The Citadel Senior Living Community

Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Memory Care & Respite Care · Mesa, AZ

CMS overall rating

520 S Higley Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206 View map

Calculator: See prices in your area

The Citadel Senior Living Community accepts Medicare and private pay.

Calculator: See prices in your area

The Citadel Senior Living Community accepts Medicare and private pay.

Overview of The Citadel Senior Living Community

The Citadel Senior Living Community in Mesa, Arizona offers senior living near me with a warm and supportive environment where they can thrive. With no buy-in fees and convenient month-to-month leases, The Citadel provides flexibility and peace of mind.

The Citadel offers both independent living and assisted living options. Independent living residents enjoy the freedom of their own apartment without the worry of maintenance or chores. Housekeeping, meal service, and transportation are available for those who desire them. For those who need a helping hand with daily activities, The Citadel’s Assisted Living program provides personalized care plans. A dedicated staff is available 24/7 to ensure residents’ safety and well-being. The Citadel prioritizes resident wellness and offers a variety of amenities to keep residents active and engaged. Take a dip in the heated pool, relax in the jacuzzi, or challenge friends to a game of billiards. A fitness room, library, and beauty salon are also available for resident use.

The Citadel understands the importance of social connection. A full calendar of activities offers something for everyone, from ice cream socials and arts and crafts classes to lectures and live entertainment. Regular outings and excursions provide opportunities to explore the Mesa area.

(480) 832-7600

Quality ratings

Measured by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Staffing hours breakdown

Hours per resident per day — compared to Arizona state averages

Staff type	Hours / Day / Resident	vs state avg
Registered Nurse (RN) RNs hold the highest nursing license and can assess residents, interpret test results, and direct care plans. More RN hours per day often signals stronger clinical oversight and faster response to health changes.	42m per day	■ Avg State avg: 43m per day · National avg: 41m per day
LPN / LVN Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) deliver routine hands-on care — medication administration, wound dressing, and monitoring vital signs. They work under RN supervision and make up a large share of daily bedside care.	55m per day	▼ 13% State avg: 1h 3m per day · National avg: 52m per day
Nurse Aide Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) provide the most direct day-to-day assistance: bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility. Nurse aide hours are typically the largest staffing category and directly affect residents' quality of life.	2h 11m per day	▼ 6% State avg: 2h 20m per day · National avg: 2h 20m per day
Weekend Total Nursing Combined nursing hours (RN + LPN + Nurse Aide) per resident per day on weekends. Staffing often drops on weekends — this figure reveals whether the facility maintains adequate coverage outside of weekday hours.	3h 20m per day	▼ 8% State avg: 3h 39m per day · National avg: 3h 27m per day
Physical Therapist Hours per resident per day provided by licensed Physical Therapists (PTs) or PT Assistants. PT services help residents recover mobility after injury or illness and are especially important for post-acute (short-stay) rehabilitation.	3m per day	▼ 53% State avg: 6m per day · National avg: 4m per day
Weekend RN Registered nurse hours specifically on weekends. Facilities sometimes reduce RN presence on Saturdays and Sundays — a low weekend RN figure compared to weekday hours can indicate reduced clinical oversight when most administrative staff are absent.	40m per day	▲ 31% State avg: 31m per day · National avg: 29m per day

Capacity and availability

147 days

150-bed community

A larger shared setting that may offer more common spaces and organized community services.

4 years in operation

An established community with some operational experience and growing routines.

Walk Score: 26 / 100

Somewhat walkable. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation.

BBB Rating: A+ (Not Accredited)

An independent rating from the Better Business Bureau based on factors such as complaint history, transparency, and business practices.
How BBB ratings work

About this community

Occupancy

Occupancy rate

61%

Lower than the Arizona average: 72.7%

Occupied beds

92 / 150

Average occupied beds in Arizona homes 84 beds

Facility TypeAssisted Living Center

StatusActive

IssuanceMarch 15, 2022

ExpirationMarch 14, 2027

License NumberAL12140C

QualificationHealth Care

The Citadel Senior Living Community is administered by Karina Villacorta.

OwnerBLACKBIRD SENIOR LIVING, INC

Profit StatusFor-Profit

Staffing

Key information about the people who lead and staff this community.

ContactCory Williams

No Alzheimer's certification

Inspection Scorecard This scorecard compares key inspection, citation, 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.

Overall vs. AZ average

Latest Inspection November 4, 2025 Modification No deficiencies

Deficiencies Deficiencies are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.	This Facility	AZ Average	vs. AZ Avg
Enforcement actions Formal penalties or interventions imposed by Arizona regulators — directed plans of correction, civil monetary penalties, denial of payment, or appointment of temporary management.	7	0.9	This facility has 678% more enforcement actions than a typical Arizona assisted living residence (7 vs. AZ avg 0.9).↑ 678% worse

Inspections State inspections evaluate whether the facility meets health and safety standards.	This Facility	AZ Average	vs. AZ Avg
Total inspections Combined count of all routine and focused inspections. Excludes complaint investigations.	30	5	This facility has 500% more total inspections than a typical Arizona assisted living residence (30 vs. AZ avg 5).↑ 500% worse

Complaints & Investigations Complaints are formal concerns filed by residents, families, or staff. Investigations are on-site follow-ups.	This Facility	AZ Average	vs. AZ Avg
Total complaints Formal expressions of concern made by residents, families, or staff.	18	6	This facility has 200% more total complaints than a typical Arizona assisted living residence (18 vs. AZ avg 6).↑ 200% worse Rank #484 / 500 Total complaints — State benchmarked This home is ranked 484th out of 500 homes in Arizona. Shows this facility's complaint-related visits compared to the Arizona average among 500 comparable communities in the ranking pool. Rankings are based only on facilities in Arizona that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.

Inspection Reports Summary An editor-reviewed summary of the themes and findings across this facility's recent inspection reports.

June 15, 2023 inspection found five deficiencies including missing TB documentation, incomplete resident medical records, and improper hot water temperatures, resulting in a $2,000 fine.
Multiple complaint investigations in August 2023 led to sixteen violations and enforcement actions requiring corrective measures on staffing ratios, personnel audits, and quality assurance programs.
Most recent inspection on October 24, 2025 resulted in a $1,250 fine that was paid in full, resolving the enforcement action.

Inspections since 2022

Total health inspections 14

Arizona average 6.3

Last Health inspection on Jul 2025

Total health citations

Arizona average 23.2

Citations per inspection

4.21

Arizona average 3.82

Health citations are formal notices following inspections when they fail to comply with safety and care standards.

38 of 59 citations resulted from standard inspections; 20 of 59 resulted from complaint investigations; and 1 of 59 came from combined inspections (standard and complaint).

Breakdown of citation severity (last 4 years)

Critical health citations

100% better than Arizona average

Arizona average: 0.1

Serious health citations

400% worse than Arizona average

Arizona average: 0.6

0 critical citations Arizona average: 0.1

3 serious citations Arizona average: 0.6

56 moderate citations Arizona average: 22.3

0 minor citations Arizona average: 0.2

Citations history (last 4 years)

Care Planning moderate citation Jul 23, 2025

Corrected

Resident Rights moderate citation Jul 23, 2025

Corrected

Abuse/Neglect moderate citation Jun 03, 2025

Corrected

Abuse/Neglect moderate citation Apr 17, 2025

Corrected

Total staff 91

Employees 71

Contractors 20

Staff to resident ratio 1.47 : 1

19% fewer staff per resident than Arizona average

Avg staff/day 35

Average shift 9.2 hours

8% better than Arizona average

Total staff hours (quarter) 29,478

Nursing staff breakdown

10.2 hours

10.8 hours

10.5 hours

Contractor staffing

855 contractor hours this quarter

Licensed Practical Nurse: 10 Certified Nursing Assistant: 8 Medical Director: 1 Occupational Therapy Assistant: 1

Staff by category


Certified Nursing Assistant	25	8	33	12,763	92	100%	10.5
Licensed Practical Nurse	10	10	20	4,840	92	100%	10.8
Registered Nurse	10	0	10	4,095	92	100%	10.2
Dental Services Staff	10	0	10	3,458	92	100%	7.7
Speech Language Pathologist	3	0	3	973	92	100%	7.9
Other Dietary Services Staff	3	0	3	849	91	99%	7.6
Administrator	1	0	1	528	66	72%	8
RN Director of Nursing	1	0	1	527	65	71%	8.1
Physical Therapy Aide	2	0	2	493	61	66%	5.5
Qualified Social Worker	1	0	1	298	40	43%	7.5
Respiratory Therapy Technician	2	0	2	284	64	70%	3.6
Physical Therapy Assistant	1	0	1	107	53	58%	2
Medical Director	0	1	1	104	13	14%	8
Occupational Therapy Assistant	0	1	1	104	13	14%	8
Nurse Practitioner	1	0	1	32	4	4%	8
Dietitian	1	0	1	24	3	3%	8

33 Certified Nursing Assistant

% of Days 100%

20 Licensed Practical Nurse

% of Days 100%

10 Registered Nurse

% of Days 100%

10 Dental Services Staff

% of Days 100%

3 Speech Language Pathologist

% of Days 100%

3 Other Dietary Services Staff

% of Days 99%

1 Administrator

% of Days 72%

1 RN Director of Nursing

% of Days 71%

2 Physical Therapy Aide

% of Days 66%

1 Qualified Social Worker

% of Days 43%

2 Respiratory Therapy Technician

% of Days 70%

1 Physical Therapy Assistant

% of Days 58%

1 Medical Director

% of Days 14%

1 Occupational Therapy Assistant

% of Days 14%

1 Nurse Practitioner

% of Days 4%

1 Dietitian

% of Days 3%

View All Staffing Data in Mesa

Total fines amount $10K

66% lower than Arizona average

Arizona average: $30K

Number of fines 1

40% fewer fines than Arizona average

Arizona average: 1.7

Payment Denials 0

100% fewer payment denials than Arizona average

Arizona average: 0.1

Fines amount comparison

This facility $10K

Arizona average $30K

Penalty History

Penalties are imposed by CMS for violations of federal nursing home regulations.

1 penalty in the past 3 years

Feb 12, 2025 · $10K

Civil Money Penalty Feb 12, 2025

$10K

Last updated: Jan 2026

High-risk clinical events score 9.9

30% worse than Arizona average

Arizona average: 7.6

Functional decline score 17.6

9% worse than Arizona average

Arizona average: 16.1

Long-stay resident measures

Need for Help with Daily Activities Increased 13.7%

22% worse than Arizona average

Arizona average: 11.2%

Walking Ability Worsened 20.0%

26% worse than Arizona average

Arizona average: 15.8%

Low Risk Residents with Bowel/Bladder Incontinence 19.1%

8% better than Arizona average

Arizona average: 20.8%

Falls with Major Injury 1.4%

34% better than Arizona average

Arizona average: 2.1%

High Risk Residents with Pressure Ulcers 6.3%

25% worse than Arizona average

Arizona average: 5.1%

Urinary Tract Infection 4.8%

255% worse than Arizona average

Arizona average: 1.3%

Lost Too Much Weight 7.9%

46% worse than Arizona average

Arizona average: 5.4%

Depressive Symptoms 0.0%

100% better than Arizona average

Arizona average: 4.5%

Antipsychotic Use 25.1%

145% worse than Arizona average

Arizona average: 10.3%

Pneumococcal Vaccine 99.5%

In line with Arizona average

Arizona average: 97.2%

Influenza Vaccine 98.4%

In line with Arizona average

Arizona average: 94.6%

Short-stay resident measures

Pneumococcal Vaccine 98.7%

8% better than Arizona average

Arizona average: 91.5%

Antipsychotic medication increase 1.2%

17% worse than Arizona average

Arizona average: 1.0%

Influenza Vaccine 97.4%

11% better than Arizona average

Arizona average: 87.3%

Breakdown by payment type

Medicare

34% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.

Typical stay 1 months

Private pay

66% of new residents, often for short stays.

Typical stay 7 - 8 months

Total residents 62

Medicare

4.8% of residents

Medicaid

58.1% of residents

Private pay or other

37.1% of residents

Programs & Services

Residents Group

Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities

Active Resident Council

Organized group of residents that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, quality of life, and activities.

Financial Trends

Historical financial and operational data for The Citadel Senior Living Community from 2011–2023, based on CMS SNF Cost Reports.

Occupancy Rate 44.6% ↓ 16.7pp vs 2022

Net Patient Income -$1.6M ↑ ~$375.1K vs 2022

Payroll Costs $4.4M ↑ ~$54.6K vs 2022

Operating Margin -20.8% ↑ 7.7pp vs 2022

Metric	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Occupancy %	91.6%	90.4%	87.8%	89.6%	88.4%	88.7%	83.3%	85.0%	81.6%	59.2%	58.7%	61.3%	44.6%
Beds	109	109	109	109	109	109	109	109	109	109	109	109	150
Net Income	$42,263	$92,728	$230,643	$285,698	$26,995	-$239,742	-$376,728	$767,117	$1,019,397	-$798,459	$958,673	-$126,263	$185,847
Gross Revenue	$7,464,447	$7,868,185	$8,622,898	$9,021,071	$9,142,196	$7,619,138	$7,667,501	$8,494,600	$8,821,499	$6,261,474	$7,188,074	$6,965,228	$7,782,528
Operating Expenses	$7,916,461	$8,269,798	$8,933,083	$9,252,460	$9,843,678	$9,677,129	$9,434,002	$8,633,360	$8,503,010	$8,099,008	$7,850,234	$8,687,248	$9,020,162
Net Patient Income	-$1,339	$33,924	-$350,133	-$358,659	-$775,444	-$1,553,538	-$1,496,771	-$301,838	-$5,510	-$1,935,133	-$1,253,092	-$1,929,598	-$1,554,458
Net Patient Revenue	$7,915,122	$8,303,722	$8,582,950	$8,893,801	$9,068,234	$8,123,591	$7,937,231	$8,331,522	$8,497,500	$6,163,875	$6,597,142	$6,757,650	$7,465,704
Payroll Costs	$4,780,260	$4,645,773	$4,609,192	$4,711,554	$4,863,201	$5,315,939	$4,969,199	$5,111,915	$5,138,464	$4,694,867	$4,500,732	$4,337,828	$4,392,385
Operating Margin %	0.0%	0.4%	-4.1%	-4.0%	-8.6%	-19.1%	-18.9%	-3.6%	-0.1%	-31.4%	-19.0%	-28.6%	-20.8%
Medicare %	9.0%	10.9%	13.8%	13.0%	12.7%	8.8%	11.1%	8.7%	6.3%	7.2%	9.4%	4.3%	6.4%
Medicaid %	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Private %	91.0%	89.1%	86.2%	87.0%	87.3%	91.2%	88.9%	91.3%	93.7%	92.8%	90.6%	95.7%	93.6%
Net Patient Revenue/Day	$217	$230	$246	$249	$258	$230	$240	$246	$262	$262	$282	$277	$306
Cost/Day	$217	$229	$256	$260	$280	$273	$285	$255	$262	$344	$336	$356	$369
Avg Length of Stay	162.7 days	181.3 days	151.8 days	118.8 days	109.2 days	120.8 days	87.2 days	126.7 days	114.4 days	141.1 days	120.4 days	156.3 days	147.2 days

Finances and operations

Based on CMS SNF Cost Report for fiscal year ending in 12/2023.

Net patient revenue

$7.5M

Net patient income

-$1.6M

Voluntary non-profit community Operated by a church.

Net patient revenue

$7.5M

Net patient income

-$1.6M

Other income

$1.7M

Payroll costs

$4.4M 58.8% of net patient revenue

Other operating costs

$4.6M

Total costs

$9.0M

What does this home offer?

Building Type: 3-story

Transportation Services

Fitness and Recreation

TYPE OF STAY

Primarily short stays

Residents typically stay for brief periods, with frequent admissions and discharges throughout the year.

Most new residents arrive under private pay (66% of admissions), and a typical private pay stay runs around 7 - 8 months.

Coverage residents most often arrive under.

Medicare 34%

Private pay 66%

Coverage residents most often leave under.

Medicare 27%

Private pay 73%

7.4 miles from city center Estimated distance in miles from Mesa's city center to The Citadel Senior Living Community's address, calculated via Google Maps.

Quick search

Calculate Travel Distance to The Citadel Senior Living Community

Add your location

Compare Assisted Living around Mesa

The information below is reported by the Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Long Term Care Licensing.


The Citadel Senior Living Community	AL NH IL MC RC	Mesa	-	150	A+	26	-
Springdale Village	AL IL NH	Mesa (East Broadway Road)	-	82	-	29	1 Bed / 2 Bed / Semi-Private Rooms
Absolute Care	AL NH	Mesa	-	115	-	38	Private / Semi-Private Rooms
Citadel Post Acute	AL MC NH	Mesa (East Broadway Road)	-	128	F	27	-
Desert Blossom Health and Rehabilitation	AL MC NH	Mesa (Buckhorn)	-	106	-	31	-

Nursing Home Explorer

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).

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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)

Who is the owner of The Citadel Senior Living Community?

The legal owner and operator of The Citadel Senior Living Community is Blackbird Senior Living, Inc.

Is The Citadel Senior Living Community in a walkable area?

The Citadel Senior Living Community has a walk score of 26. Somewhat walkable. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation.

What is the license number of The Citadel Senior Living Community?

According to AZ state health department records, The Citadel Senior Living Community's license number is AL12140C.

When does The Citadel Senior Living Community's license expire?

According to AZ state health department records, The Citadel Senior Living Community's license expires on March 14, 2027.

What is the occupancy rate at The Citadel Senior Living Community?

The Citadel Senior Living Community's occupancy is 61%.

Does The Citadel Senior Living Community operate as a for-profit or non-profit?

The Citadel Senior Living Community is registered as a for-profit in AZ.

Who is the administrator of The Citadel Senior Living Community?

Karina Villacorta is the administrator of The Citadel Senior Living Community.

Guides for Better Senior Living

Care Cost Calculator: See Prices in Your Area

Nursing Home Data Explorer

Don’t Wait Too Long: 7 Red Flag Signs Your Parent Needs Assisted Living Now

The True Cost of Assisted Living in 2025 – And How Families Are Paying For It

Understanding Senior Living Costs: Pricing Models, Discounts & Financial Assistance

The Citadel Senior Living Community

Overview of The Citadel Senior Living Community

Quality ratings

Staffing hours breakdown

Capacity and availability

About this community

Occupancy

License Details

Ownership & Operating Entity

Staffing

Leadership

Memory & Specialized Care

Contact The Citadel Senior Living Community

Inspection History

Inspection Scorecard This scorecard compares key inspection, citation, 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.

Deficiencies Deficiencies are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.

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

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

Inspection Reports Summary An editor-reviewed summary of the themes and findings across this facility's recent inspection reports.

Health Inspection History

Inspections since 2022

Breakdown of citation severity (last 4 years)

Citations history (last 4 years)

Staffing Data

Nursing staff breakdown

Registered Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurse

Certified Nursing Assistant

Contractor staffing

Staff by category

33 Certified Nursing Assistant

20 Licensed Practical Nurse

10 Registered Nurse

10 Dental Services Staff

3 Speech Language Pathologist

3 Other Dietary Services Staff

1 Administrator

1 RN Director of Nursing

2 Physical Therapy Aide

1 Qualified Social Worker

2 Respiratory Therapy Technician

1 Physical Therapy Assistant

1 Medical Director

1 Occupational Therapy Assistant

1 Nurse Practitioner

1 Dietitian

Penalties and fines

Fines amount comparison

Fines amount comparison

Penalty History

Quality of care over time

Long-stay resident measures

Short-stay resident measures

Breakdown by payment type

Medicare

Private pay

Facility Characteristics

Programs & Services

Residents Group

Active Resident Council

Financial Trends

Financial Performance

Payroll & Labor Costs

Payer Mix (percentage)

Finances and operations

What does this home offer?

Who this home usually serves

Primarily short stays

Admissions

Discharges

Places of interest near The Citadel Senior Living Community

Calculate Travel Distance to The Citadel Senior Living Community

Compare Assisted Living around Mesa

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Arizona

Arizona Long Term Care System

Non-Medical Home and Community Based Services

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly

Arizona CARES Program

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

Financial Assistance for
Assisted Living in Arizona