Directed care assisted living in Mesa, Arizona
Directed care is Arizona's highest level of assisted-living license. It's what lets a home care for someone who can no longer keep themselves safe, and it's what we're licensed for.
In short: Under Arizona law (A.R.S. § 36-401), directed care services are care for people who cannot recognize danger, summon help, express their needs or make basic care decisions, most often because of dementia. Only assisted-living homes and centers licensed for directed care can admit or keep these residents. Fountain Assisted Living in Mesa holds a directed-care license and cares for up to 27 residents.
Arizona's three levels of assisted living
Arizona licenses assisted living at three levels. Each level includes the ones below it:
| License level | Who it's for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Supervisory care | Residents who are mostly independent and need general oversight and help remembering medications. | Dad manages his own day but shouldn't live alone. |
| Personal care | Residents who need hands-on help with daily activities but can still direct their own care. | Mom needs help showering and dressing, but knows what she wants and can call for help. |
| Directed care Fountain | Residents who can't recognize danger, call for help, express needs or make basic decisions. | Mom has Alzheimer's, gets lost, and wouldn't know to leave if there were a fire. |
Why the license level matters to your family
A home licensed only for personal care is not allowed to keep a resident who can no longer direct their own care. That means a parent with progressing dementia may be asked to move out, often at the worst possible time, usually after a fall or a hospital stay. Choosing a directed-care home from the start can spare your parent that second move.
You can check any home's license level yourself on AZ Care Check. Our guide How to check an assisted living license in Arizona shows you how, including how to read inspection reports.
Directed care vs. memory care
"Memory care" isn't a separate license in Arizona; it's a marketing term. Directed care is the legal license that covers people with dementia. When a community says it offers memory care, ask: "Are you licensed for directed care?" If the answer is no, they can't keep a resident whose dementia has progressed. Read the full comparison.
What directed care at Fountain includes
- 24-hour awake caregivers, every night
- Help with bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
- Medication administration, including insulin
- Three home-cooked meals plus snacks every day
- Special diets: diabetic-friendly, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free
- Housekeeping and personal laundry
- Daily activities: music, art, crafts, bingo, exercise, Bible study, holidays
- Individual care plan, reviewed as needs change
- Secured building and backyard for residents who wander
- A TV in every room
- All utilities
- Coordination with doctors, pharmacies, home health and ALTCS case managers
Fountain Assisted Living at a glance
- What it is
- Assisted Living Center licensed for Directed Care
- Size
- 27 residents in 14 rooms (13 companionship rooms, 1 private)
- Care
- Assisted living, directed care and memory care, including residents who wander
- Can care for
- Hoyer lifts, insulin, catheter care, incontinence, wheelchairs
- Not accepted
- Hospice, behavioral health, skilled nursing (no nurse on site)
- Payment
- Private pay; ALTCS through Mercy Care, UnitedHealthcare and Banner
- Rates
- One all-inclusive monthly rate; call (480) 299-3310 for current rates
- Staff
- Caregivers awake and on duty 24/7
- Address
- 2260 E Brown Rd, Mesa, AZ 85213
- Phone
- (480) 299-3310
What we can care for, and what we can't
Placement agents and hospital case managers ask us these first, so here they are.
We can care for
- Directed care
- Residents who can no longer recognize danger, call for help or make basic care decisions.
- Memory care & dementia
- Alzheimer's, vascular, Lewy body and other dementias, including residents who wander.
- Hoyer lift transfers
- Mechanical-lift transfers for residents who can't bear weight.
- Insulin
- Caregivers administer insulin and monitor blood sugar per physician orders.
- Catheter care
- Daily care for residents with an indwelling catheter (changes are done by home health).
- Incontinence care
- Full assistance, day and night.
- Wheelchairs & walkers
- Single-level building, wide halls, roll-in showers, grab bars.
- Aphasia & communication needs
- Patient caregivers who learn how each resident communicates.
We're not the right fit for
- Hospice
- We are not a hospice placement at this time.
- Behavioral health
- We can't admit residents with aggressive or behavioral-health needs.
- Skilled nursing tasks
- No nurse on site, so no catheter changes, wound vacs, IVs or injections other than insulin.
Not sure? Call (480) 299-3310. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you honestly and point you to one that is.
Common questions
What is directed care in Arizona?
Directed care is the highest of Arizona's three assisted-living license levels (supervisory, personal and directed). It covers residents who are unable to recognize danger, summon assistance, express need or make basic care decisions, which usually means moderate to advanced dementia.
Is directed care the same as a nursing home?
No. Directed care is assisted living: non-medical care in a home-like setting with trained caregivers. A nursing home (skilled nursing facility) has nurses on duty around the clock for medical needs. Many people with dementia need directed care, not a nursing home.
Does ALTCS pay for directed care?
Yes. ALTCS can pay for care in a directed-care assisted-living home that contracts with the resident's ALTCS plan. Fountain accepts Mercy Care, UnitedHealthcare and Banner ALTCS.
How much does directed care cost?
It depends on how much daily help a resident needs and the room type. At Fountain, one all-inclusive monthly rate covers care, meals, medications and activities, and ALTCS is accepted. Call (480) 299-3310 for current rates.
Can a directed-care home use a Hoyer lift?
Yes, if the home is equipped and staffed for it. Fountain cares for residents who need Hoyer-lift transfers.
Schedule a tour
Come see it for yourself
Walk the halls, sit in the gazebo, meet the caregivers. Most families know within ten minutes whether it feels right.
(480) 299-3310