4553 East San Carlos Place S, Tucson, AZ 85712
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
The Gardens at San Carlos Costs & Pricing
The Gardens at San Carlos offers its residents a one-bedroom option priced at $5,000 per month. This rate is notably higher than the average costs in Pima County, which stands at $3,660 for similar accommodations, and even more so compared to the state average of $3,532. While the pricing may reflect premium amenities and services that enhance the living experience at The Gardens, it is essential for potential residents to weigh these factors against local market standards when considering their options.
| Floor plans | The Gardens at San Carlos | Pima County | Arizona |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $5,000 | $3,660 | $3,532 |
Memory care communities with a similar price nearby
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About the same
Angels Care Home
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from -$500 / mo
Desert Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care
$4,500 / month2.9 miles away -
from -$705 / mo
Woodland Palms Memory Care Community
$4,295 to $4,995 / month1.7 miles away -
from -$900 / mo
Copper Canyon Transitional Assisted Living and Memory Care
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About the same
The Gardens at Blenman Elm
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Overall Review of The Gardens at San Carlos
Pros
The staff at The Gardens at San Carlos are angels.- The Gardens at San Carlos has a very helpful and caring staff, and welcomes families daily, even allowing pets.
- The rooms are super comfortable and very pretty, and the atmosphere is pleasant.
- The Gardens at San Carlos is a modern home away from home with plentiful natural lighting, great views, a covered patio, a great room, a swimming pool, fruit trees, and planned recreational activities.
- It is centrally located for easy family visits and has experienced caregivers, offering quality and compassionate care.
Cons
The experience at The Gardens at San Carlos was terrible.- They would not recommend The Gardens to others.
- The facility was understaffed, dirty, and had bugs periodically.
- Clients go in and out of the hospital with bed sores.
Review
The Gardens at San Carlos is best suited for families seeking a modern, home-like assisted living experience in Tucson where residents and visitors can feel welcomed, connected, and engaged. It excels for people who value bright, inviting spaces, abundant natural light, pleasant outdoor areas, and a setting that feels more like a residential neighborhood than a clinical facility. The openness to pets, specifically allowing a loving dog companion, also makes it a strong pick for animal-loving families who want continuity of daily life for a loved one. For those who prioritize convenient, family-friendly visitation and a lively community calendar, this community stands out as a compelling option.
Those who should consider alternatives are families with particularly high medical or safety needs, or with a strong preference for consistent, pristine housekeeping and infection control. The reviews include meaningful concerns about care consistency, cleanliness, and occasional issues with bed sores and pests, signaling that the experience can be uneven. If a loved one requires very steady, highly supervised medical oversight, or if a spotless, bug-free environment is non-negotiable, exploring other communities with more uniform performance on staffing, cleanliness, and clinical care would be prudent.
On the positive side, the Gardens earns credibility from a number of compelling strengths. Families report compassionate, attentive staff and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere, with residents and families often greeted warmly by caregivers. The community’s offerings, such as gardening spaces, a video room, therapy options, a swimming pool, and planned activities, contribute to a rich, socially active daily life. The physical plant itself is described as modern and comfortable, with nice views, natural lighting, and attractive common areas. A central Tucson location further facilitates frequent, low-friction visits from relatives.
The most troubling notes center on inconsistency in care and housekeeping. A couple of reviews paint a stark contrast to the praise, describing understaffing, dirty conditions, and intermittent problems with pests, along with hospitalizations tied to lapses in care. Such feedback is not trivial; it signals real risk for residents who rely on reliable daily support, wound care, and timely attention to changes in condition. Potential residents should acknowledge that, while many experiences are positive, there is a nontrivial chance of variability in service quality and environment.
Those pros can offset the cons when approached with a clear plan. The visible strengths, caring staff, intimate, home-like ambiance, and a robust activity menu, are particularly meaningful for seniors who thrive on social engagement and personal connections. A favorable staff-to-resident dynamic, reported by at least one reviewer, can translate into more personalized attention, quicker responses, and better assistance with daily routines. The pet-friendly policy and the ability to visit easily from a central location add practical value for families balancing work and caregiving duties. Prospective residents should leverage tours to verify ongoing staffing levels, cleanliness standards, and consistency of care across shifts.
In the end, The Gardens at San Carlos should be considered by families who want a vibrant, personable setting that feels like a residential option with robust social and recreational offerings, and who can accept some variability in day-to-day operations. It is a persuasive choice for those who prize a welcoming, dog-friendly, centrally located community and who are prepared to ask pointed questions about staffing, housekeeping protocols, and clinical capabilities during visits. Schedule a visit, speak with multiple staff members and current residents, and request a few recent care snapshots. If those conversations confirm steady staffing, clean environments, and attentive care, this community can be an excellent fit; if not, it is wise to broaden the search to options with a more uniform track record of safety and cleanliness.
10 resident community capacity
Assisted Living
Memory Care
Activities on-site
Air-conditioning
Cable or satellite TV
Devotional services off-site
Dining room
Fully furnished
Garden
Ground floor units
Handicap accessible
Housekeeping services
Indoor common areas
Move-in coordination
Outdoor common areas
Respite or short term stays offered
Small library
Swimming pool / hot tub
Telephone
Wheelchair accessible showers
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Tucson International (10 miles away)
24-hour supervision
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Diabetic care
Incontinence care
Meal preparation and service
Medication management
Special dietary restrictions
Art classes
BBQs or picnics
Educational speakers / life long learning
Happy hour
Karaoke
Live dance or theater performances
Live musical performances
Stretching classes
Trivia games
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