With its abundant wildlife and park system, mountains, caves, rivers and hot springs, it’s no surprise that many veterans choose to call Arkansas home. Veterans and their families are eligible for a wide range of benefits and support, and also can connect to the network of Arkansas veterans through the help of local organizations.

One such organization is the Arkansas Freedom Fund, a non-profit whose mission is to help connect veterans and give them constructive, fun, enjoyable events and activities to attend. The organization currently has more than 500 members across the state and serves as a clearinghouse for numerous veteran events, such a rallies, races, hunts, road trips, golf scrambles and more. The group also works to offer resources for veterans and caregivers on support groups, VA links, employment boards, memorials, and links to Arkansas’ veteran owned businesses.

Arkansas offers special incentives to ensure that veterans, especially those with service-related injuries, can enjoy its beautiful wildlife and 52 state parks. Military retirees as well as permanently or totally disabled Arkansas veterans can get discounted lifetime permits for hunting, fishing, or combination. Additionally, Arkansas resident veterans, who have a permanent, service-connected 100% disability rate, can camp for half price in Arkansas State Parks.

If you are a veteran needing health care, you have several high-quality options in Arkansas. The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) is a flagship VA healthcare provider, and is one of the largest and busiest VA medical centers in the country. Its two hospitals, located in Little Rock and North Little Rock, offer a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, including disease prevention through primary care, complex surgical procedures, and extended rehabilitative care. The system also includes a long list of community-based outreach centers spread throughout the state.

If you are closer to Fayetteville, you can visit the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks a facility that has been providing quality care since 1935. Its services include primary care, mental health care, specialty care, women’s clinic, pharmacy, social work, surgery, and nutrition services.

Veterans seeking employment can take advantage of a special program developed by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services that works to raise the awareness of employers about the availability and benefit of hiring veterans. In addition to outreach to employers, two teams of staff members – Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) members and Local Veterans' Employment Representatives (LVER) staff – are extensively familiar with local job opportunities in the system and work to align veterans with the best job opportunities.

For senior veterans, the Arkansas VA operates two licensed Medicaid/Medicare skilled care nursing facilities that offer a comfortable and supportive atmosphere for veterans. Services include physical, occupational and speech therapy, 24-hour skilled nursing care, daily activities from a certified activities director, licensed social worker and medical doctor on site, beauty parlor and barber shop, hospice care, and provided transportation, laundry, and cable. There are eligibility requirements, so visit the websites for either location: Fayetteville and North Little Rock.

Another great resource for Arkansas veterans is the organization ARVets, an offspring of the Arkansas Yellow Ribbon Taskforce. ARVets’ case management approach works to improve the overall quality of life of veterans and their families by addressing needs holistically. Case managers provide one-on-one assistance in the areas of employability, housing, health, and family support services. Services are provided through both in-house programs or through direct referrals to vetted organizations. Veterans can fill out a simple online form to get in contact with the organization, with a representative responding typically within 24 hours.

To find out what veterans benefits exist in other states in the U.S. please visit our complete Veterans Benefits by State guide here.

Arkansas Veterans Benefit for Assisted Living

The Aid and Attendance pension benefit is available to Arkansas senior veterans and their spouses to help pay for senior care like assisted living, home care, or nursing home care. Here is more information on how the Aid and Attendance benefit helps Arkansas veterans.

Written by Megan Hammons