By Tucson Senior Advisor Care Team · October 29, 2026
North of Tucson, AZ Care Check lists 12 assisted living centers and 14 homes in Oro Valley, the Catalina Foothills and Catalina. SaddleBrooke, across the Pinal County line, had no licensed assisted living on our pull. Many families also look south to Casas Adobes.
What licensed assisted living is north of Tucson?
On October 30, 2026, the ADHS roster listed 26 active assisted living facilities in Oro Valley (85737, 85755), the Catalina Foothills (85718, 85750) and Catalina (85739), with 1,234 licensed beds. CMS lists 4 certified nursing homes in the same ZIPs.
| Area | Facility | Type | Beds | Directed care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina Foothills | Brookdale Santa Catalina | Center | 155 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | River Centre Assisted Living | Center | 112 | no |
| Catalina Foothills | Hacienda at the Canyon | Center | 108 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Atria Campana del Rio | Center | 100 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Sunrise at River Road | Center | 100 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Tucson Place, Assisted Living & Memory Care | Center | 99 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Avista Senior Living Tucson | Center | 96 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Hacienda at the River | Center | 84 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Canyon View by Platinum Care Homes | Home | 10 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Desert Gardens Ed LLC | Home | 10 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Desert Gardens Ed LLC | Home | 10 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Hacienda de Luna Assisted Living | Home | 10 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Hacienda de Luna Assisted Living LLC | Home | 10 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | Hacienda de Luna Assisted Living LLC | Home | 10 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | New Chance Enhanced Assisted Living | Home | 10 | yes |
| Catalina Foothills | River Rose Senior Care LLC | Home | 10 | yes |
Why are there more centers than small homes up north?
The north side's terrain, lot sizes and zoning favor purpose-built communities and continuing-care campuses over converted houses. Oro Valley in particular has few ten-bed homes of its own, while the Catalina Foothills mix large centers with a modest number of homes.
For a family set on a small home, the closest concentration is a few miles south in Casas Adobes and northwest Tucson, where small homes are plentiful.
What should SaddleBrooke families know?
SaddleBrooke is an age-restricted community in Pinal County that shares ZIP 85739 with Catalina in Pima County. Our pull of AZ Care Check found no active assisted living center or home in the Pinal County part of that ZIP, so SaddleBrooke residents usually look south to Catalina, Oro Valley and Casas Adobes.
Because SaddleBrooke is in Pinal County, its county-level services are not Pima County's. Confirm which Area Agency on Aging serves the address before calling for an assessment; Pima Council on Aging serves the Pima side.
How do north-side families compare options?
Start with the drive from the family member who will visit most, then the service level. Oracle Road connects Catalina, Oro Valley and Casas Adobes, so a facility ten miles away along it can be quicker to reach than one five miles away across the foothills.
Then compare inspection records on AZ Care Check and visit at least one center and one small home, because the experience differs more than the license.
Where is medical care for north-side residents?
Oro Valley Hospital and Northwest Medical Center serve the north and northwest, and residents also travel to Tucson's midtown hospitals for specialty care. Ask any facility how it handles transportation to appointments and who accompanies residents with dementia.
For Medicare questions tied to a move, PCOA's SHIP counselors are at (520) 546-2011.
What does the Oracle Road corridor mean for visiting?
Oracle Road is the spine of the north side. From SaddleBrooke and Catalina it runs south through Oro Valley and Casas Adobes to the city, so families can compare facilities along one road and still keep visits short. For a parent who will see friends from SaddleBrooke or Oro Valley regularly, a facility near Oracle is often easier for visitors than one closer on the map but across the foothills.
Traffic is lighter outside rush hours, and many families plan visits around lunch or early afternoon when residents are most alert.
North of Tucson: what each area is and is not
| Is | Is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Oro Valley | an incorporated town with assisted living centers | a hub of small homes |
| Catalina Foothills | unincorporated Pima County, Tucson addresses | the city of Tucson |
| SaddleBrooke | an age-restricted Pinal County community | covered by Pima County agencies |
Frequently asked questions
Does Oro Valley have memory care?
Yes. 4 Oro Valley facilities hold a directed care license, Arizona's license level for memory care. See our Oro Valley page for the current list.
Is SaddleBrooke in Pima County?
No. SaddleBrooke is in Pinal County, although it shares the 85739 ZIP code with Catalina in Pima County. County services differ on each side of the line.
Are Catalina Foothills facilities in Tucson?
The Catalina Foothills is unincorporated Pima County, but its facilities use Tucson mailing addresses and appear on the state roster as Tucson.
Where are the most small assisted living homes near Oro Valley?
Casas Adobes and northwest Tucson, especially ZIPs 85704 and 85741, hold the largest concentration of small homes, a short drive south on Oracle Road.
Is there a nursing home in Oro Valley?
CMS lists certified nursing homes in the north-side ZIPs; our Oro Valley and Catalina Foothills pages show each one with its CMS star rating, certified beds and the date of its last standard survey.
Do Catalina Foothills centers accept ALTCS?
Some may and some may not; contracts with ALTCS health plans are not shown on AZ Care Check. Ask each center which plans it works with and whether it accepts residents who convert from private pay.
