St. Luke's Home, sitting about 2.5 miles outside Tucson near the University of Arizona in the old Feldman Neighborhood, runs as a non-profit and mainly helps people 55 and older with limited budgets find a decent place to live out their later years, and you'll find a mix of independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and even a home care service, so there's some flexibility in how much help you get, and people who move in usually stay in studio apartments, singles or couples both, with 64 units serving around 72 elders each year, most of whom have little income. There's a friendly black Lab named Rio who likes to greet people, and the buildings let in a fair bit of light, with high ceilings and some open garden spaces outside, which folks seem to like, and families visit the large dining room for meals and celebrations. St. Luke's started as a tuberculosis sanatorium a century ago, but these days you'll find certified caregivers around all day and night to help with medicine, bathing, dressing, getting around, and handling incontinence if needed, and nurses are there for about 12-16 hours daily while someone's got eyes on things 24/7. The staff bring meals that people describe as being restaurant quality, so you don't have to fuss over cooking, and they handle laundry, dry cleaning, and weekly housekeeping for the apartments, and there's transportation for groups, like shopping trips.
Residents can take part in plenty of activities, from crafts, music, and bingo, to movie nights, offsite visits, and even programs run through the University of Arizona and local arts groups, with on-site and offsite devotionals for those who want them, and there's family support services if relatives want guidance or help with moving in. Safety's a focus, so every apartment's got an emergency alert system, wheelchair access is built in, and common areas-inside and out-offer people spaces to gather or enjoy some quiet. St. Luke's runs as a Qualifying Charitable Organization, so it's focused on helping lower-income elders, and about three-quarters of the residents fit that bill, the place having been renovated since the 1980s to keep up with changing needs, and it even took in some folks from Hurricane Katrina. Amenities include cable TV, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, kitchenettes, private bathrooms, dining services with a professional chef, a library, a wellness center, a fitness room, arts rooms, and plenty of scheduled programs. St. Luke's got a 9.4 out of 10 review rating, likely for the staff's caring work and the sense of dignity and independence they try to give to everyone who moves in, and the community's always worked to help elders age with respect and self-empowerment while keeping things affordable. There's also no charge for placement help, which a group called Caring Senior Transitions, LLC manages, and families can see what the place offers without any fees, with the whole operation guided by St. Luke's in the Desert, Inc., which has a long history of giving to Tucson's elders.
