Sierra Winds

    17300 N 88th Ave, Peoria, AZ, 85382
    4.1 · 61 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    3.0

    Nice community but inconsistent care

    I've lived here 12 years and my experience is mixed. The community is clean, well-maintained and home-like with great food, activities, therapy and many genuinely caring staff who go above and beyond. That said, staffing and communication are inconsistent - I've seen missed meds, lost items, delayed callbacks, occasional neglect and billing/accountability issues that alarmed my family. If you want amenities and community, it's excellent; just demand clear care plans and oversight.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Coordination with health care providers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 12-16 hour nursing
    • 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
    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    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

    4.10 · 61 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.1
    • Staff

      4.3
    • Meals

      4.1
    • Amenities

      4.3
    • Value

      2.0

    Pros

    • friendly, welcoming staff
    • compassionate caregivers and nurses
    • dedicated CNAs and therapy teams
    • comprehensive on-site rehab and outstanding therapy
    • on-site skilled nursing and accessible care center
    • memory/Alzheimer's care available
    • infectious disease/COVID response noted
    • resort-like independent living atmosphere
    • option to add assisted living under one roof
    • beautiful, clean facility and grounds
    • private rooms and comfortable apartments
    • responsive on-site maintenance
    • on-site amenities (ATM, chapel, hairdresser, pool)
    • restaurant and casual bistro with varied dining options
    • delicious food noted by many reviewers
    • weekly farmer's market and varied food choices
    • active social calendar and almost constant activities
    • organized outings (theater, casinos, ball games, bus trips)
    • top-notch library and organized in-house programs
    • strong sense of community and easy to make friends
    • pet-friendly community
    • transportation provided (within local radius) at no cost
    • safety and security presence
    • staff teamwork and collaborative case management
    • long-term residents report stability and satisfaction
    • ongoing facility upgrades and planned staffing improvements

    Cons

    • inconsistent quality of care across shifts
    • serious medication delays (over 24 hours reported)
    • instances of neglect (not bathed, prompting to change)
    • lost personal items (clothes, CPAP bag) and CPAP not used
    • poor communication and delayed callbacks
    • failure to notify family after hospital admissions
    • billing disputes and continued charges with poor response
    • reports of ignored wound care and insufficient medical referrals
    • allegations of unprofessional conduct, privacy invasion, harassment
    • unresponsive phone system and no in-room phone
    • occasional staff incompetence and high staff turnover
    • some reviewers feel care is profit-driven
    • concerns about suitability for hospice patients
    • some rooms described as bland or lacking personality
    • intermittent facility maintenance issues (thermostat/AC problems)
    • strong negative reviews including reports of patient deaths tied to care

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across reviews for Sierra Winds is strongly mixed but leans positive in many categories. The facility is repeatedly praised for its friendly, welcoming culture, with numerous reviewers highlighting compassionate staff, effective teamwork among nursing, therapy, and case management, and a strong sense of community among residents. Many long-term residents and family members describe the environment as resort-like, clean, and well maintained, with comfortable private apartments, pleasant grounds, and an active social calendar. The presence of an on-site skilled nursing and rehab center, memory care, and infectious disease response were noted as major strengths that make the campus attractive to families seeking continuity of care under one roof.

    Staff and care quality form a major theme with divergent opinions. A large number of reviews emphasize exceptional, attentive care: nurses, CNAs, therapists, and case managers are praised for compassion, professionalism, and collaborative approaches to resident success and safety. Several reviewers specifically call out outstanding therapy and rehabilitation services, private and clean rooms, and coordinated input from PT/RT/nursing that produced positive outcomes. Conversely, a subset of reviews reports serious lapses in care — medication delays of more than 24 hours, lack of bathing and hygiene prompting, lost personal items (including a CPAP bag), and instances where family members felt medical concerns were ignored or not properly escalated. Some reviewers even allege that failures in care contributed to severe outcomes, including death. These contrasting reports indicate variability in care reliability across shifts or units and suggest that experience may depend heavily on which staff are on duty or which care team is assigned.

    Facilities, amenities, and dining receive consistently positive feedback. Reviewers frequently mention a robust set of on-site amenities such as a chapel, hairdresser, ATM, swimming pool, bistro, and a formal dining room. Food quality is often described as surprisingly very good, with a broad variety of options, a casual bistro, and special features like a weekly farmer's market. Apartments are described as spacious, bright, and comfortable by many, and maintenance response is called out as responsive when issues arise. The campus atmosphere is repeatedly characterized as social, safe, and secure, with many residents quickly forming new friendships; transportation within a local radius is provided at no cost, which buyers and residents value.

    Activities, social life, and community engagement are strong selling points. Reviews describe a packed activity schedule — both in-house and off-site outings (theater, casinos, sports events, restaurants), card games, pools, and a top-notch library. Residents and families often say there are 'never without activities' and that staff go above and beyond to make life enjoyable and fun. The community frequently earns descriptors like welcoming, family-oriented, and like 'home' or 'The Resort', reflecting a high level of social integration and resident participation.

    Management, communication, and administrative concerns emerge as recurring negative patterns. Several reviewers report poor communication from administration: slow or absent callbacks, no in-room phone, reliance on staff personal cell phones, failure to notify families after hospital admissions, and unresolved billing disputes. There are also complaints about payment options and an impression among some that financial motives influence decisions. Occasional staff turnover and uneven management accountability are cited, and a few strong negative reviews warn potential residents to avoid the facility. At the same time, management is reported to be making facility upgrades and planning staffing improvements, and some reviewers noted expectations that service quality would rise after these changes.

    Notable patterns and recommendations: the most frequent positives are excellent dining, varied activities, a strong social community, and high marks for many frontline caregivers and therapy teams. The most serious negatives center on inconsistent care delivery, communication and administrative lapses, and several accounts of neglect or critical errors. Prospective residents and families should weigh the consistently strong lifestyle, amenities, and rehab resources against reports of occasional serious care failures. Recommendations for decision-making include visiting multiple times and at different times of day, meeting direct care staff, asking for specifics on medication administration timing and documentation, clarifying hospital transfer and family notification policies, inquiring about billing practices and dispute resolution, and checking recent staffing changes or upgrade timelines. Those seeking a lively, well-appointed independent living environment with on-site skilled care may find Sierra Winds a strong fit, while families of medically complex or hospice-bound patients should carefully verify the facility's capability and reliability for 24/7 medical needs given mixed reports.

    Location

    Map showing location of Sierra Winds

    About Sierra Winds

    Sierra Winds sits on a 20-acre property in Peoria, Arizona, and has served seniors since 1989 as a Life Plan Community, which means residents have options as their needs change, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and adult day care all on the same campus, and because it's a not-for-profit place, the focus stays on care and well-being instead of profits. The community offers lots of living options, and each apartment or suite has things like walk-in closets, private patios or balconies, emergency call systems, cable or satellite TV, extra storage, and you'll also find internet access and guest suites for visitors; plus, pets are welcome, so many folks here keep their dogs or cats with them. Residents use walking paths, a pool, a fitness center, a courtyard, laundry rooms, a library, and activity rooms for cards, billiards, and games, and they often meet in the residents lounge, at the on-site beauty and barber salon, or use the on-site bank, so many parts of daily life stay easy and comfortable. There's restaurant-style dining, with meals served in a social setting, but there are also chances for outings, meditation, worship, and social events arranged by the community, so life can be as busy or quiet as you want.

    Health and care services cover a wide range, with speech, occupational, and physical therapy available on-site, 24-hour nursing care, medication management, assistance with daily living, and post-acute rehab stays, and independent residents get priority for higher care if their needs change, while memory care and skilled nursing services stay nearby for support when needed. Housekeeping, transportation, and home health services help with everyday needs, and the staff aims to provide care with compassion and respect, working to keep everyone safe, comfortable, and as independent as possible, since the community tries to support choices and dignity. Sierra Winds supports residents with wellness and community life programs, offers meditation and worship for different preferences, and being nondenominational means people from all backgrounds are welcome. The place sits close to shopping, dining, golf, and cultural attractions, so families can visit and residents can enjoy trips out, and with on-site and virtual tours available, it's easy for people to come take a look before making decisions. Sierra Winds stays open 24 hours, with high-speed internet, parking, elevators, and other features to make life easier, and with over 30 years as one of Peoria's more trusted senior communities, it keeps working to give seniors comfort, security, independence, and satisfaction as they age.

    About Life Care Services

    Sierra Winds is managed by Life Care Services.

    Life Care Services (LCS), established in 1971 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, stands as the nation's leading manager of full-service senior living communities and the largest not-for-profit senior living operator in the United States. With over five decades of experience, LCS manages more than 130 communities serving over 40,000 residents nationwide, specializing in Life Plan Communities (formerly known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities or CCRCs), as well as stand-alone assisted living, memory care, and rental communities.

    The company's comprehensive approach encompasses operations management, marketing and sales support, health services, compliance, finance, human resources, risk management, strategic planning, and technology development. Through the LCS Family of Companies, they provide end-to-end solutions including development services, real estate private equity enterprises, insurance, national purchasing consulting, and in-home care services. Their innovative development projects feature amenity-forward designs, including cutting-edge elements like rooftop restaurants and microbreweries, demonstrating their commitment to evolving senior living experiences.

    LCS's philosophy centers on purposeful living, where aging means adding experiences rather than giving up on them. Their hospitality-driven approach combines data-driven services with personalized care to strengthen teams, streamline workflows, and enhance resident experiences. Signature programs include Extraordinary Impressions, their employee culture initiative; Heartfelt Connections®, a nationally recognized memory care approach; Eversafe 360 senior safety protocols; and the Health & Wellness Navigation Program™ that provides personalized care plans addressing all aspects of well-being. The LCS Signature Experiences program infuses hospitality into every aspect of community life, creating rich, engaging experiences for residents and employees alike.

    The company's excellence has earned unprecedented recognition, including being ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Independent Living Senior Living Communities by J.D. Power for six consecutive years (2019-2024), winning more independent living awards than any other brand in the J.D. Power U.S. Senior Living Satisfaction Studies. Additionally, LCS received three awards from Top Workplace USA in 2023, reflecting their commitment to both resident care and employee satisfaction. As the fourth-largest operator of life plan and rental senior living communities nationwide, LCS continues to shape the future of senior living through innovation, excellence, and a deep commitment to empowering seniors to live their best lives.

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