SABINO CANYON REHABILITATION & CARE CENTER
Over 2 years since last inspection. Current conditions may differ from available data.
Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation & Care Center in Tucson, Arizona, has received an impressive Trust Grade of A, indicating excellent overall quality and high recommendations for care. It ranks #24 out of 139 facilities in Arizona, placing it in the top half, and #3 out of 24 in Pima County, meaning there are only two other local options that are better. The facility is showing improvement, reducing its issues from three in 2023 to one in 2025, although there are still concerns, as evidenced by ten identified issues related to care practices. Staffing is average with a turnover rate of 54%, which is slightly above the state average, and it has good RN coverage, ensuring that registered nurses can catch potential problems. However, specific incidents have raised concerns, such as a resident not receiving adequate supervision for medication, which could lead to accidents, and an issue with a leaking ceiling that was not addressed promptly. Overall, while there are strengths in care quality and staff stability, families should be aware of the existing concerns that need attention.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Arizona
- #24/139
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 54% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Arizona facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 41 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Arizona. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ○ Average
- 10 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Arizona avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 10 deficiencies on record
Jul 2025
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0628
(Tag F0628)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** The facility failed to ensure a durable medical equipment (DME), wheelchair, in compliance with a provider's order was provided ...
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Aug 2023
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, staff interviews and facility policy, the facility failed to ensure that a safe and sanitary kitchen environment was followed in regards to a dry storage scoop and proper drying...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 4.
-Resident #243 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses of muscle weakness, difficulty walking, major depressive...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on resident and staff interviews, review of clinical records and facility policies, and observations of current practice, ...
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Jul 2022
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Grievances
(Tag F0585)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, staff interviews, facility documentation, and policy review, the facility failed to ensure prom...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, staff interview, facility documentation, and policy reviews, the facility failed to ensure serv...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0757
(Tag F0757)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on staff interviews, clinical record review, and review of policy and procedures, the facility failed to ensure one reside...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medical Records
(Tag F0842)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record reviews, staff interviews, and policy and procedure, the facility failed to ensure that advanced direct...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, observation, staff interviews, and policy review, the facility failed to ensure one resident (#...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations, staff interviews, manufacturer instructions, and review of policy, the facility failed to ensure appropriate infection control protocol was followed during point-of-care glucose...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Arizona.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Arizona facilities.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation &'s CMS Rating?
CMS assigns SABINO CANYON REHABILITATION & CARE CENTER an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Arizona, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation & Staffed?
CMS rates SABINO CANYON REHABILITATION & CARE CENTER's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 54%, compared to the Arizona average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation &?
State health inspectors documented 10 deficiencies at SABINO CANYON REHABILITATION & CARE CENTER during 2022 to 2025. These included: 10 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation &?
SABINO CANYON REHABILITATION & CARE CENTER is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by THE ENSIGN GROUP, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 112 certified beds and approximately 94 residents (about 84% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in TUCSON, Arizona.
How Does Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation & Compare to Other Arizona Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Arizona, SABINO CANYON REHABILITATION & CARE CENTER's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.3, staff turnover (54%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation &?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation & Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, SABINO CANYON REHABILITATION & CARE CENTER has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Arizona. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation & Stick Around?
SABINO CANYON REHABILITATION & CARE CENTER has a staff turnover rate of 54%, which is 8 percentage points above the Arizona average of 46%. Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation & Ever Fined?
SABINO CANYON REHABILITATION & CARE CENTER has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation & on Any Federal Watch List?
SABINO CANYON REHABILITATION & CARE CENTER is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.