons are planned: the writing hour, music, a walk, lamps on early. Most residents settle with routine rather than medication.
Can we bring furniture?
Please do: a favorite chair, quilt, photographs and their own desk if it fits.
Can families join the writing hour?
Any day. Write a letter together and we'll mail it.
What happens if needs increase?
We update the care plan and coordinate hospice so most residents never move again.
Do you offer respite stays?
When a room is available.
Can couples live together?
Yes, in our companion suites.
Do residents go out?
Small, staffed walks along Sager Creek and to the post office.
How often will I hear from you?
A weekly note, a quarterly conference and a call whenever anything changes, plus whatever your loved one writes.
What about pets?
Calm, vaccinated family pets are welcome to visit.
Are meals flexible?
A choice at every meal and finger foods whenever they help.
Is there a chaplain?
Volunteer clergy lead Sunday chapel and visit on request.
What do families say surprises them most?
The mail. Most families tell us they hadn't had a letter from their parent in years.
How do we begin?
Call or text. We'll set a tour and a nurse visit, and walk you through the rest.
Write to us. Or better, come by.
Call or text Elise to set a time. Bring a stamp and we'll help your mother write her first letter home.