Desert Highlands Care Center

    1081 Kathleen Ave, Tucson, AZ, 86401
    2.9 · 29 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    1.0

    Unsafe, neglectful care; avoid facility

    I placed my mother here and had mixed, mostly worrying experiences. A few nurses, the PT team, and some aides were genuinely caring and the place can be clean and activity-filled, but too many staff were overwhelmed, untrained or dismissive. Serious safety lapses occurred - missed meds (insulin left 7 hours), slow/no response to emergencies (severe nosebleed → ER), soaked beds, falls, and a COVID outbreak with poor handling - plus privacy/theft issues and poor management follow-up. I would not trust this facility with a vulnerable family member.

    Pricing

    Schedule a Tour

    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    2.90 · 29 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      2.4
    • Staff

      2.6
    • Meals

      3.4
    • Amenities

      2.9
    • Value

      2.0

    Pros

    • Compassionate and helpful caregivers reported by multiple reviewers
    • Attentive admissions director who eases moves
    • Welcoming visitation policy with easy access to family and pets allowed
    • Clean areas and reports of constant cleaning from some families
    • Active activities calendar and social environment
    • Strong physical therapy/rehab program with good recovery outcomes
    • Staff who listen to family wishes and fix issues when they arise
    • Thoughtful events (e.g., Mother's Day luncheon) and warm interactions
    • Friendly nursing staff and pleasant day-to-day interactions for many residents
    • Improvements in care quality noted by some over time

    Cons

    • Inconsistent staff competence and reports of untrained or incompetent workers
    • High staff turnover and low CNA-to-patient ratios leading to being overwhelmed
    • Multiple reports of neglectful care including residents left in soiled or wet beds
    • Serious safety incidents: falls, broken ribs, delayed responses to emergencies
    • Medical neglect examples: missed insulin administration, poor knowledge of medications/health history
    • COVID outbreaks and alleged poor handling of infection control, including exposures and deaths
    • Rude, unprofessional, or dismissive administrative/front office staff
    • Poor communication and lack of coordination between staff and management
    • Allegations of theft/privacy breaches (bank information stolen) and police reports filed
    • Food quality concerns: often cold or undercooked meals
    • Reports of dirty or unsanitary conditions in some areas
    • Minimal intervention during medical emergencies and inadequate supervision of patients/staff
    • Perception that some advocates are money-focused or not acting in residents' best interest
    • Managers not following up and inconsistent accountability
    • State investigation and serious negative complaints reported

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment is mixed and highly polarized. Many families and residents report positive interactions with individual caregivers, therapists, and admissions staff, praising compassion, attentiveness, rehabilitation outcomes, social programming, and a welcoming visitation policy. At the same time, a substantial number of reviews describe serious problems with care quality, safety, communication, and management that have caused significant distress for families. The pattern suggests variability by unit, shift, or specific employees: some residents receive thoughtful, effective care and enjoy clean, social surroundings, while others experience neglect and unsafe conditions.

    Staff and caregiving are recurring, split themes. Numerous reviews emphasize that many direct-care staff are kind, helpful, and genuinely invested in residents, and that physical therapy and certain nursing staff have produced fast recoveries and positive experiences. Conversely, numerous accounts describe incompetent or untrained employees, frequent staff turnover, low staffing ratios, and overwhelmed CNAs. Families reported episodes where essential care was missed — for example, prolonged failure to administer insulin for high blood sugar, leaving residents in wet bedding for extended periods, delayed emergency responses, and alleged minimal intervention during severe nosebleed and other medical emergencies. These accounts point to inconsistent competency and staffing adequacy as core concerns.

    Safety, infection control, and clinical oversight are major areas of concern in several reviews. Multiple reviewers described COVID outbreaks with alleged poor handling and resident isolation, including reports of exposure to COVID-positive roommates and resident deaths. Other serious safety events include falls with delayed responses, three broken ribs with a resident reportedly left in pain, and incidents that required emergency room visits. Some reviewers also reported a state investigation and described the facility as posing an infection or safety risk. These reports indicate potential systemic lapses in infection control, supervision, and clinical decision-making for higher-acuity residents.

    Facilities, cleanliness, and dining receive mixed feedback. Several reviewers note that accommodations are very clean, common areas are well maintained, and cleaning appears to be ongoing. Others describe dirty conditions, soaked bedding or clothing, and general disgust with sanitation in some cases. Dining received both praise and criticism: a number of residents enjoyed the food and social dining environment, but other reviews complain of meals being cold or undercooked. Heating units and some maintenance issues were also mentioned as needing attention.

    Management, communication, and accountability emerge as inconsistent. Positive comments single out a helpful admissions director and administrators who assisted with moves and events. However, many reviewers criticize front office staff as rude or incompetent, describe poor communication across shifts and departments, and report managers who fail to follow up. Allegations of staff misconduct, lack of supervision, and even theft or privacy breaches (including a reported stolen bank account information and a police report) heighten concerns about administrative practices and resident safety.

    Activities and community life are one of the more consistently positive aspects. Several reviewers praised the activities calendar, social engagement, welcoming environment for visitors and pets, and special events that enhance quality of life. These elements appear to be strengths for residents who receive attentive daily care and social support.

    Taken together, the reviews paint a facility with real strengths in therapy, certain caregiving staff, and social programming, but with significant and recurring issues around consistency of care, clinical safety, staffing levels, and management accountability. For prospective families: visit multiple times across different days and shifts, ask specific questions about staffing ratios, clinical oversight for medical conditions (insulin management, fall prevention, emergency response), infection control policies, and background on any state inspections or investigations. Verify how the facility handles billing/privacy safeguards and get names of primary caregivers/shift leads. The mixed nature of experiences suggests you may find excellent care in some situations but should exercise caution and thorough due diligence to avoid the reported negative outcomes.

    Location

    Map showing location of Desert Highlands Care Center

    About Desert Highlands Care Center

    Desert Highlands Care Center at 1081 Kathleen Avenue in Tucson, AZ, offers a mix of care options for seniors, so you'll find assisted living, skilled nursing, nursing home care, memory care, independent living, adult day care, and respite care services all in one place, which can sure make things simpler when it comes to finding what's needed. The staff helps with daily needs like getting dressed, bathing, getting around, and taking medicine, and there's round-the-clock supervision and a call system that lets residents ask for help anytime, which brings families some peace of mind. Folks with Alzheimer's or other dementia are watched closely, with extra support meant to keep them safe and calm. Residents get help with meals, and there's a dining room with all-day restaurant-style options, plus choices for special diets and even a professional chef, which can be a comfort for people who need certain foods to stay healthy. The rooms come fully furnished and have private bathrooms, kitchenettes, cable, air conditioning, phones, Wi-Fi, and housekeeping, so it's set up for day-to-day needs without any fuss over cleaning or laundry.

    The care center provides lots of therapy services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy on site, and there's medical staff ready to help with regular checkups and medication management too. People who need post-acute rehabilitation after an illness or injury can also get those services here. The place is wheelchair accessible, and staff helps people who don't get around so easily. There's Medicaid and Medicare accepted for payment, which makes it easier for many families.

    Desert Highlands Care Center tries to keep people busy and connected with library time, games, fitness, movies, gardening, walking paths outside, and group activities each day, which helps break up the hours and gives folks something to look forward to. For those who like their routines, there's a beauty salon, computer area, and wellness center, and there's staff set up to help arrange transportation or take residents out in the community vehicle if they have an appointment or want to get out for a bit. Staff receive caregiver training, dementia and Alzheimer's training, and specialized classes that meet state standards. The goal is to offer a safe and supportive home where residents get full care-little things like move-in help and keeping an eye on everyone are just part of how they try to make life easier and a bit brighter, even if it's not perfect.

    People often ask...

    Nearby Communities

    • Front exterior of a two-story Mediterranean-style senior living building with a covered driveway and illuminated windows at dusk.
      $3,825 – $4,475+4.4 (110)
      1 Bedroom • 2 Bedroom
      independent living, assisted living

      La Siena

      909 E Northern Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85020
    • Exterior view of Maravilla Scottsdale senior living community building with a beige stucco wall and illuminated sign reading 'Maravilla Scottsdale An SRG Senior Living Community' surrounded by desert landscaping and trees at dusk.
      Pricing on request4.6 (98)
      suite
      independent, assisted living, memory care

      Maravilla Scottsdale

      7325 E Princess Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255
    • Exterior view of Atria Rancho Mirage senior living facility with tall palm trees in front, a covered entrance, and beige buildings with tiled roofs under a clear blue sky.
      $2,895 – $6,095+4.3 (183)
      Studio
      independent, assisted living, memory care

      Atria Rancho Mirage

      34560 Bob Hope Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA, 92270
    • Exterior view of a multi-story senior living facility building with white walls and red-tiled roof accents. The foreground features a landscaped area with bushes and a sign that reads 'Gardens Care Scottsdale' along with a phone number. Several cars are parked near the building under a covered area.
      $2,249 – $4,000+4.1 (98)
      Studio • 1 Bedroom • 2 Bedroom • Semi-private
      independent, assisted living, memory care

      Gardens Care Senior Living - Scottsdale

      9185 E Desert Cove Ave, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260
    • Entrance sign reading 'McDowell Village West Wing' amid desert landscaping with cacti and the apartment building under a blue sky.
      $5,200 – $6,500+4.7 (107)
      1 Bedroom • 2 Bedroom
      independent living, assisted living

      McDowell Village

      8300 East McDowell Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85257
    • Photo of Las Villas Del Norte
      $3,500+4.0 (223)
      suite
      independent, assisted living, memory care

      Las Villas Del Norte

      1325 Las Villas Way, Escondido, CA, 92026

    Assisted Living in Nearby Cities

    1. 17 facilities$5,709/mo
    2. 19 facilities$5,350/mo
    3. 17 facilities$5,709/mo
    4. 9 facilities$5,506/mo
    5. 1 facilities$4,521/mo
    6. 0 facilities
    7. 0 facilities
    8. 2 facilities$4,100/mo
    9. 0 facilities
    10. 0 facilities
    11. 0 facilities
    12. 0 facilities
    © 2025 Mirador Living