10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Tucson, AZ

Seniors and their families usually pay for assisted living with a mix of private and public funds. However, certain care services may be covered by public health insurance like Medicare, Medicaid, or veterans benefits. Other expenses, such as room and board, are typically paid for out of pocket using private savings and income.

The Arizona Department of Health Services provides licensure and oversight for all of Tucson’s assisted living facilities. Licensure is granted to assisted living communities that meet state requirements during an initial inspection, and is renewed the following year during an unannounced inspection. Inspection results are publicly available on the Residential Facilities Provider Search Form. You can search for facilities by name or address.

Assisted living communities with 20+ residents are licensed as assisted living centers, and board and care homes with fewer than 10 residents are licensed as assisted living homes. Both types of facilities undergo the same licensing procedures and yearly inspections in Arizona. Some of the regulations and requirements for Tucson, Arizona, assisted living communities include the following:

• Facilities must have a written care plan outlining each resident’s current health and level of care.
• Facilities must provide daily meals to residents.
• Facilities must be maintained up to state building codes.
• Facilities must provide residents with access to hot and cold water at all times.
• Facilities are kept clean and hygienic.

Resident rights in Arizona assisted living communities

In Arizona, the Department of Health Services outlines specific rights for residents of assisted living communities, which include the following:^[09]

• Residents must be treated with respect and dignity.
• Residents must be told about all care services they will receive.
• Residents must be told about any changes in the cost of their room, meals, and care.
• Residents must be able to choose their own health care providers.
• Residents must have access to a caregiver or manager in the community at all times.

Caregiver training in Arizona assisted living facilities

In Arizona, caregivers in assisted living communities must meet certain requirements. In 2022, Arizona strengthened its background check requirements for workers in assisted living communities. Workers with felonies due to violence or financial fraud are now unable to work in any assisted living community in Arizona. Some of the other requirements for caregivers include the following:

• Caregivers must be 18 years or older.
• Caregivers must pass a state-approved, caregiver training program.
• Caregivers must be up-to-date on tuberculosis immunizations.
• Caregivers must complete first-aid and CPR training.

COVID-19 regulations for Tucson assisted living facilities

According to the federal guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), visitors are allowed in Tucson’s assisted living communities regardless of their vaccination status. Some more of Tucson’s COVID-19 policies for assisted living communities include those outlined below.

For more information regarding Arizona’s regulations and licensing of assisted living communities, explore our Overview of Assisted Living in Arizona.

Tucson has senior-friendly weather

The weather is one of the reasons seniors are drawn to Tucson. With a higher altitude than Phoenix, the average temperatures in Tucson are considerably mild throughout the year. It can even snow in the winter.

While many cities have one or two types of assisted living communities, Tucson has a fairly even division among three types of assisted living. These community types include facilities that only offer assisted living services, comprehensive Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), and smaller board and care homes.

Traditional assisted living communities

Traditional assisted living communities in Tucson tend to have more than 25 residents. Many have on-site physicians and nurses, and provide amenities like arts and crafts rooms or libraries. Outings to local botanical gardens, performances, or other events are fairly common. In these traditional assisted living communities, residents live in a private or shared room and usually eat their meals in a restaurant-style dining area with other residents.

About half of Tucson’s assisted living communities include at least one other type of senior care, like memory care or independent living.^[02] Often, these multi-care communities are on large campuses, and each care type has its own building or wing.

The cost for multi-care communities is typically higher than other assisted living options. These communities provide residents the comfort of staying on the same campus as their care needs change. The senior may need to relocate to a different unit within the same community but will be able to stay in the same community.

Like traditional assisted living communities, multi-care type communities usually combine all expenses into one monthly fee. The monthly cost for a resident increases as their care needs increase, and many traditional assisted living communities offer some skilled nursing services for an additional fee.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are similar to multi-care communities in Tucson, but they typically have a different payment structure. CCRCs are often more expensive than other assisted living options and most require an admission fee.

The higher costs and admission fees at CCRCs may help to cover a higher level of care in the future such as skilled nursing. CCRCs also tend to have more lavish amenities — like pools and bars — and an array of personalized health and wellness services.

Board and care homes

Board and care homes are common in Tucson. These are residential homes that are converted into small assisted living communities. While licensed and regulated in the same ways as traditional assisted living communities, these often come at a lower price and provide a more intimate, personalized experience. Seniors in board and care homes in Tucson often share a room with one other resident and have access to the common areas of the house.

Amenities may include a backyard or patio, a dining room, and a living room. Caregivers at board and care homes often live alongside residents and are available 24/7. Board and care homes don’t usually offer on-site skilled nursing but many partner with home health care agencies to help residents get the care they need.

Best hospitals for seniors in Tucson

Tucson, Arizona, has an excellent health care system, with several top-rated hospitals.

Transportation for seniors in Tucson

Most people in Tucson use a car as their primary mode of transportation. For residents who no longer drive, our partner assisted living facilities provide on-site transportation services — a safe and convenient alternative to public transportation. For those who still drive, nearly 60% of A Place for Mom’s partner communities offer parking for residents with cars.

For visiting loved ones, Sun Tran, Tucson’s public transportation system is a reliable and affordable way to get around. It includes the Sun Link street car, Sun Vans, Sun on Demand, and the Sun Shuttle. Tucson has worked to make the Sun Tran particularly accessible for seniors by providing a few senior-specific services. These perks include the following:

• Trip planning services through their customer service representatives
• Reduced fares
• Senior-designated seats behind the driver
• Lifts for easy boarding
• A class designed for seniors to learn how to use the Sun Tran system

Information about the class and the Sun Tran system in general can be found on the senior page of their website or by calling 520-206-8881.

Tucson’s walkability, bikeability, and public transportation options are rated on a scale of 0-100 by Walk Score, with 100 being the best. Tucson received the following scores:

Things to do in Tucson for seniors and their families

Whether you’re on an evening hike among towering Saguaro cacti or sitting on a back porch with a margarita, it’s likely you’ll enjoy a stunning sunset above the purple hues of the surrounding mountain ranges. And with a dry, temperate climate, being outside in Tucson is comfortable for almost 365 days a year.

Explore the Sonoran Desert

Many of the local assisted living communities offer residents an outing to the Sonoran Desert Museum, but it’s a must-see for visiting family members as well. The museum is accessible and includes a zoo and a botanical garden. Learn about unique animals — like the javelina, scorpion, and Gila monster — and admire the local cacti, some of which are over 100 years old.

The Saguaro National Park is perhaps the most famous site in the Tucson area, as the park surrounds two sides of the city. Named for the massive Saguaro cacti that grow throughout the park, visitors can enjoy the park on foot or by car. The Cactus Forest Drive is a loop that provides stunning views of the park’s most scenic areas. Adventurous hikers can find petroglyphs from the ancient Hohokam people on the Signal Hill Trail.

Because of Tucson’s clear skies, the Steward Observatory on the University of Arizona’s campus is home to one of the premier astronomy departments in the nation. Students and visitors can look through the telescope in the observatory.

A larger telescope is located just outside the city at the Kitt Peak National Observatory which has a visitor center that offers nighttime stargazing events.

Discover Tucson’s rich culture

Tucson has plenty of cultural activities too. One of the most popular for seniors — particularly veterans — is the Pima Air and Space Museum. The museum has over 400 aircrafts and some of the rarest aircrafts in the world including WWII planes, presidential aircrafts, and a flight simulator. Plus, seniors get discounted admissions. Tram Tours offers are available daily to take visitors through the acres of planes and helicopters.

The Mission San Xavier del Bac is a piece of history that has persisted through occupations by Spain, Mexico, and the Confederacy. It now sits on land owned by the Tohono O’odham Nation. Built in the 1700s, the Mission’s ornate Spanish colonial architecture and gilded interior are worth the suggested donation fee.

Set in an old-timey saloon, the Gaslight Theater puts on nightly performances of their family-friendly plays. Visitors can enjoy a full meal and free popcorn with their tickets. Seniors don’t get discounted tickets, but it’s affordable enough to go regularly.

Enjoy a celebrated food scene

Tucson was the first City of Gastronomy in the United States. It got its title because there’s an unusually high number of exceptional restaurants in Tucson for a city of its size. Tucson also gained recognition because these restaurants honor traditional recipes from Mexico and the indigenous tribes who began farming in the Saguaro Desert over 4,000 years ago. The official Tucson City of Gastronomy website has information about food tours, cooking classes, and certified City of Gastronomy restaurants.

Learn from local guides

Tucson’s visitor’s website is visittucson.org, which offers some excellent up-to-date information about local activities. They cover outdoor fun, health and wellness, shopping, and history experiences that are appropriate for all ages. The site also has updated information about local events, like Gem Shows, the Senior Olympic Festival, and musical performances.