Smaller home · May offer a more intimate, personalized care environment.
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.
Community insights.
About this community
Desert Winds Assisted Living is administered by Nora Dartoe.
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.
Inspection Scorecard
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• Total complaints (at AZ avg)
• Complaints per year (at AZ avg) 1 Better Metrics better than Arizona average:
• Total deficiencies (100% below)
Deficiencies
| This Facility | AZ Average | vs. AZ Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total deficiencies
| 0 | 12 | 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
| This Facility | AZ Average | vs. AZ Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total inspections
| 9 | 5 | 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
| This Facility | AZ Average | vs. AZ Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total complaints
| 6 | 6 | 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
| 2 | 2 | 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
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
6.6 miles from city center
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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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.
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City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
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Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
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Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
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Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
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Description of bed or unit types offered (e.g. assisted living, memory care), as reported in state or facility disclosures.
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Number of years the company has been in operation.
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Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
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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.
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Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
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Regulatory visits tied to complaints or allegations in the state file—not the same as every routine survey.
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Total count of deficiencies (cited regulatory issues) recorded in the selected reporting period. Read alongside inspection counts for context.
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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 Lewis | 19 | 13
Facility
13
AZ AVG
6
Rank
#465 / 490 | 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 Dartoe | 9 | 6
Facility
6
AZ AVG
6
Rank
#400 / 490 | 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 Morales | 4 | 1
Facility
1
AZ AVG
6
Rank
#182 / 490 | 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 Castro | 3 | 1
Facility
1
AZ AVG
6
Rank
#182 / 490 | 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 Duican | 2 | 1
Facility
1
AZ AVG
6
Rank
#182 / 490 | 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.
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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