10 Best Nursing Homes in Phoenix, AZ
The term “nursing home” is often used as a general term for senior living communities, but a nursing home is actually a specific type of care facility staffed with medical professionals who provide 24/7 skilled nursing services. Usually, only seniors with the most serious medical needs choose traditional, standalone nursing homes. If your loved one does not require that level of care, one of the assisted living or memory care options outlined below may be a better fit for your needs. A number of the facilities included below also happen to offer on-site skilled nursing services for residents who have or develop rehabilitation or recovery needs.
Regardless of the type of senior care you’re looking for, you’re likely to find a good fit in Phoenix. With warm weather all year, a high number of 75+ seniors, and a generous state Medicaid program, Phoenix is one of the top senior living markets in the United States. Within a 10-mile radius of Phoenix city center, A Place for Mom partners with 157 communities.
Nursing Homes Facilities near Phoenix, AZ
We toured Bella's Care Home along with 3 others when searching for a place to house my mother. Bella herself met with us and asked us more questions that we had for her. Her staff there were pleasant and...
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Our methodology
How we rank order the Phoenix community options above
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Phoenix community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
- Proximity to your search location
- Availability of recent, high-quality reviews
- The amount of detailed community information available
Where we source our information
14,000+ communities
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
350,000+ reviews
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
- Costs of Phoenix nursing homes
- What families are saying about nursing homes in Phoenix
- How to pay for nursing homes in Phoenix
- Understand Arizona laws and regulations for nursing homes
- What to expect from Phoenix nursing homes and other senior care types
- Phoenix nursing homes services and amenities
- Explore senior care with confidence
Costs of Phoenix nursing homes
Nursing homes — also known as skilled nursing facilities — tend to be considerably more expensive than assisted living because they offer round-the-clock medical care. According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost of a private room in a Phoenix skilled nursing facility is $7,908, which is almost twice as much as an assisted living or memory care community.[02]
Overall, Phoenix senior living costs tend to reflect the national average. According to A Place for Mom’s 2022 proprietary data from partner communities in Phoenix, memory care is one of the most expensive options at $4,084 per month, with assisted living following at $4,080 per month.[01] Phoenix residential care homes, which provide assisted living-like care in a small, residential home setting, cost an average of $3,895 per month.[01] These monthly costs reflect not only room and board, but a total that includes fees and care services.
Average monthly cost of Nursing Homes in Phoenix, AZ vs. nearby cities
Average monthly cost of Nursing Homes in Phoenix, AZ vs. the state and national average
Average monthly cost of Nursing Homes in Phoenix vs. other types of senior living
Median monthly costs of Nursing Homes in Phoenix, AZ by room type
Average cost of Nursing Homes in Phoenix over time
What families are saying about nursing homes in Phoenix
Recent reviews for nursing homes in Phoenix
The Auberge at Scottsdale
Amber Creek Inn Memory Care in Scottsdale, AZ
Sagewood Desert Willow AL and MC in Phoenix, AZ
How to pay for nursing homes in Phoenix
Most seniors and their families pay for nursing homes or skilled nursing services using a mix of private funds and public assistance. Public aid almost always includes Medicare or Medicaid, but it can also include veterans benefits. Smart planning is key to keeping senior care within reach for you or your loved one. Here, you’ll find an overview of the private and public methods to pay for senior living in Phoenix.
Private funds are often built up over a lifetime, and many families use more than one private resource to fund their senior living costs. Life insurance and long-term care insurance policies vary, so it’s a good idea to check with your policy provider directly to make sure you know exactly what your plan covers. Some people choose to sell their policies for a lump sum that they can then apply towards their long-term care, although whether or not this is possible depends on the individual policy.
In addition to your savings and income, the following are some of the most common private funding options:
Arizona has one of the highest number of veterans in the United States, most of which is focused around Phoenix. Any Arizona veteran eligible for the VA Survivors Pension may be eligible for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit or Housebound allowance. Both can be added to a VA Pension to help cover costs related to long-term care, though a veteran can only receive one benefit at a time.
The Aid and Attendance benefit can cover long-term care in any of the following types of facilities: a State Veterans Home, private assisted living community, memory care community, or nursing home. In contrast, the Housebound benefit covers care received within the veteran’s personal home through a home care agency.
Arizona state-run veterans home
The Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services has a state-run nursing facility for local veterans and their spouses in need of skilled nursing. To qualify, a veteran or their spouse must have a physician determine a need for skilled nursing care. These nursing facilities accept both Medicare and Medicaid, and the VA Aid and Attendance benefit can also be used to cover care in this facility.
VA benefits counseling
Veterans and their families can access local benefits counseling through the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services. You can also get a comprehensive overview of how these different VA benefits can apply to long-term senior care in our veterans benefits guide.
Number of veterans in Phoenix
Percentage of Phoenix veterans over the age of 65
Additional resources for Phoenix veterans
3839 N. Third St.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 602-255-3373
333 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
4141 N. Silvestre Herrera Way
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 602-248-1550
Arizona is a leader in Medicaid reform, with one of the most generous and organized Medicaid programs in the country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services called Arizona’s Medicaid interventions a “groundbreaking effort.” Arizona’s Medicaid provider — the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) — is working to expand its services to address more social needs, like housing insecurity, to prevent related health problems.
The Arizona Long Term Care System, also known as ALTCS, is the Arizona health insurance plan for individuals who require nursing home or skilled nursing care. To qualify, people need to be 65 years or older and require medical or rehabilitative assistance. A registered nurse or social worker needs to officially determine a patient’s need for skilled nursing care. Income wise, qualifying individuals cannot exceed $2,000 in total financial resources, and their monthly income cannot exceed $2,523. This includes all savings and checking accounts, stocks and bonds, and a few other less common resources.
Once they qualify, a senior can then choose to receive this skilled nursing care in their home, in an assisted living community, or in a memory care facility. These Medicaid-covered skilled nursing, rehabilitative, or hospice care services can be provided through an in-home care agency or within a skilled nursing unit at an assisted living or memory care community.
Medicaid coverage without skilled nursing
For Arizona residents 65 years or older who don’t need skilled nursing services, the Arizona Health Cost Containment System, commonly referred to as AHCCCS, provides health insurance without monthly premiums to those who qualify. Individuals need to make under the gross monthly income limit, which is $1,133 for an individual and $1,526 for a couple.
Qualifying seniors in Phoenix can choose a plan that serves Maricopa County. Here is a list of available health insurance plans from AHCCCS that offer coverage in Maricopa County. All health plans on this list cover the same medical care, including the following services:
- Doctor visits
- Specialist referrals
- Injections and immunizations
- Prescriptions (unless you also have Medicare)
- Labs and X-rays
- Surgery
- Podiatry
- Dialysis
- Dental, vision, and hearing care
Additional Phoenix resident Medicaid resources
801 E. Jefferson St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Phone: 602-417-4000
801 E. Jefferson Street, MD 3900
Phoenix, AZ 85034
Phone: 888-621-6880
Medicare covers only short-term, medically necessary costs. Anyone over 65 who paid Medicare taxes or who is married to someone who paid Medicare taxes is eligible for Medicare.
For qualified seniors, Medicare will cover three consecutive days of in-patient hospital care and short-term stays in nursing homes or skilled nursing units. Medicare-covered services in such nursing care facilities may include the following:
- A semi-private room
- Meals
- Medical care
- Medication administration
- Ambulance services to the closest emergency facility
- Therapies
In the first 20 days, Medicare recipients will pay nothing toward their nursing care. From days 20-100, recipients will pay up to a $200 copay every day, and after day 100, Medicare will no longer cover any services.
Medicare only pays for medically necessary services and will not pay for assisted living or memory care fees, like monthly rent. However, it may cover some medical services received while residing in assisted living or memory care community, as long as these services are short-term. Medicare does not cover the following:
- Monthly rent for a long-term residential community
- Long-term care (such as help with activities of daily living)
- Dental and vision care
- Routine physical exams
- Hearing aids
To see if your care service or prescription is covered by Medicare, check this list.
To find out more about what Medicare services you can receive in Phoenix, you can dial 2-1-1, visit the Federal Medicare website, or contact your local Social Security office.
Related: Visit our complete guide to public pay options.
Phoenix resident Medicare resources
Prevent, detect, or report Medicare errors or fraud
Arizona SMP Helpline: 800-432-4040
16241 N. Tatum Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85032
Phone: 866-348-7855
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, 9 a.m. – noon.
250 N. Seventh Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 866-964-4852
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, 9 a.m. – noon.
Understand Arizona laws and regulations for nursing homes
Nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities are regulated by the federal government. This is because many of the services provided in a nursing home or skilled nursing unit can be covered with public assistance, like Medicaid or Medicare. Medicare.gov provides a public report card for every skilled nursing home and rehabilitative facility in the country.
In addition to meeting federal standards, skilling nursing facilities in Arizona are licensed and regulated through the Bureau of Long-Term Care Licensing. The Bureau releases a Consumer’s Guide to Nursing Homes, which has updated public data about skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Arizona. Skilled nursing and rehab facilities on tribal land are exempt from these Arizona state licensing regulations.
Arizona has fairly strict state requirements for all of its senior care facilities, including nursing homes. For instance, Arizona recently passed legislation strengthening background checks for workers at skilled nursing facilities and other senior care communities. Arizona workers with felonies involving violence or fraud are now unable to work in these senior care facilities.
Arizona assisted living communities, board and care homes, and memory care facilities are licensed through the Bureau of Residential Licensing and go through yearly inspections as part of the licensing process. The results of these inspections are public on the Arizona Department of Health Services Residential Facilities Provider Search Form.
Resources
Arizona Department of Health Services
150 N. 18th Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: 602-542-1025
COVID-19 regulations for skilled nursing homes in Phoenix
All long-term care facilities in Phoenix, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and board and care homes, are required to follow the Arizona state guidelines to minimize the effects of COVID-19 on residents and staff members. These facilities also have to follow the federal guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — commonly referred to as CMS — and allow all visitors regardless of vaccination status.
All long-term care facilities should have a COVID-19-positive wing to prevent the spread of the virus among the residents and staff members. Unvaccinated residents who are exposed to a positive case should quarantine, but vaccinated residents do not need to quarantine. All new residents and employees should be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to entry.
Vaccinations. Residents and staff members are encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and boosters should be available to all residents.
Masking. While staff members are required to wear masks while in the facility, residents and visitors are encouraged to do so.
What to expect from Phoenix nursing homes and other senior care types
You can expect Phoenix to have plenty of great skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities. And for those who don’t need 24/7 medical care, Phoenix offers many options across all senior living environments. Explore local senior care communities, and discover what it’s like to live in Phoenix as a senior.
Nursing home or skilled nursing facility?
While “nursing homes” can be a general term for all senior living options, it technically refers to facilities that offer 24/7 skilled nursing care. These facilities are reserved for people under medical supervision who are either recovering from a surgery or an illness, are on hospice, or have a chronic medical condition. Most government agencies use the term “nursing home” for these specific facilities. This guide includes information about skilled nursing facilities to help you understand that care option, but the community listings you see featured here are assisted living or memory care communities that offer several levels of care and may also include skilled nursing units or wings.
Phoenix has many senior care options.
Phoenix has been on the cutting edge of senior living for decades, and this is reflected in its many senior living options. In the 10-mile radius from Phoenix city center, there are 166 senior living communities within A Place for Mom’s network alone. And, within a 15-mile radius, these numbers almost double.[01]
While there are traditional skilled nursing home settings with an institutional-like atmosphere, many seniors choose to receive their skilled nursing care while residing somewhere else. Skilled nursing services can be administered at an assisted living community, a memory care facility, a residential care home, or even at a private home through in-home care services. In fact, most seniors looking for long-term senior care don’t need the specialized, 24/7 medical care of skilled nursing facilities and are good candidates for assisted living or memory care instead. Thankfully, Phoenix has one of the highest concentrations of all senior care types in the nation.
Phoenix senior living can be tailored.
Because there are so many options across a range of prices, Phoenix seniors can expect to find tailored senior care within their budget. Residential care homes tend to be the least expensive option while still providing the same kind of care as assisted living or memory care communities. There are also plenty of larger communities for more socialite seniors. These luxury communities have all the perks and amenities, some are as expensive as $5,000 a month or more depending on the level of care a senior needs. Skilled nursing facilities are the most expensive levels of care and are usually needed by only a small fraction of seniors looking for long-term care.
Phoenix is an expanding senior haven.
This is in part because of the year-round sunny and warm weather and partially because a growing local economy brings in well-paid workers and their aging parents. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 11% of the 1,624,569 people living in Phoenix are over 65 years old.[04] However, in the suburbs surrounding Phoenix, such as Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, and Paradise Valley that number goes up even higher. In Paradise Valley, over 50% of the population is over 55 years old, and 13.4% is over 75.[05] The generous and well-established Arizona Medicaid program is also a draw for many seniors looking to fund their medical care.
Phoenix nursing homes services and amenities
Availability of select care services in Phoenix nursing homes
Availability of select dementia care services in Phoenix nursing homes
Availability of select dietary accommodations in Phoenix nursing homes
Availability of select dining options in Phoenix nursing homes
Availability of select programs and activities in Phoenix nursing homes
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Sunny days per year in Phoenix
Health care for seniors in Phoenix
Phoenix has a large number of healthcare providers in both the city proper and the surrounding suburbs. Many of them, such as the Mayo Clinic, are nationally ranked for geriatric care.
Mayo Clinic — Phoenix
Mayo Clinic — Phoenix is one of the best hospitals in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report, and is ranked for 10 specialties. It is No. 13 in the nation for geriatric care.
St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center
St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center is also nationally recognized for its geriatric care and its neurology and neurosurgery departments.
Transportation for seniors in Phoenix
While seniors in skilled nursing facilities do not need to travel for care, other more mobile seniors can use the local Senior Center Shuttle Program for $1. This program gives seniors living in participating senior care communities transportation to and from appointments and activities off site. Dial-a-Ride is another senior-friendly transportation option.
Seniors in assisted living or residential care homes tend to use the community’s complimentary transportation to get around. Because Phoenix has a low density despite its growing population, the urban sprawl requires most people to use a car for transportation. That is why many senior living communities or care homes will provide transportation services to their residents, sometimes with a small fee.
The Valley Metro Transit System, also known as Valley Metro, is the main regional train system, and it operates throughout most of the day and night. While Valley Metro is affordable, wait times tend to exceed twenty minutes, which can make using it as a transit system in the hot summer months uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous.
Senior activities in Phoenix
Nursing home or skilled nursing residents can expect their entertainment to be brought to them. Local choirs, musicians, and artists serenade nursing home residents to lift the mood and bring in some good-natured fun. Therapy pets are also frequent visitors to nursing facilities.
Care home or assisted living communities will often plan day trips according to the interests of their residents, with transportation to local destinations provided throughout the vibrant city. Phoenix is known as the Valley of the Sun, so it’s unsurprising that many of the activities for seniors revolve around being outside.
Phoenix is a golf capital, and Papago Golf Course is one of the most popular courses for locals and tourists alike. During the cooler months, local seniors also enjoy taking peaceful walks around the century-old saguaro cacti in the Desert Botanical Garden or attending a peaceful tour or artistic exhibition at Taliesin West, a World Heritage Site and Sonoran desert home of the famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Phoenix has plenty of indoor activities to choose from as well — from museums, like the Musical Instrument Museum, to restaurants (Mexican food and steakhouses are quintessential Phoenix culinary options). Other senior activity favorites include local spas, high-end shopping centers, and Vegas-style casinos. The largest casino in the area is Casino Arizona, with over 100,000 square feet of game space. Talking Stick Resort is a luxury hotel resort and casino with a theater and museum, holding one of the most renowned collections of Native American art in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cottages at Peoria, McDowell Village and Sunrise of Scottsdale are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Phoenix, AZ. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Phoenix is $4,777 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
References
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Genworth. (2021). Cost of care survey.
Unites States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101) [Data set]. American Community Survey.
United State Census Bureau. (2021). Population estimates (V2021): Phoenix city [Data set]. QuickFacts.
United State Census Bureau. (2021). Population estimates (V2021): Paradise Valley town [Data set]. QuickFacts.
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