Desert Winds Assisted Living
Assisted Living, Independent Living & Memory Care · Peoria, AZ

Desert Winds Assisted Living

Assisted Living, Independent Living & Memory Care · Peoria, AZ

Overview of Desert Winds Assisted Living

Desert Winds Retirement Community is the premier independent living, assisted living, and memory care home in Peoria. Providing an exquisite senior living lifestyle, seniors will cultivate a vibrant social life during retirement. Management ensures that residents maintain an active and independent living while receiving full support. Residents are encouraged to pursue their interests and find new activities that flourish in a nurturing environment.

The community boasts a list of comprehensive amenities that make retirement feel like a permanent vacation. These include a swimming pool, a courtyard, landscaped grounds, an expansive dining menu experience, and private apartments.

By The Numbers

Community insights.

Bed count Info A larger shared setting that may offer more common spaces and organized community services. 88 Rank #151 / 521Bed count — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 151st out of 521 homes we track in Arizona for bed count. Shows this facility's certified or reported bed count compared to other Arizona facilities. Larger communities may offer more amenities, programs, and on-site services for residents and families.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Arizona that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.

Smaller home · May offer a more intimate, personalized care environment.

Years of operating Info A longer operating history, which may indicate experience navigating regulations and delivering ongoing care. Rank #63 / 548Years in operation — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 63rd out of 548 homes we track in Arizona for years in operation. Shows how long this facility has been in operation compared to other Arizona facilities. Longer operating histories may benefit residents, families, and staff.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Arizona that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
26 years
Walk Score Info Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities. Rank #241 / 775Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 241st out of 775 homes we track in Arizona for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average walk score across Arizona facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Arizona that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
51 / 100

About this community

License Details

Facility TypeAssisted Living Center
StatusActive
IssuanceSeptember 27, 1999
ExpirationOctober 31, 2026
License NumberAL2539C
QualificationHealth Care

Ownership & Operating Entity

Desert Winds Assisted Living is administered by Nora Dartoe.

OwnerDesert Winds Assisted Living LP

Staffing & Medical

1 service
Licensed Nurses/CNAs

Contact Desert Winds Assisted Living

Inspection History

In Arizona, the Department of Health Services, Bureau of Long Term Care Licensing performs regular onsite inspections and investigates complaints for all licensed residential and nursing facilities.

Since 2023 · 3 years of data These figures come from state-published and/or federal inspection records. The period covered can vary depending on document availability. 0 deficiencies 6 complaints 9 inspections

Inspection Scorecard Info This scorecard compares key inspection, deficiency, and complaint metrics at this facility against the Arizona state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.

Since 2023 vs. Arizona state average
Overall vs. AZ average 0 Worse No metrics in this bucket. 2 At Avg Metrics at Arizona average:
• Total complaints (at AZ avg)
• Complaints per year (at AZ avg)
1 Better Metrics better than Arizona average:
• Total deficiencies (100% below)

Deficiencies Info Deficiencies are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.

This FacilityAZ Averagevs. AZ Avg
Total deficiencies Info Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types. 012 This facility has 100% fewer total deficiencies than a typical Arizona assisted living residence (0 vs. AZ avg 12).↓ 100% better Rank #1 / 487 Total deficiencies — State benchmarked This home is ranked 1st out of 487 homes we track in Arizona for deficiencies. Shows this facility's deficiencies compared to the Arizona average among 487 comparable communities in the ranking pool. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Arizona that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.

Inspections Info State inspections evaluate whether the facility meets health and safety standards.

This FacilityAZ Averagevs. AZ Avg
Total inspections Info Combined count of all inspections conducted at this facility. 95 This facility has had 80% more total inspections than the Arizona average (9 vs. AZ avg 5). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↑ 80% more

Complaints & Investigations Info Complaints are formal concerns filed by residents, families, or staff. Investigations are on-site follow-ups.

This FacilityAZ Averagevs. AZ Avg
Total complaints Info Formal expressions of concern made by residents, families, or staff. 66 This facility has total complaints in line with the Arizona average (6 vs. AZ avg 6).— At avg Rank #400 / 490 Total complaints — State benchmarked This home is ranked 400th out of 490 homes we track in Arizona for complaint-related visits. Shows this facility's complaint-related visits compared to the Arizona average among 490 comparable communities in the ranking pool. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Arizona that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
Complaints per year Info Average complaints per year since 2023. 22 This facility has complaints per year in line with the Arizona average (2 vs. AZ avg 2).— At avg

What does this home offer?

Pets allowed icon
Pets allowed icon

Pets Allowed

Managed by Nora Dartoe

Executive Director of Assisted Living & Memory Support

Nora Dartoe is the Executive Director of Assisted Living and Memory Support at Desert Winds Assisted Living. She began her career with Senior Living Services in 2018 as a Certified Caregiver and Medicine Technician and has since devoted her time to serving the senior community with dedication and care.

Places of interest near Desert Winds Assisted Living

Address 6.6 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Peoria's city center to Desert Winds Assisted Living's address, calculated via Google Maps. — 4.61 miles to nearest hospital (Abrazo Arrowhead Campus)

Calculate Travel Distance to Desert Winds Assisted Living

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Address

Compare Assisted Living around Peoria

Info below is compiled from the AZ Dept. of Health Services (ADHS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
Description of bed or unit types offered (e.g. assisted living, memory care), as reported in state or facility disclosures.
Number of years the company has been in operation.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
A named contact for the facility. Hover the name to see their role — Administrator (state administrator of record or facility-provided administrator), Nursing Director, Medical Director, or Staff. The most authoritative available is shown.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Regulatory visits tied to complaints or allegations in the state file—not the same as every routine survey.
Total count of deficiencies (cited regulatory issues) recorded in the selected reporting period. Read alongside inspection counts for context.
The average number of deficiencies this facility receives each time it's inspected, calculated as total deficiencies ÷ total inspections. A lower number suggests more consistent compliance with safety and care standards.
Freedom Plaza Arizona
AL
HOS
IL
MC
NH
SNF
Peoria
111
Facility 111
AZ AVG 54
Rank #111 / 521
Yes
28
Facility 28
AZ AVG 38
Rank #499 / 775
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
48
Facility 48
AZ AVG 12
Rank #4 / 548
A+Ian G Lewis19
6
Facility 6
AZ AVG 9
Rank #224 / 487
0.3
Facility 0.3
AZ AVG 1.8
Rank #96 / 487
Desert Winds Assisted Living
AL
IL
MC
Peoria (Desert Winds Mod)
88
Facility 88
AZ AVG 54
Rank #151 / 521
Yes
51
Facility 51
AZ AVG 38
Rank #241 / 775
-
26
Facility 26
AZ AVG 12
Rank #63 / 548
-Nora Dartoe9
0
Facility 0
AZ AVG 9
Rank #1 / 487
0.0
Facility 0.0
AZ AVG 1.8
Rank #1 / 487
The Forum at Desert Harbor
AL
IL
Peoria (Desert Harbor)
50
Facility 50
AZ AVG 54
Rank #209 / 521
Yes
21
Facility 21
AZ AVG 38
Rank #572 / 775
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
37
Facility 37
AZ AVG 12
Rank #25 / 548
-Auxiliadora C Morales4
6
Facility 6
AZ AVG 9
Rank #224 / 487
1.5
Facility 1.5
AZ AVG 1.8
Rank #229 / 487
Fletcher Farms Assisted Living
AL
MC
Peoria (Riverstone Estates)
10
Facility 10
AZ AVG 54
Rank #237 / 521
No
33
Facility 33
AZ AVG 38
Rank #441 / 775
Private / Semi-Private Rooms
15
Facility 15
AZ AVG 12
Rank #159 / 548
-Mariafe S Castro3
10
Facility 10
AZ AVG 9
Rank #310 / 487
3.3
Facility 3.3
AZ AVG 1.8
Rank #369 / 487
Creative Care Assisted Living
AL
Grande Peoria (Sunrise)
5
Facility 5
AZ AVG 54
Rank #447 / 521
No
22
Facility 22
AZ AVG 38
Rank #560 / 775
Private / Semi-Private Rooms
12
Facility 12
AZ AVG 12
Rank #201 / 548
A+Simona Duican2
0
Facility 0
AZ AVG 9
Rank #1 / 487
0.0
Facility 0.0
AZ AVG 1.8
Rank #1 / 487

Financial Assistance for
Assisted Living in Arizona

Desert Winds Assisted Living is located in Peoria, Arizona.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Arizona.

Get Financial aid guidance

Arizona Long Term Care System

ALTCS

Age 65+ or disabled
General Arizona resident, Medicaid-eligible, nursing home-level care need.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).
AZ

Covers tribal members; rural outreach.

Benefits
In-home care (6-8 hours/day) Assisted living Nursing home care Medical services Transportation (10 trips/month)

Non-Medical Home and Community Based Services

AZ DES Non-Medical HCBS

Age 60+
General Arizona resident, at risk of institutionalization.
Income Limits ~$2,000/month individual, varies
Asset Limits $10,000 individual
AZ

Limited funding; waitlists common.

Benefits
Homemaker services (3-5 hours/week) Respite care (up to 10 days/year) Adult day care (~$60/day)

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

AZ WAP

Age 60+ priority
General Arizona resident, own/rent home, low-income.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,510/month 200% of poverty level, individual
Asset Limits Not applicable; income-focused.
AZ

High demand in rural desert areas; limited annual funds.

Benefits
Insulation Weather stripping HVAC repairs (avg. $500-$1,000/year savings)

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly

AZ Section 202

Age 62+
General Arizona resident, very low income, able to live independently with support.
Income Limits (2025) ~$1,645/month 50% of area median income, individual, varies by county
Asset Limits $10,000 individual, excludes home if owned
AZ

Limited units; high demand in metro areas like Phoenix.

Benefits
Subsidized rent (30% of income, e.g., $300-$500/month) On-site services (housekeeping, transportation, ~$200/month value)

Arizona CARES Program

AZ CARES

Age
General Caregivers of Arizona residents 60+ needing help with 3+ daily activities; no caregiver age limit.
Income Limits No strict limit; cost-sharing above ~$2,500/month threshold.
Asset Limits Not applicable; need-based.
AZ

Focus on rural access; complements ALTCS respite.

Benefits
Respite care (up to 10 days/year) Counseling (4-6 sessions/year) Training (2-3 workshops/year) Supplies (~$200/year)

AZ DES Non-Medical Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)

AZ DES Non-Medical HCBS

Age 60+ or disabled
General Arizona resident, need assistance with daily activities, not eligible for Medicaid/ALTCS.
Income Limits Above Medicaid threshold but low-income ~$1,500-$2,500/month, varies by region
Asset Limits Not specified; income-driven eligibility.
AZ

Targets those ineligible for ALTCS; prioritizes rural and tribal areas.

Benefits
Homemaker services (3-5 hours/week) Personal care (limited hours) Respite care (up to 10 days/year) Transportation (~5 trips/month)

Frequently Asked Questions about Desert Winds Assisted Living

What neighborhood is Desert Winds Assisted Living in?

Desert Winds Assisted Living is in the Desert Winds Mod neighborhood of Peoria.

Is Desert Winds Assisted Living in a walkable area?

Desert Winds Assisted Living has a walk score of 51. Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.

What is the license number of Desert Winds Assisted Living?

According to AZ state health department records, Desert Winds Assisted Living's license number is AL2539C.

When does Desert Winds Assisted Living's license expire?

According to AZ state health department records, Desert Winds Assisted Living's license expires on October 31, 2026.

How long has Desert Winds Assisted Living been in business?

Desert Winds Assisted Living has been operating for approximately 26 years, based on available licensing and registration records.

Are pets allowed at Desert Winds Assisted Living?

Yes, Desert Winds Assisted Living allows residents to bring their pets.

Who is the administrator of Desert Winds Assisted Living?

Nora Dartoe is the administrator of Desert Winds Assisted Living.

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