12 Senior Apartments near Phoenix, AZ

Most people pay for their senior apartments using private funds. Because people living in senior apartments don’t need assisted-living-level care or medical care, fees associated with senior apartments aren’t usually covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

Because senior apartments do not provide daily assistance or health care, their requirements mirror regulations for other apartment communities. Most senior apartments in Phoenix are either 55+ or 62+. According to the Fair Housing Act, to count as a 55+ community, at least 80% of the apartments need to have at least one resident over 55. Apartments that are 62+ are more restrictive, as 100% of the residents must be 62+.

Like other apartments, senior apartments usually cover maintenance and repairs. However, most senior apartments don’t include utilities in the monthly fee. According to the Arizona Residential Landlord & Tenant Act, landlords are required to do the following:

• Make all repairs and keep the apartment in a livable condition
• Supply running and hot water at all times
• Provide trash bins and arrange for the removal of waste
• Provide at least the required days’ notice to the tenant before entering the apartment to provide maintenance and updates

Tenants are required to do the following:

• Keep the apartment in good condition and not over-use electricity, gas, or water

• Not knowingly alter the apartment without the landlord’s consent

One final note: In Arizona, there isn’t a state agency that enforces the Arizona Residential Landlord & Tenant Act, so any disputes are considered private.

COVID-19 regulations for Phoenix senior apartments

Phoenix senior apartments don’t have any special regulations regarding COVID-19 like assisted living, memory care, and nursing home communities do. Residents of senior apartments and employees should follow state and city guidelines when it comes to mitigating COVID-19. Through the Arizona Together program, Arizona recommends that residents mask when feeling ill and test for COVID-19 regularly.

Phoenix has a long history as a senior living hot spot, attracting people over 55 because of the consistently warm weather, strong economy, solid health care system, and laid-back culture. Of the 1,624,569 people living in Phoenix, 28% are over 50. Because of the demand, Phoenix has one of the highest concentrations of senior living options across a wide range of prices in the country. At the end of the day, most people can find a good senior living option for them in Phoenix.

Senior apartments are a gateway to senior living and have very few differences from regular apartments. In fact, some can also house people under 55 if the community meets a threshold of seniors living in each unit. Senior apartments differ from each other in the same ways other apartments do. Some may be identical to traditional apartments, aside from the senior residents. Others may have senior-friendly design features, like lowered cabinets and elevators in each building. Some may have few amenities, while others may have resort-style pools and spas, game rooms, and on-staff concierge and activity coordinators.

Generally, there are two types of senior apartments in Phoenix: luxury and low-income.

Luxury senior apartments

Luxury apartments are designed to make the resident’s life as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, offering on-site amenities and events, as well as high-end design touches within each apartment. In-unit laundry, sparkling pools, and fitness centers are usually just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to amenities offered by luxury senior apartments in Phoenix. Some have concierge services and activity coordinators who plan weekly fitness classes and social events.

Many of the luxury senior apartments are newer builds, especially compared to the low-income options. These luxury apartments are often quite expensive, with one-bedroom apartments starting around $1,800 and sometimes exceeding $5,000. While this seems expensive, these prices reflect the average costs of all luxury rentals in Phoenix. Within Phoenix, luxury apartments are being built quickly, especially in suburbs like Paradise Valley and Scottsdale, and there is often no waiting list or a very short one.

Low-income senior apartments

Low-income senior apartments fill a real need in Phoenix. Because of the very strong demand for low-income senior apartments in Phoenix, waiting lists can be a year or more. While considered low-income, these senior apartments may still have some of the amenities found in other senior apartments, like BBQ and picnic areas, computer labs, and on-site laundry. The biggest differences between low-income and luxury apartments are often aesthetics and location. Low-income senior apartments tend to be older and have fewer design touches.

These subsidized apartments are usually funded through the federal Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program or the local Phoenix Senior and Disabled Housing Program. Both require income cut-offs, and both cap rent at 30%-40% of a resident’s income.

Health care for seniors in Phoenix

Phoenix has an excellent health care system for seniors, with many of the local hospitals ranked in geriatrics and other specialties.

Transportation for seniors in Phoenix, Arizona

Because Phoenix is sprawled out and not dense, most residents use a car to get around. The Valley Metro Transit System is the regional public transportation system, and it operates throughout the city. Residents over 65 years old can receive reduced fare after filling out an application on the Valley Metro website. Wait times for the Valley Metro can exceed 20 minutes.

Dial-a-Ride is another option for seniors with disabilities to get transportation to and from appointments. To use Dial-a-Ride, participants must meet the criteria in the Americans for Disability Act, which generally means an individual must have a disability that limits their ability to perform daily activities by themselves.

Based on public data about Phoenix’s infrastructure, WalkScore has given it the following scores, each out of 100: