10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Phoenix, AZ

Planning before your loved one needs memory care can help keep it affordable. Many families try to pay for their memory care using health insurance, because dementia is a medical condition. However, these benefits will only cover some costs associated with memory care, and families usually need to cover the rest with private funds.

This section includes resources to help you use private savings and other financial assets to cover memory care. It also includes explanations of how to use public funds, like veterans benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare to cover memory care costs.

The Arizona state government considers memory care communities to be a type of assisted living community, so they’re regulated and licensed in the same way. The Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) — Division of Licensing Services regulates assisted living communities that offer memory care services. Facilities go through an initial inspection and approval process and are then given a license to operate for one year.

Each year, communities go through an unannounced inspection. You can find all inspection results on the AZ Care Check database. Search by provider name, address, county, or zip code to find a list of local assisted living communities. Because memory care is considered a part of assisted living, the system doesn’t appear to be designed to let you search for memory care communities specifically.

In Phoenix, memory care is often housed in larger assisted living communities, often with 20 or more residents. However, Phoenix has an exceptionally high number of smaller board and care homes with less than 10 residents. And many of these residential care homes accept residents with memory loss. Though these care homes are smaller in size, they’re licensed and regulated in the same way as larger assisted living communities.

How are memory care facilities regulated in Phoenix, Arizona?

Like assisted living communities, memory care facilities in Phoenix must meet the following state regulations:

• Facilities must be kept clean and tidy.
• Facilities must provide necessary utilities, like warm and cold water, air conditioning, and heating.
• Facilities must have a written care plan for all residents, including up-to-date health concerns and all care services the residents receive.
• Facilities should supply meals that accommodate residents’ dietary needs.

Assisted living communities that offer memory care must also have egress controls, like monitoring of entrances and exits. However, they must also provide secure and supervised outdoor areas for residents to safely wander.

What rights do residents have in Phoenix’s memory care communities?

The Arizona Department of Health Services outlines residents’ rights in memory care communities in Article 8. These rights apply to residents and some may also apply to family members who act as their loved one’s medical power of attorney. In Phoenix’s memory care communities, residents are entitled to the following rights, among others:

• Residents must be fully informed of all care services they will receive.
• Residents must be able to choose their own health care providers.
• Residents must be given a reasonable amount of privacy.
• Residents must be able to submit a complaint without retaliation.
• Residents must be fully informed of all changes to the cost of their care, rent, or meals.

What are the training requirements in Phoenix’s memory care communities?

In Phoenix, managers of assisted living communities that provide memory care must have eight hours of memory care-specific training prior to operating a facility. There are no other state requirements for other memory care staff members. However, it’s very likely that all caregivers providing memory care in Phoenix undergo some memory care training. Make sure to inquire at prospective memory care communities whether or not their care staff has had specialized memory care training.

Communities have the right to choose their own memory care training programs, much like how schools can choose their own curriculum. Almost every single partnering memory care community in Phoenix has an established memory care program in place that requires ongoing staff training, special protocols and activities, and design features.

Arizona Department of Health contact information

Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS)
150 N. 18th Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: 602-542-1025

COVID-19 regulations for Phoenix memory care facilities

All memory care facilities in Phoenix follow guidelines set forth in the Arizona Together program to prevent COVID-19. While guidelines change, Arizona has had a consistently hands-off approach to COVID-19 and doesn’t require any vaccinations, testing, or masking in assisted living communities.

That said, the Arizona Together program does recommend that residents and staff members of memory care facilities become vaccinated against COVID-19 and mask if exposed. It also encourages communities to have a COVID-19 wing to keep ill residents from infecting others.

Maricopa County publishes current COVID-19 data, including COVID-19 hospital admissions and infection rates in long-term care communities. You can also find a map of Maricopa County with COVID-19 levels for each community.

Phoenix is a one-stop-shop for seniors in need of memory care. For decades, Phoenix has been the place to retire in the United States, and interest in the happy Valley of the Sun has continued to grow. Warm weather, a lower cost of living, and a generous state Medicaid plan are the main contributors to Phoenix’s senior appeal. But seniors with memory loss also benefit from Arizona’s persistent focus on combating Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia.

By 2025, the Arizona Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 33% of people over 85 will have Alzheimer’s disease.^[02] In the 1990s, because of their large senior population, Arizona became one of the first states to create a plan to educate the public and bolster support for memory care. Because of this, Phoenix has a higher concentration of quality and affordable memory care options than most similarly sized U.S. cities.

In the city of Phoenix, most memory care communities are smaller board and care homes that offer both assisted living and memory care. But in nearby suburbs like Scottsdale, Glendale, and Peoria, larger senior living communities with memory care wings are the norm. Read on to learn more about your memory care options in Phoenix.

Smaller board and care homes for memory care in Phoenix

Phoenix has a uniquely high number of board and care homes. Board and care homes are senior living communities set within converted residential houses. They usually have fewer than seven residents, and caretakers often live in the home with the residents. While board and care homes offer a homier experience than larger assisted living communities, they’re regulated and licensed in exactly the same way.

Within the Phoenix metro, the most common setting for memory care is actually in a board and care home. Of Phoenix’s 121 partnering assisted living communities, 84 are board and care homes, and almost all of these offer memory care.^[01]

Most board and care home residents share a room with one other resident and eat meals in a communal dining room. Leisure activities tend to take place in a living room or in a private backyard. Because board and care homes are smaller and only offer the amenities typical of a residential home, they tend to be much cheaper than memory care options in larger assisted living complexes.

Benefits of memory care in board and care homes

There are some real benefits to receiving memory care in a residential care home. For one, being in an actual home offers residents a sense of familiarity and nostalgic comfort that would be harder to recreate in a larger facility. What’s more, caregivers in a residential care home can get to know the residents more personally, as they tend to live with the residents. Families, too, may enjoy a closer relationship with their loved one’s caregiver at a smaller residence.

However, board and care homes can’t provide the same level of amenities as larger senior living facilities. They may lack access to things like large game rooms, expansive outdoor spaces, and on-site services like beauticians. That said, many families still find Phoenix’s board and care homes to be an ideal setting for their loved ones due to their more relaxed and homey nature.

Large memory care communities in Phoenix’s suburbs

In the nearby Phoenix suburbs of Scottsdale, Glendale, and Peoria, the memory care landscape changes dramatically. The most common setting of memory care tends to be in large, luxurious assisted living communities. These large complexes often have more than 100 residents and are set on sprawling grounds with beautiful views of nearby desert bluffs. Many of these communities are newer and include more than one senior living care type on the same campus.

In these communities, memory care often takes place in its own wing. These memory care wings are often designed to resemble neighborhoods and have circular floorplans to encourage independence. Seniors can either share a room or use a private room, depending on how much they want to spend. Residents enjoy restaurant-style dining in a communal dining room and an abundance of common areas for socializing.

Benefits of larger memory care communities

These larger communities almost always have an official memory care program, much like a school curriculum. These programs include staff training for how to speak to people with memory loss, how to use redirection, and how to de-escalate certain dementia behaviors. Suggested exercise programs and activities mimic residents’ previous careers or hobbies.

Because of their extensive amenities, these larger memory care wings are much more expensive than Phoenix’s board and care homes. However, memory care communities are still cheaper than similar options in other popular retirement destinations.

Health care for seniors in Phoenix

Phoenix has a high number of excellent health care providers in the city and in the surrounding areas. Many are nationally ranked for geriatric care, and many employ experts in Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

Most seniors in Phoenix’s memory care communities won’t need to worry about transportation because most of our local partner communities provide transportation options. However, visiting family and friends should know that Phoenix is a driving city. Like most Western cities, Phoenix is spread out (covering more square mileage than Los Angeles) and doesn’t offer robust public transportation.

For visiting friends and family, Phoenix does have a public transportation system, called the Valley Metro Transit System, or Valley Metro for short. It operates throughout the day and night and is affordable, although there may be long wait times, which can be uncomfortable in the hot summer months. Seniors can also use the Senior Center Shuttle Program for only $1 each way.

Participating seniors can also get rides to appointments and activities from the city’s local senior centers. Seniors need to schedule their rides at least 24 hours in advance. To schedule a ride, call 602-262-7379.

Staying active is one way to maintain health amidst memory loss, and Phoenix’s memory care communities take this to heart. Almost every one of our partnering memory care communities in Phoenix offers daily activities designed to stimulate the mind and body.

Common activities revolve around appreciating each individual’s unique history, like reminiscence afternoons, where seniors look through photographs or use virtual reality to walk down memory lane. Sing-alongs are also popular, as well as gentle exercises like chair yoga.

Memory Cafes

In 2020, Phoenix became the largest city in America to become an official Dementia Friendly City. Part of this initiative is the creation of the city’s Memory Cafes. A Memory Cafe is an event for people with memory loss and their caregivers to socialize and get to know one another. Staff members at the cafe help engage seniors with exciting activities while caregivers can relax.

In Phoenix, these cafes often involve music or art projects but can also include guest speakers and group activities. Phoenix’s memory cafes take place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. You can RSVP or direct your questions to sanja.tetaric@phoenix.gov.

AZ Creative Aging

The Arizona Commission on the Arts has created a local program called AZ Creative Aging. This developing program puts on events and classes for older Phoenix residents to try something new. The program partners with local organizations, like the Phoenix Center for the Arts, Theater Works, and the Heard Museum, to put on events and classes on a regular basis. Keep an eye on the AZ Creative Aging website to sign up for future classes.

Spas

Phoenix has a reputation as a haven for people looking for serious spa relaxation. Day spas have become almost synonymous with Phoenix’s culture. Most casinos have their own resort-level spas and hotels, and there are plenty of stand-alone spas throughout the city and suburbs as well. These spas offer you an immersive, restorative experience. And many spas are on the outskirts of town where you can soak in the serene desert landscape, margarita in hand, from a pool deck.

Outdoor activities

Phoenix is known as the Valley of the Sun, and many of the best things to do in the area revolve around being outside. Many memory care communities bring their residents to the Desert Botanical Garden, as it’s a quiet and beautiful place to experience the unique and peaceful landscape. The garden also offers multiple classes, like landscaping and botanical art. Seniors can receive a discounted admissions ticket, but you need to ask for the discount at the counter.

Golf is one of the biggest draws to Phoenix, and for good reason. Few places in the United States can offer the kind of year-round golf experiences as Phoenix. Most golf courses are well-maintained and have lovely views of the Sonoran Mountain Range. The Papago Golf Course is one of the most prestigious golf courses in the southwest, and while expensive, offers the best views of the Papago Bluffs, luxury dining, and, of course, a great game.

Sports

Phoenix has an engaged community of sports fans for its many teams. While the local teams, including the Arizona Suns, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, don’t offer senior discounts for their games, it’s still a popular activity for local seniors and their families. Large sporting events may be overwhelming for some seniors in memory care if they do not have a caregiver escort. If the senior is a lifetime fan, it can be a reminiscing experience for them as long as they have the security of a friend or caregiver by their side.

Gaming

While seniors with dementia should never go to casinos unsupervised, visiting family and friends can certainly take advantage of Phoenix’s exciting gaming scene. Casinos are a big draw to the Phoenix area, and many local senior communities offer free shuttle service to local casinos. The biggest is the Talking Stick Resort, which has a luxury spa, a theater, a museum of Native American art, and one of the largest game spaces in the nation. Other casinos, like the Casino Arizona and Gila River Casino, also provide complimentary rides to and from Scottsdale.