Assisted Living in Arizona

The 48th state is home to the epic Grand Canyon, breathtaking Hoover Dam, scenic Lake Mead, proud Navajo Nation and the hottest recorded temperatures in the United States.

Seniors who choose assisted living in Arizona are in good company as the state has the second fastest growing population in the nation with just over 13% of the population age 65 and older, according to a 2008 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Assisted Living in Arizona Defined

The State of Arizona defines an assisted living facility as, “a residential care institution that provides or contracts to provide supervisory care, personal care or directed care on a continuing basis.” The state also breaks down assisted living communities into three types:

• Adult Foster Care Homes are personal residences in which up to four adults reside and are cared for by a designated caregiver who also lives in the home.
• Assisted Living Homes are defined as senior care homes which provide assisted living care for up to 10 people. These types of communities are listed under the Care Homes section of our site.
• Assisted Living Centers are large communities caring for 11 or more people. Many of the communities listed in the Arizona Assisted Living section of our site are Assisted Living Centers.

In addition to accommodations and meals, facilities of assisted living in Arizona also provide professional assistance to seniors who need help with eating, managing medications, dressing and other activities of daily living, but are in generally good health and do not require skilled nursing.

Seniors who deal with severe, chronic physical or mental illnesses that need intensive medical services in addition to help with activities of daily living are cared for in a nursing home (also known as a “skilled nursing facility”). Nursing homes in Arizona provide continuous nursing care and supervision for both short-term rehabilitative stays as well as long-term residential care. Many nursing homes also have special memory care units for seniors dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of dementia.

Cost of Assisted Living in Arizona

Government assistance in paying for assisted living costs in Arizona is limited at both the state and federal levels. Residents or their families often shoulder the cost of assisted living using personal financial resources such as savings, health insurance or long-term care insurance.

Most assisted living communities in Arizona charge a monthly rental fee, which will vary based on individual community, size of residential unit and the types of services required by the resident. Monthly fees generally average between $2000 and $4000, covering the cost of the lodging, food and activities.

Here is a list of the average monthly rates* broken down by city for a one-bedroom, single-occupancy apartment in a Arizona assisted living facility:

*Genworth Financial 2011 Cost of Care Survey.

Daily fees for basic assisted living care services, such as medication management, escort services or other activities of daily living, range from $15 to $200. This is less than what is typically charged for home health services or skilled nursing care.

Regulation of Assisted Living in Arizona

Communities of assisted living in Arizona are monitored and regulated by the State of Arizona Division of Licensing Services, Office of Assisted Living Licensing. Assisted living facilities are inspected at least once a year to ensure they are continually meeting statewide standards. Inspections occur unannounced except for initial licensing visits.

Full reports on all communities of assisted living in Arizona are available for public viewing at the Arizona Department of Health Services and include information such as inspection records, history of complaints and licensing. In addition, employees who work at communities of assisted living in Arizona, including caregivers and managers, are required to complete 62 hours of education and training in order to work at a licensed facility.

Find Assisted Living in Arizona

Browse our comprehensive directory to find assisted living in Phoenix, Tucson, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Scottsdale, Tempe and other parts of Arizona.

Written by Senior Housing Writer Jacqui Tom.