All states › Arizona › Phoenix › Desert Terrace Healthcare Center
2509 North 24th Street Phoenix, AZ 85008 · Maricopa County
All 23 nursing homes in Phoenix, AZ (21 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 035014 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Desert Terrace Healthcare Center a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Desert Terrace Healthcare Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Arizona average of 3.4.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.29 hours per resident per day at Desert Terrace Healthcare Center, below the Arizona median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 0.49 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.88 hours, 12% below its all-week average. 58% of nursing staff left within a year (Arizona median 45.8%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Desert Terrace Healthcare Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Desert Terrace Healthcare Center is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Arizona's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on September 26, 2025 and found 1 deficiency, plus 7 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 24 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 24 citations at Desert Terrace Healthcare Center across 11 inspection dates, 11 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 23 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 1 was minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (8) and freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist" (tag F0755, level E, January 16, 2024). 6 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
June 25, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
April 9, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEmploy staff that are licensed, certified, or registered in accordance with state laws.
January 22, 2026 · 4 citations · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
December 3, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
September 26, 2025 · 1 citation
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
January 24, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
October 10, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
July 3, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
January 16, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
October 20, 2023 · 1 citation
DEnsure the activities program is directed by a qualified professional.
September 9, 2022 · 11 citations
EEnsure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
EProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
EProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
EEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
DEnsure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide appropriate colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
BPost nurse staffing information every day.
Questions to ask on a tour of Desert Terrace Healthcare Center
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on June 25, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Nursing staff turnover was 58% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Desert Terrace Healthcare Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 0.7 mi
-
1.3 mi
Valleywise Health Medical Center PhoenixEmergency room ★☆☆☆☆ Medicare overall 1 of 5Median ER visit 3h 17m for patients treated and sent home
- 1.4 mi
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
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- South Mountain Post Acute · Phoenix · 5 stars · 7.3 mi
Other The Ensign Group nursing homes in Arizona
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- Osborn Health and Rehabilitation · Scottsdale · 5 stars
- Wellsprings of Gilbert · Gilbert · 5 stars
- Montecito Post Acute Care and Rehabilitation · Mesa · 5 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 347 The Ensign Group nursing homes ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.