56 Memory Care Facilities near Scottsdale, AZ

When it comes to paying for a memory care stay in Scottsdale, families have a few options at their disposal. Many residents and families prefer paying via private income sources, but others opt to use additional benefits to cover their fees.

In this section, we’ll provide more information about the payment methods available to families: private payment, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare.

Memory care communities in Arizona are both licensed and regulated by the state’s Department of Health Services (DHS) — and more specifically, by its Bureau of Residential Facilities Licensing. This is because Arizona’s memory care facilities are grouped under the “residential care institutions” umbrella.

The DHS’s Division of Licensing Services is also responsible for inspecting memory care facilities to make sure they align with Arizona’s regulations. Inspections generally happen once every two years. However, the Division of Licensing Services may increase this frequency if it receives complaints about a facility or believes that it’s not compliant.

When inspecting a memory care facility, DHS surveyors will consider factors such as:

• Staffing ratios
• Quality of care offered to residents
• Medication management
• Nutrition and meals
• Residents’ physical environments

Additionally, inspectors can also opt to carry out interviews with staffers and facility residents, examine related records and documents, and gauge the quality of provided care.

If the DHS finds that a facility is deficient or noncompliant with state regulations, it’s required to take corrective action and address any issues. Failure to comply can result in additional enforcement actions or penalties. Licensing and inspection records for Arizona’s memory care communities can be found on this DHS page.

Additional requirements for memory care facilities

Arizona does have regulations that are specific to its memory care facilities that these communities must adhere to:

• Staff-to-patient ratio: Although Arizona doesn’t have a minimum staff-to-resident ratio, sufficient staff must be present at all times to offer care to residents. Besides this, the state mandates that at least one manager or skilled caregiver should be awake and working at all times.
• Staffing and training regulations: Caregivers at the state’s memory care communities aren’t required to have dementia training. However, administrators at these facilities do undergo this specialized training.

Arizona Department of Health Services contact information
150 N. 18th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-542-1025
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Scottsdale memory care facilities

Arizona’s memory care facilities do not have strict COVID-19 regulations they must follow. However, Arizona’s DHS does have official guidance for long-term care facilities on controlling the spread of COVID-19 and preventing outbreaks. Additionally, the city of Scottsdale has its own set of safety guidelines, and the DHS offers residents this guidance on COVID-19 best practices and keeps up to date with new information from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Given its world-class health care options, lovely scenery and weather, and laid-back lifestyle, it’s no wonder why Scottsdale is home to many senior care — and memory care — communities. With an abundance of options, you’re sure to find an offering well-suited for your senior. In this section, we’ll share a bit more about what you can expect from Scottsdale’s memory care facilities.

All the space your senior needs

Scottsdale’s memory care facilities have a few different floor plans you can choose from depending on your senior’s individual needs and preferences. While some facilities offer cost-effective semi-private rooms great for social butterflies, seniors might be able to stay in studio apartments or even opt for one- or two-bedroom arrangements if they’d like a little more space.

An engaging array of activities and common areas for residents

Scottsdale’s memory care communities are home to a variety of amenities meant to engage seniors with memory loss conditions: think opportunities to socialize and exercise their cognitive skills to common areas where they can relax and recharge. Specific amenities and offerings vary depending on the facility a senior is in, but some examples are below:

• Activities directors: Most of our partner communities hire dedicated activities directors who plan and schedule opportunities for residents to have some fun. At memory care facilities, activities directors will often make a note of scheduling events tailored to seniors with memory loss that can help them maintain cognitive function.
• Arts and crafts centers: For seniors who are more on the artsy side, dedicated arts and crafts centers will help them scratch that creative itch.
• TV lounges: Seniors can catch up on their programs and socialize with other residents at dedicated TV lounges.
• Enclosed courtyards and outdoor walking paths: Communities with memory care in mind will often have enclosed courtyards and secure walking paths. This allows residents to get some fresh air and sunlight while staying safe and on the premises.
• Main Street-style shops: If your senior loves a bit of “retail therapy,” some memory care communities in the area offer a “Main Street” with shops they can browse.

Opportunities for care continuity

If you’re concerned about a senior’s care needs changing and increasing, you’ll be happy to know that the vast majority of the city’s memory care facilities that partner with A Place for Mom offer a combination of care types under one roof.

Two facilities are standalone memory care communities, but these are other options you might consider:

• Eight communities combine assisted living with memory care.
• Nine communities offer assisted living, independent living, and memory care — a highly progressive care classification.
• Three are combination adult daycares, group homes, and memory care facilities.
• Fourteen facilities are both group homes and memory care facilities.

Health care for seniors in Scottsdale

Scottsdale has no shortage of high-quality health care options. We’ll share more details about the area’s best hospitals below.

Transportation for seniors in Scottsdale

Many memory care facilities in the Scottsdale area provide transportation for seniors for medical appointments or supervised group outings. In fact, out of A Place for Mom’s 36 partner memory care communities in Scottsdale, 60% offer at-cost transportation services while 57% provide transportation to seniors as a complimentary perk.

However, there are other transport options in the Scottsdale area that seniors and their families should know about. Please note that individuals with memory loss conditions should be accompanied by a caregiver when using the below services.

Valley Metro ADA Paratransit

The Valley Metro system serves the Phoenix metro area, including the city of Scottsdale. Besides operating a fleet of buses, a light rail system, streetcars, and vanpools, it offers accessible bus and rail services as well as door-to-door and curb-to-curb Paratransit service for qualifying individuals with disabilities. One-way rides are $4, and trips must be scheduled at least one day in advance.

Valley Metro RideChoice Program

Thanks to Valley Metro’s RideChoice, qualifying passengers can receive 20 eight-mile travel vouchers that renew monthly for ADA- and wheelchair-compliant vehicles. An eight-mile ride is $3, but participants must pay excess fees if their trip exceeds this distance.

Envoy

Envoy, which has a hub in Scottsdale, is a service that specializes in senior transport. It hires companions who undergo rigorous training on transporting seniors and providing the assistance necessary to safely transition individuals into and out of vehicles. The Dementia Society of America has also awarded Envoy a Dementia SMART Gold Award.

Senior activities in Scottsdale

Scottsdale, Arizona, is known for its picturesque views of the Sonoran Desert, luxury lifestyle offerings, and vibrant arts and culture scene, but it’s also home to plenty of calming activities seniors with memory care conditions and their caregivers can enjoy.

If your senior loved one has always enjoyed the great outdoors, why not bring them for a visit to Cactus Park? This local favorite features 17 acres of greenery where visitors can take in nature and relax, but it also features bench seating and three ramadas for picnics and outings, two of which are reservable. The park is open from sunrise until 10:30 p.m.

If viewing wildlife is more up their alley, however, Butterfly Wonderland is a stellar choice for seniors with memory care conditions. Besides being the largest butterfly conservatory in the country, it’s also a designated Pal Place — meaning it’s taken special steps to accommodate guests with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Visitors to Butterfly Wonderland can watch thousands of butterflies from up to 70 different species mingle, learn all about honeybees, check out the conservatory’s friendly reptiles and amphibians, and more.

As a premier cultural hub, Scottsdale is also home to plenty of museums. Consider taking your senior on a tour to Taliesin West, famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter residence as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark. Although many visitors to Taliesin West opt for a guided tour, audio-only tours are also available. Guests with special needs or requests with questions about accommodations can contact Taliesin West’s tour department by phone at (480) 627-5375 or via email at dyeaw@franklloydwright.org.

Scottsdale’s Smithsonian-affiliated Western Spirit can provide more great learning moments. Self-guided audio tours are available at this museum, which covers Western history and Indigenous culture.

Looking for something a bit more social? Oakwood Creative Care’s Dementia Hub hosts a Memory Café in nearby Mesa, Arizona. This is a hybrid engagement opportunity for people living with dementia (and other memory care conditions) and support group for their dedicated caregivers. At each Memory Café event, attendees can enjoy a coffee and pastry and socialize with other participants before breaking off into either a caregiver support group or class for people with dementia. Memory Café is held on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and is free for all.