The Ranch Estates of Tucson — Local services in Oro Valley

I moved my 80 yr old Mother with moderate dementia into Ranch Estates Tucson one year ago after she had lived in Wilmington, DE her ENTIRE LIFE. I obviously also live in AZ (16 yrs in Phoenix / Scottsdale - 1 hr 40 mins North of Ranch Estates. We have some additional family in Tucson that has been extremely helpful. The transition period (2-3 months) was difficult on Mom and her caregivers (me, her sister and the staff at Ranch Estates) since she did not yet have any resident friends and also missed her old home and friends in DE (owner for 22 years and lived alone). We moved Mom into a one bedroom at Ranch Estates after my Mom, me and an amazing/highly recommended Retirement Consultant (Ryan Williams - Care Patrol - Based in Scottsdale) looked at more than 20 Assisted Living Communities in Scottsdale (Expensive), Phoenix (wide range and prices), and Tucson/Oro Valley (Best Value for Great quality). After significant research, interviews with care givers and tours of multiple communities, we finally decided on Ranch Estates of Tucson…one year later, it remains the ABSOLUTE best decision we have made during the past three years of extreme challenges trying to get Mom somewhere both safe AND comfortable/luxurious!!!!

Mom moved into the Ranch Estates Assisted Living Community in Sept ‘24 (90% of apartments are in Assisted Living Community w/ a smaller unit dedicated to Memory Care residents. Even though Mom has dementia, she is fully physically functional to care for herself at this point so she “tested/interviewed” relatively well and is currently at Level 1 Care (out of 4 or 5 levels), which means she just requires a lot of “re-directing” from the staff (reminders and instructions). They review the level of care required for each resident a couple times per year to ensure they are receiving the proper amount of help/attention…this is consistent with many of the communities I evaluated and fair, in my humble opinion!

Why are my family, me (primary guardian of Mom), and my Mother so impressed with Ranch Estates to rate it 5* with these glowing comments in one of my first and only google reviews???

It all starts and ends with the STAFF…they are all incredible: Extremely Friendly, Compassionate, Professional and a lot of fun!!! When I dropped in last week to visit Mom, I witnessed from the shadows how Tammy and Tippi treated and interacted with her…I was soooo impressed by them AND extremely thankful that my Mom was under their care and support! I also frequently interact with several other Sr. staff members that have been amazing to work with including: Exec Director Mike Soto, Incredible Nurse Dani, and last but certainly not least, Sr Manager and the primary reason I selected Ranch Estates, Lori Donahue. The entire Ranch Estates Team is TOP Notch and leaps and bounds above the other finalist communities that I interviewed.

The facilities at Ranch Estates are first class. They have a movie theatre, cooking demonstration kitchen, outside courtyard, and most importantly a beautifully done restaurant where Mom and her new friends like to gather several times each day for meals. Mom likes to exercise by walking around the property a couple times daily, but RE also offers a gym for more motivated residents. After about two months of adjusting, Mom now considers RE her home, and she thinks she has lived there for years at this point (perfect)!

The cost of care is reasonable when compared with similar, high quality assisted living communities in Arizona. Obviously, any strong community of this type is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but I definitely found Ranch Estates to be the most affordable given the great amenities and staff.

Overall, we could not be more pleased with our decision. Thank you to the amazing staff and community at the Ranch Estates of Tucson!!!

~ Brint Morrow (son...

I was very happy when my dad decided to place my stepmom at Sage Desert Memory Care in August when it got to be too much for him (89 years old!) and me - their full time caregiver. I had toured about a dozen Memory Care/Assisted Living communities already and this one was at the top of my list last May when Sage Desert first opened. My dad promptly moved into their Assisted Living a couple weeks later! Sage Desert is amazing in my eyes. I am still my dad's caregiver on a daily basis and so I am in the thick of it, you might say. I see and hear a lot of what is going on - the negative and the positive. I know a great number of the staff from daily interaction. If there is a problem it is quickly addressed. And I think the personal attention is above and beyond the call of duty! It is truly evident that Sage Desert - their Executive Director and their staff - are caring and their primary purpose is to take care of ALL the residents and give them the support they need!! This could not have been more evident when my stepmom had a stroke a few weeks ago and passed away. Everyone, and I mean everyone was there for my dad - and for me too!! They care about their residents and the residents' families, more than I think most realize. Frankly, I don't know what I would have done without Sage Desert. Thank you again, Sage Desert!! God bless you for all...

When my dad needed placement in an assisted living facility due to his increasing fall risk, we faced the challenge of finding a suitable home. The previous complex he lived at was understaffed, making it clear that a change was necessary. After consulting with Arizona Coordinated Care, we were recommended to The Ranch Estates of Tuscon.

They provide a comprehensive range of services designed to meet the needs of its residents. From 24/7 medical supervision to medication management, regular wellness checks and transportation to appointments, they ensure that all aspects of care are covered.

The staff at The Ranch has been exceptional. They are not only well-trained but also genuinely compassionate. With a solid staff-to-resident ratio, my dad receives the attention he requires, and we’ve noticed that caregivers take the time to get to know the residents personally. This thoughtful approach fosters a supportive atmosphere where everyone feels valued.

One area where they could improve is the quality of food. While the menu includes a variety of options, the meals tend to feel institutional rather than home-cooked. This has been a disappointment, as good nutrition is vital for residents’ well-being. It’s the only reason we rated our experience with four stars...