The History of ARALA
Arkansas Residential Assisted Living Association (ARALA) is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1983 to provide advocacy, communication, education, and other resources to residential care and assisted living communities and the Arkansans we care for, our residents. ARALA represents Arkansas residential care and assisted living facilities.
​The ​ARALA Board of Directors consists of twelve individuals who are owners or operators of an assisted living or residential care facility.  The Standing Committees are: Education, Finance, Legislation, Membership and Grievance, and Nominating and Credentials Committees.  

Arkansas Residential Assisted Living Association (ARALA) has helped lead the industry in changing legislation such as increased training of staff and health care assessments with no reimbursement. During previous legislative sessions, the future of Medicaid in facilities has been in question and ARALA has continued to stay active as legislation comes forward. There was a strong push to have the Permit of Approval (POA) program abolished.  (The POA program is to ensure adequate services in areas of need while preventing over-building by allowing only projects that can establish the need for the facility to be completed.) ARALA worked on behalf of its members and more largely, the industry as a whole.  
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