Are you looking for an AZ nursing home for a loved one that offers the level of care, compassion, and amenities they deserve? Or are you looking into Phoenix nursing homes for yourself, or perhaps a Continuing Care Retirement Community where you can live independently for as long as possible with the certainty of quality assisted living and skilled nursing care if it’s needed in the future?
Phoenix is one of the country’s top retirement destinations, and it’s home to a large population of seniors. It also boasts some of the best nursing homes in Arizona with award-winning facilities highly rated by Medicare. Here’s what to look for when choosing a facility and a look at the top nursing homes in Phoenix!
How to Choose a Nursing Home in Arizona
When choosing a long-term care facility for a loved one, there are many things to look for. A good place to start is deciding the type of care facility you need based on the amount of care and assistance your loved one requires.
There are many types of Phoenix nursing homes:
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) provide independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care. As your needs change, you can get the level of care you need and age in place.
- Intermediate care facilities provide regular nursing, rehab, medical, and social services for people who cannot live independently and need supervision but do not require intensive or skilled nursing care.
- Skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes provide skilled nursing care and rehabilitation.
- Memory care is a safe, specialized care environment for people with dementia. This usually means enhanced security and a setting and routine designed to reduce stress and discomfort.
- Sub-acute care facilities are usually a specialized unit in a nursing home. They provide intensive rehab services, complex wound care, and post-surgical recovery.
- Post-acute care facilities offer palliative and rehabilitation services after a stay in an acute care hospital. This level of care is not as intensive as the care provided in a hospital setting and it helps patients recover from an injury, illness, or long hospitalization.
- Assisted living is a level of care below skilled nursing/nursing home care. It is designed for people who cannot live independently and need housekeeping, assistance with daily activities, and some nursing care.
Next, check quality ratings. This is crucial! While 17 of the lowest-rated nursing homes are in Arizona based on federal ratings, the state also has excellent nursing homes with 5-star CMS ratings that provide wonderful care, a comfortable setting, and enriching activities. You can check Medicare nursing home ratings here and view in-depth reports, violations, abuse allegations, and more. You can also check the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) long-term care ratings.
Ready to find the best AZ nursing home? Here’s an overview of the highest rated nursing homes in Phoenix and surrounding communities.
Acacia Health Center – Phoenix, AZ
Acacia Health Center at Sagewood is one of the best nursing homes in Phoenix and known for its quality of care and continuum of care. Seniors who are looking for a retirement community with a great quality of life choose Acacia to plan for the future. The facility offers independent living with a LifeCare plan that guarantees unlimited days of care with assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care with a low monthly fee.
Residents enjoy a wide range of recreational, social, and cultural activities, all tailored to each resident’s abilities, needs, and interests. Residents enjoy restaurant-style dining and the best amenities you will find in an AZ nursing home: an on-site movie theater, two pools, beauty salon, and more!
Most suites at Acacia are private with different floor plans like lofts, villas, and apartments plus private family suites for guests. Learn more about their exceptional quality of care and services in their brochure.
Acacia Health Center is a 78-bed Continuing Care Retirement Community and nursing home. It’s rated the Best Nursing Home – Phoenix, AZ by U.S. News and has a deficiency-free, 5-star rating from CMS, a distinction fewer than 1 out of every 10 nursing homes in the country achieve.
- Continuum of care: Short-term skilled nursing, long-term skilled nursing, rehabilitation, assisted living, memory care & independent living
- Medicare rating: 5/5 stars
- ADHS rating: A
- Acacia Health Center, 4555 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85050
- (480) 384-5800
Citadel Post Acute – Mesa, AZ
Citadel Nursing Home in Mesa, AZ is a 128-bed facility specializing in personalized rehabilitation services. The facility has a full-time, in-house therapy team that works with each patient’s physician to develop a custom treatment plan. Citadel’s rehabilitation team has many specialties including wound care, lymphedema, and speech-language therapy.
Citadel Post Acute is also one of the highest rated nursing homes in Phoenix for residents who need intensive therapy and rehab. Their memory care uses an Integrated Cognitive Program to create the best care plan for residents with dementia.
Residents enjoy a great quality of life with an entertaining and packed Activities Program that includes music, lectures, arts and crafts, ice cream socials, and excursions plus scheduled transportation to church services.
- Short-term rehabilitation, long-term rehabilitation, memory care & skilled nursing care
- Medicare rating: 3/5 stars
- ADHS rating: A
- Citadel Post Acute, 5121 E Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206
- (480) 832-5555
The Palazzo – Phoenix, AZ
The Palazzo is absolutely one of the best nursing homes in Phoenix and one of the most upscale. In addition to its 5-star CMS rating and A rating from the Arizona DHS, the Palazzo won the 2020 Jewish News’ Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Independent Living Community, Best Assisted Living Community & Best Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care. While there is often a waiting list to get into this desirable facility, it’s worth the wait!
The Palazzo boasts a fully renovated facility in Central Phoenix with spacious apartments and upscale community spaces. Some of the amenities at this highly rated facility include:
- Bar
- Wine cellar
- Computer room and library
- Heated pool and Jacuzzi
- Beauty salon
- Village café
- Movie theater
- Billiard room
- Group exercise classes
- Live music
Residents benefit from a wide range of social activities, housekeeping, meals, 24-hour concierge, and a personalized level of care. There are several “neighborhoods” for each level of care such as the Naples neighborhood for assisted living and Sicily and Milan neighborhoods for assisted living and memory care.
The Palazzo is also home to the Jewish Family and Children’s Senior Enrichment Center with programs available to all seniors 60+ in the Phoenix area including creative writing, entertainment, lunches, and wellness courses.
- Continuum of care: independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation & skilled nursing care
- Medicare rating: 5/5 stars
- ADHS rating: A
- The Palazzo, 6250 N 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85015
- (602) 433-6300
Christian Care Health Center – Phoenix, AZ
Christian Care Health Center is part of the family of Fellowship Square not-for-profit Christian care communities. The center is a Continuing Care Retirement Community with 68 beds with comfortable rooms and personalized activities that create a home-like setting.
As one of the best Phoenix nursing homes, Christian Care Health Center delivers an excellent quality of life and medical care. Residents have private or semi-private rooms with an interior courtyard for social gatherings and activities.
Amenities at Christian Care Health Center are designed with a holistic approach to support each resident’s physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. Residents can take part in exercise and wellness programs with a unique Well-Being program that includes one-on-one instruction and wellness plans developed with each resident’s physician. Fellowship Square University lets residents participate in continuing education courses on campus with courses chosen based on resident surveys.
This December 2021 newsletter shows a sample of monthly activities, planned outings, and classes.
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- Continuum of care: independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing care, post-acute care, respite care, short-term and long-term rehab, occupational and speech therapy, physical therapy, and subsidized independent & assisted living
- Medicare rating: 4/5 stars
- ADHS rating: A
- Christian Care Health Center, 11812 N 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85029
- (602) 833-4177
The Terraces of Phoenix – Phoenix, AZ
The Terraces of Phoenix is frequently ranked as the best skilled nursing facility in Phoenix with a 5/5 rating from Medicare for staffing levels and quality of care. For the third consecutive year, it’s been ranked Best Nursing Home – Phoenix, AZ by U.S. News and one of the best nursing homes in the country. This private, 64-bed facility is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) which means residents enjoy the best of senior living in Phoenix with peace of mind knowing they can age in place and benefit from top-rated skilled nursing care or assisted living if their needs change. The Terraces is a HumanGood facility, one of America’s top 10 largest senior living providers.
The Terraces of Phoenix offers a variety of floor plans. Monthly fees start at $3,522 for a one-bedroom apartment and $4,849 for a two-bedroom apartment with entrance fees starting at $152,540 or $182,666. The monthly fee includes chef-prepared meals, transportation, housekeeping, maintenance, utilities, fitness and educational classes, and a full calendar of activities. The entrance fee means priority access to higher levels of care, including assisted living, rehab, memory care, and skilled nursing care, if they are needed.
Because the Terraces of Phoenix is a nonprofit CCRC, they offer benevolent support. If you outlive your financial resources, you can remain in your home and enjoy the same level of nursing care and support.
- Continuum of care: independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing care, rehab & memory care
- Medicare rating: 5/5 stars
- ADHS rating: A
- The Terraces of Phoenix, 7550 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85020
- (602) 371-4100
North Mountain Medical and Rehabilitation Center – Phoenix, AZ
North Mountain of Phoenix is one of the highest-rated nursing homes in Phoenix, AZ with a 5-star quality care score from Medicare. This private, 155-bed skilled nursing facility offers long-term and short-term respiratory therapy and skilled nursing care with a full-time, in-house therapy team. Residents and therapists get to know each other which results in better comfort and optimal results during recovery. Their team includes pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and more who are certified in specialties such as wound care, electrical stimulation for swallowing dysfunction, and pulmonary programs.
North Mountain has the highest staff to patient ratio among AZ nursing homes with 7-day physician coverage and 24-hour RN coverage. The facility is operated by the Ensign Group, Inc., the same operator of Citadel Post Acute and other top-rated post-acute care facilities in Phoenix.
- Skilled nursing care, post-acute care, respiratory therapy, stroke recovery, pulmonary rehab, neurological rehab & orthopedic rehab
- Medicare rating: 5/5 stars
- ADHS rating: A
- North Mountain Medical and Rehabilitation Center, 9155 N 3rd St, Phoenix, AZ 85020
- (602) 218-9483
Plaza Healthcare – Scottsdale, AZ
Plaza Healthcare is one of the top nursing homes in Scottsdale, AZ with a 5-star rating from Medicare. This 179-bed, private skilled nursing facility is committed to providing the best physical, emotional, and spiritual care for residents.
The facility has earned a reputation as a top AZ nursing home with numerous awards including two National Quality Awards from the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living and Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement certification.
Plaza Healthcare offers a range of amenities for residents including beautiful courtyards, a beautician, coordinated activities, and a 1950’s-style diner with foosball, pinball, and golden oldies.
Plaza Healthcare has delivered high-quality skilled nursing care and specialty services for more than 30 years with specialty units that include dialysis, ventilator, tracheostomy care, wound care, and rehabilitation. Mimosa Springs is a 44-bed memory care unit connected to Plaza Healthcare.
- Skilled nursing care, hospice care, post acute care, memory care, rehabilitation, dialysis, wound care, ventilator, tracheostomy care & infusion therapy
- Medicare rating: 5/5 stars
- ADHS rating: A
- Plaza Healthcare, 1475 N Granite Reef Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
- (480) 990-1904
Friendship Village – Tempe, AZ
Friendship Village is a highly rated, 128-bed skilled nursing facility in Phoenix. This nonprofit boasts a perfect 5/5 rating from Medicare for health inspections, staff levels, and quality of care and excellent reviews from family and residents. No matter what your current care needs and level of independence, residents and staff agree that Friendship Village deserves its great reputation. As one current resident said, “We are safe and happy and well cared for and our kids don’t have to worry about us. The food is great. The facilities are excellent.” That’s why Friendship Village has been ranked best in customer satisfaction among independent senior living communities for three years running.
As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Friendship Village is one of the best Phoenix nursing homes catering to seniors of all abilities, providing the level of support you need while you age in place comfortably. Their LifeCare contract provides comprehensive long-term care: in exchange for an entrance fee starting at $199,600 and an affordable monthly price, residents enjoy excellent amenities and services with lifetime access to independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care, if and when it’s needed.
- Continuum of care: assisted living, skilled nursing care & memory care
- Medicare rating: 5/5 stars
- ADHS rating: A
- Friendship Village Tempe, 2645 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282
- (480) 831-5000
Map of Nursing Homes in Phoenix
Have you found the right facility? When you’re ready for a smooth relocation, give us a call at Mentors Moving & Storage for a free estimate. Our Phoenix movers offer full-service senior moving with the patience and compassion you deserve.
