At Desert Cottages, our residential care homes are dedicated to providing exceptional care for residents with dementia, Alzheimer's, or other memory-related challenges. Our approach focuses on every detail, from staff interactions down to the design of our homes, to ensure improved stimuli control. Here are three key ways we achieve this:

Building Small, Close-Knit Groups

One of the significant benefits of our residential care homes is their small size, which helps reduce overstimulation for residents with dementia. By limiting the number of residents in each of our homes to six, we control noise levels and reduce the number of stressful daily interactions each resident experiences.

Research published in The Gerontologist highlights that larger units often lead to higher levels of resident agitation, intellectual deterioration, and emotional disturbances. These factors can result in more frequent conflicts and aggressive behaviors.

In contrast, smaller units promote less anxiety and depression, along with greater mobility. By capping our homes at a maximum of six residents, we enhance supervision and foster meaningful interactions among staff and residents, as well as facilitate social connections and friendships among residents.

Thoughtful Interior Design

Our residential care homes are designed with soft, soothing, and noninstitutional elements to create a home-like environment. We incorporate personal touches and domestic furnishings to promote well-being.

Studies show that noninstitutional environments—characterized by personalized rooms, natural elements, and homely furnishings—lead to improved intellectual and emotional well-being, enhanced social interactions, reduced agitation, and minimized exit-seeking behaviors.

Residents in such settings are less aggressive, maintain better motor functions, require fewer tranquilizing medications, and experience less anxiety compared to those in traditional nursing homes or hospitals.

Central Activity Room

Each of our residential care homes features a central family room with a specially designed focal point wall. This area is the heart of our social activities and provides added mental stimulation for residents.

The consistent layout and design help residents know what to expect when they enter the room, promoting a sense of familiarity and security. This setup enhances their overall experience and participation in daily activities, contributing to their mental and emotional well-being.

Our commitment to creating smaller, thoughtfully designed residential care homes ensures that residents receive the best possible care in a supportive and stimulating environment. If you have a loved one in need of memory care, contact us today to learn more about how our unique approach can make a difference.