10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Mesa, AZ

This section outlines the various ways to pay for a senior’s memory care. You’ll find information about payment options, including personal savings, investments, veterans benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare.

Memory care facilities in Mesa, Arizona offer seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia a safe and compassionate home. The Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) regulates and licenses memory care facilities as a type of assisted living facility to make sure seniors in Arizona are getting high-quality care.

After an initial inspection, memory care facilities are given an annual license to operate. AZDHS conducts one unannounced inspection each year, and inspection results are available for every memory care facility in Arizona on the AZDHS provider search form.

Mesa memory care communities follow state regulations for safety

In Mesa, memory care communities follow these state regulations:

• Facilities should be kept clean and hygienic at all times, and all areas of the building should meet health and safety codes.
• Memory care facilities should have egress controls, secure outdoor areas, and monitored entrances and exits.
• Facilities must write a care plan for each resident, including updated health concerns and all care services they receive.
• Facilities must provide residents with daily meals accommodating dietary needs and restrictions.

Residents of Mesa’s memory care communities retain their rights

The Arizona Department of Health Services outlines the rights of residents in memory care facilities in Article 8: Assisted Living Facilities. All of these rights apply to the resident and may also apply to individuals who act as a loved one’s power of attorney:

• Residents must be treated with respect and dignity.
• Residents should have access to a caregiver in the building at all times, including nighttime hours.
• Residents should never receive abuse of any kind.
• Residents should be given a reasonable amount of privacy.
• Residents should be able to keep their personal belongings in their rooms.
• Residents should be able to submit a complaint without any fear of retaliation.
• Residents should be fully informed of all changes in the cost of their room, meals, or care.
• Residents should be able to select their own health care providers.

Caregivers undergo special training for Mesa’s memory care facilities

All assisted living managers in Arizona should have at least 8 hours of memory care-specific training. While Arizona doesn’t mandate any special training for caregivers at memory care facilities, it’s very likely that caregivers will undergo memory care training to meet the goals of Arizona’s Alzheimer’s State Plan.

This plan is Arizona’s goal to have a strong workforce of caregivers who are capable of caring for people with memory loss. Almost all of A Place for Mom’s partnering memory care facilities in Mesa have a specialized training program for their caregivers.

Arizona Department of Health contact information

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

COVID-19 regulations for Mesa memory care facilities

Memory care facilities in Arizona follow state and federal guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to seniors. Arizona doesn’t mandate any specific precautions for memory care facilities, but facilities are free to ask residents, staff members, and visitors to wear a mask upon entry.

A Place for Mom partners with 30 memory care facilities in Mesa, Arizona. These communities offer compassionate care and peace of mind for seniors and their families. Mesa sits just 30 minutes outside of Phoenix and is the third-largest city in Arizona. While it has about half a million residents, Mesa is quiet and family-friendly. Most people who live in Mesa are young families or seniors.

Arizona has more seniors with dementia than any other state, and the number of seniors with memory loss is increasing. Because of this, Mesa prides itself on being a dementia-friendly community. The Dementia Friendly Mesa movement offers free 1-hour sessions across the city for anyone interested in learning how best to help those with memory loss. Family members can also find a list of Mesa businesses participating in the Dementia Friendly Designated Businesses program.

Mesa’s memory care facilities offer safety and comfort

The Arizona Department of Health considers memory care facilities to be a type of assisted living facility. Because of this, most memory care facilities in Mesa have their own separate wing but are paired with assisted living facilities.

Caregivers typically undergo specialized training for working with people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and memory care wings tend to be designed with memory loss in mind. Hallways for wandering, reminiscent decor, and peaceful music are common design features.

A third of Mesa’s memory care facilities are board and care homes

Seniors in Mesa benefit from having more memory care options than they would in most other cities. About 30% of Mesa’s memory care facilities are set in board and care homes, which are residential houses transformed into small senior living communities.

Mesa’s board and care homes often have no more than eight residents at a time. Residents live in shared bedrooms, eat meals together in the dining room, and spend their time socializing and relaxing in common areas. Caregivers live in the home with residents and act as the chef, caregiver, and housekeeper.

Board and care homes offer the same memory care services as larger, more traditional options. Common services include daily meals, personal care services, housekeeping, medication management, and activities.

Because of their size, board and care homes tend to cost about $500 less a month than larger memory care options in Mesa. Board and care homes can be an attractive option for seniors who prefer a more intimate environment and can be a lifeline to family members paying for care.

Two-thirds of Mesa’s memory care facilities are paired with assisted living

The majority of Mesa’s memory care facilities are technically memory care wings within assisted living facilities. These communities often have more than 50 residents. Seniors live in a private or shared room, eat meals in a restaurant-style dining area, and enjoy a wide scope of amenities and activities.

Activity coordinators plan daily games and events to help seniors stay engaged. Because of their larger size and added amenities, these facilities are about $500 more expensive a month than board and care homes.

Health care for seniors in Mesa

Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia living in Mesa, Arizona, have access to some of the best health care facilities in the nation, both in town and in nearby Phoenix.

Transportation for seniors in Mesa

Seniors in Mesa’s memory care communities shouldn’t travel on their own. Thankfully, 86% of A Place for Mom’s partnering memory care facilities offer complimentary transportation or transportation for a small fee.

Visiting family and friends will find that Mesa is best maneuvered by car. Mesa does offer a public transportation option for seniors called RideChoice, but we don’t recommend seniors experiencing memory loss use this service alone.

RideChoice is a pick-up and drop-off service for seniors over 65, and it covers most of Maricopa County. It costs only $3 for the first 8 miles and $2 for each additional mile. It doesn’t require reservations, but seniors need to sign up for the service by calling 602-716-2111.

Senior activities in Mesa

Mesa boasts an abundance of activities for visitors and local seniors. Outdoor activities in the nearby mountain range and local museums are Mesa’s best entertainment. Nearby Phoenix has other activities for the discerning traveler, like casinos and spas.

Activities in Mesa’s memory care facilities

Whether it’s a board and care home or a traditional memory care facility, Mesa’s memory care communities offer excellent daily activities. Some of the most common activities for seniors in memory care facilities include the following:

• Reminiscence activities, such as listening to music from the past
• Social hours
• Arts and crafts workshops
• Movie nights
• Chair yoga
• Walking club
• Pet therapy

Mesa’s senior centers offer community involvement

Seniors living in memory care facilities probably won’t attend events at Mesa’s senior centers alone, but they may attend with a group from their community or with a family member. Aster Senior Centers run the city’s senior programming. Yearly memberships are $20 and a membership includes the following:

• Daily lunch (view a current menu)
• Games, music, and movies
• Members-only parties
• Exercise, art, and dance classes

Mesa’s museums can help seniors reminisce

Seniors may especially benefit from museums that showcase their own history. Three of Mesa’s museums offer wheelchair-accessible accommodations for seniors and make for an engaging day trip.

• The Arizona Museum of Natural History. This museum features ancient civilizations and dinosaurs from Arizona. Seniors can get discounted admissions.
• Commemorative Air Force Airbase Arizona Museum. Senior veterans may especially enjoy this museum, as it has aircraft from over 100 years of Air Force history.
• Mesa Arts Center. The local theater has rotating live events, including classical musical performances, comedians, and contemporary musicians. You can find information about the season on the website. The Mesa Arts Center also accommodates people with low vision, those hard of hearing, and those with mobility impairments.

Outdoor activities can benefit seniors’ mental and physical health

Mesa is home to remarkable natural beauty and plenty of ways to enjoy it. The nearby Superstition Mountain Range offers more challenging hikes, but there are more accessible options for seniors nearby.

• Merkle Trail. At only 1 mile, this loop is an excellent place to watch a sunset or sunrise over the desert landscape.
• Hawes Ridge Loop. This 2-mile loop takes hikers through local saguaro cactus groves.