Types of senior care in Tucson

Last verified: October 2026

What types of senior care are available in Tucson?

Six kinds of care cover most situations: assisted living (53 centers and 257 homes in Pima County), memory care under a directed care license, nursing homes (24 CMS-certified), in-home care and home health, adult day and respite, and hospice.

The right one depends on medical needs, safety, money and where family lives.

How do you know which type of care someone needs?

Start from daily needs: help with bathing, dressing or medications points to assisted living or in-home care; dementia with poor safety awareness points to directed care; continuous nursing points to a nursing home; and a terminal illness with comfort goals points to hospice.

A physician's evaluation and a Pima Council on Aging options counselor ((520) 790-7262) can settle disagreements within a family.

Which type of care is most common around Tucson?

By number of licenses, small assisted living homes are the most common residential setting in Pima County (257 of them), though centers hold more beds; nearly every home is licensed for directed care.

In-home care is larger still, but non-medical agencies are not in any public bulk dataset, so only Medicare-certified home health agencies are listed.

Where do Tucson families start when they are unsure?

Start with a needs assessment: a physician visit, a Pima Council on Aging options counselor ((520) 790-7262), or a local advisor who can match the needs to a care type and a short list.

Write down what a typical day looks like now, including nights, before any of those conversations; it makes every assessment faster and more accurate.

Care-type guides

• Assisted living in Tucson — How assisted living works in Tucson: 53 licensed centers, 257 small homes, Arizona's service levels, costs and how to compare.
• Memory care in Tucson — Memory care in Tucson is licensed as directed care: 39 centers and 257 homes in Pima County. How to choose.
• Nursing homes in Tucson — 24 CMS-certified nursing homes in Pima County: short-term rehab, long-term care, CMS star ratings and who pays.
• In-home care and home health in Tucson — Non-medical in-home care (about $38/hour in Arizona) vs. Medicare home health, and how ALTCS attendant care fits.
• Adult day health and respite care in Tucson — Adult day health care (Arizona median about $95 a day) and respite options for Tucson family caregivers.
• Hospice care in Tucson — How hospice works in Tucson: 29 Medicare-certified hospices in Pima County, care at home or in assisted living, and what Medicare pays.

Care types: what each is and is not