For the nation's growing number of elderly, assisted living facilities have become popular alternatives to nursing homes. Most people move into assisted living when they need just a little care, or simply don't want to manage a house. But then people age, they get more frail, they develop Alzheimer's disease.

Ruth Elroy, 87, is a resident at an assisted living apartment facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Her daughter, Cindy Maracay, says assisted living allows her mother to live with a degree of comfort she could not find in a nursing home. "It's dignity. It's independence. It's freedom to shape your own lifestyle. That's what assisted living is supposed to be about. It's not a nursing home," she says.

Cindy agonizes over how to break the news to her mother that she's being evicted. Ruth has Alzheimer's disease, and the facility's administration recently informed Cindy, Ruth‘s only child, that the elderly woman's medical needs "exceeds the level of care we can provide as an assisted living community."

"This is a nightmare," Cindy says. "This can't be happening to my mother in Phoenix, Arizona."

Cindy was faced with a tough decision, until recently when she found out about assisted living homes, an arrangement where assisted living is provided in a residential home like environment for elderly who need care from the early stages also allows for the resident to age in place as their level of care increases. Assisted living homes in Arizona are state licensed and regulated, from five or ten residents offering assistance for elderly in all levels of care.

Much like nursing homes, assisted living homes provide equivalent levels of care, prices are usually at half the cost, yet residents in assisted living homes have the freedom and independence they want to choose in the comfort of a residential house.

Assisted living homes also have a high staff to resident ratio which allows for a more individualized level of care per resident. Meals are home cooked, many assisted living homes offer a variety of daily activities and exercises and even weekly.

Cindy found out about North Valley Assisted Living – an assisted living home in Phoenix, Arizona from a friend who also had their mother cared for there and were extremely pleased with the services she received.  Cindy enjoys peace of mind knowing her mother Ruth will now be able to age in place as her level of care will change.

North Valley Assisted Living is licensed for ten residents in the State of Arizona and has been providing quality assisted living since 1993 in the Phoenix valley and have since established a great reputation in the community.

Are you looking for an Assisted Living Home in Phoenix, Arizona? Desert Comfort Assisted Living is their second residence they recently opened which has openings for private rooms. Visit to view photos or contact them for information on the care they offer.