Dementia, and specifically Alzheimer’s, is a serious, growing problem. In fact, 1 out of every 10 adults over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s dementia. As Las Cruces’s senior population continues to grow (17.02% growth between 2014 and 2019), so does the concern about aging and the risk of cognitive impairment.
In Las Cruces, the number of deaths for those 65 and older caused or partly caused by Alzheimer’s disease increased by a staggering 200% between 2014 and 2019. To put that in perspective, the number of deaths from all causes for that same age group only increased by 11.85%, showing that Alzheimer’s is a growing concern in the region. Overall, the percentage of seniors’ deaths related to Alzheimer’s is lower than the rest of the nation (5.46% in Las Cruces vs. 6.46% in the U.S.).
To help families and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of cognitive impairment find the support and care their loved ones need, we applied our unique methodology and spent more than a dozen hours researching senior living communities in Las Cruces. In addition to an overview of the communities’ best features, this guide highlights the best memory care facilities in the city, and gives information about pricing, types of care provided, residents’ reviews, and more.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 83% of all caregivers are unpaid family members, relatives, or other friends, and nearly half of all care is for older adults with some form of dementia. Caregiving, especially when it involves Alzheimer’s or dementia, is extremely exhausting and time-consuming, leading many caregivers to feel isolated and overwhelmed.
As a loved one continues to progress through the stages of dementia and his or her cognitive abilities continue to decline, behavioral problems, safety, and general care often become more than one caregiver can handle. This is when it’s important to find extra help, and residential facilities that have specialized memory care programs are often the best solution.
In addition to providing a safe environment, memory care programs seek to delay or halt cognitive decline while providing the opportunity for a social, independent lifestyle.
To choose the best memory care facilities in Las Cruces, our team of researchers started by using our unique methodology to develop a list of contenders. We further refined the list in the next phase of our process by completing hands-on research for each one of the companies that we developed. Finally, we compiled online reviews from residents and families and wrote summaries of each facility that made it through our selection process.
Overall, our team:
Located in a residential area in Las Cruces, Casa Bella provides memory care for seniors in a small and homelike setting. The community features secure indoor and outdoor common areas, including an enclosed courtyard, patio and raised garden beds. A variety of services are included, including meals, housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, errands and transportation. The community also offers a range of engaging activities and encourages family get-togethers. Each resident receives a personalized care plan. Staff trained in the latest memory care techniques provides around-the-clock care, which can include assistance with the activities of daily living, medication management, ambulatory care, incontinence care and diabetic care. The community also offers on-site physician and lab services, while an on-call nurse and on-call pharmacist is available 24/7. Hospice and respite care services are also available on-site.
Family members appreciate the compassionate staff and clean community. One writes, "I like the way they treat my mom, theyre really good with that. The facility is very clean and they keep up with everything there. The food is very good. Adds another, "They were attentive to all his needs and treated him like family, with dignity and compassion.
Desert Peaks Assisted Living and Memory Care is in a tranquil setting in the north of Los Cruces. There are beautiful mountains close by and several medical facilities, including Memorial Family Health Care Medical Clinic. Residents can relax in the beautiful garden or socialize with friends in one of the lounge areas. A specialized memory care neighborhood with a secure entry and personalized care programs are tailored to individual needs and abilities. Caregivers provide 24/7 assistance as well as services such as housekeeping and laundry. Residents can enjoy daily enriching activities, designed to aid autonomy and provide a sense of purpose, and activities include exercise classes, art classes and social events. The culinary team prepares three nutritious meals a day that residents can enjoy together in the dining room.
Visitors appreciate the beautiful location, with one saying, "What I like about Desert Peaks was that the area was beautiful. It had a preview of the mountain. The place was peaceful. It was out of town so it had a nice ambiance. The dining area was nice. I love the patio facility, which was really nice."
Desert Peaks Assisted Living & Memory Care is located near the Organ Mountains, which means there is plenty of natural scenery for residents to enjoy. Independence is one of the community's main tenets, with staff emphasizing this characteristic as much as possible. Memory care is provided in the Mountain Vistas segment of the community, which uses Validation therapy as its preferred approach. This form of care emphasizes self-esteem, encourages social interaction and prioritizes whole-person wellness. The Music Makes Memories program is a component of memory care that uses music to help residents, while the Tiny Stories project allows residents to record important memories. The community is pet-friendly and offers amenities such as a full-service beauty salon and barbershop, landscaped courtyards and scheduled transportation.
Residents and their loved ones have pinpointed numerous benefits of this community, including staff professionalism, range of activities and various amenities. One writes, "I'm very satisfied with Desert Peaks Assisted Living & Memory Care. It has the most home-like appeal for me. My dad is a rancher, and I was looking for something that seemed comfortable; Desert Peaks fits the bill."
Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces Village is a sprawling community featuring a spectrum of care and lifestyle options. Besides independent and assisted living, a dedicated and secured memory unit offers door security systems alongside memory care-specific furnishings, such as pleasing colors and meals served in a homelike atmosphere to ensure familiarity. Specially-trained staff is available around-the-clock to provide assistance in various areas, using personal wellness plans unique to each resident. Emergency response systems in each room ensure a quick staff response at any time, and a secure patio area allows for ample access to the outdoors. If their condition allows, residents can relax in the pool and spa area or enjoy personalized activities designed to promote mental stimulation and engagement.
Residents and their families offer high praise for the caring staff and home-like environment. One reviewer said, "She is so well taken care of at GS that we don't have to constantly worry about her. They care for her in a way that we would if we could. We are treated just as well as she is when we are there visiting. People are so nice here!"
Haciendas at Grace Village is in the sunny city of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and specializes in memory care services for residents with Alzheimers and dementia. The community is well equipped for a high level of attention to clients. This attentiveness includes freshly prepared dining options, customized care with both physicians and on-site nurses, engaging physical therapy and medication and hydration management. The communitys amenities, such as gardens, patio, beauty shop and recreational rooms are all available for the well-being of residents. Haciendas at Grace Village offers religious services, tai chi classes and a broad range of intellectual activity programs. The professionally trained memory care staff provides psychiatric care. Linen, laundry and housekeeping services are provided each week.
Clients of Haciendas at Grace Village love the communitys high level of attention to its residents. One reviewer said, "Haciendas at Grace Village is a good facility. My loved one has been there on respite care. I like the staff. I have interacted with staff several times and they are friendly and helpful. It's a good facility.
The Arbors is a memory care community located in Las Cruces, NM. Bordered by the Organ Mountains, the homelike community's immaculate landscaping and tranquil garden scenes create a peaceful setting. Care is available around the clock, and trained staff, featuring a licensed registered nurse, is available to offer assistance with daily tasks, such as dressing and eating, as well as more specialized services, including medication management and de-escalation of memory care issues. The community is secured for its residents' protection and decorated in pleasing furnishings. The on-site dietary director designs and prepares home-cooked meals with memory care in mind, featuring bright colors and fresh ingredients. Led by the art director, residents engage in creative activities in the art studio, including painting and pottery. The community's chicks, ducklings, turtles and goats offer residents pleasing, therapeutic experiences alongside various entertainment options, such as dancing, music and stimulating memory games.
Residents and their families enjoy the community's inviting atmosphere and well-maintained cleanliness. The staff and management often receive praise, with one reviewer saying, "The staff was very caring and very active in looking after the residents. I appreciate that the management was very involved in not just supervising, but actually hands-on leading by example the staff. They were motivated to be very active and very alert to the residents' needs."
The Aristocrat Assisted Living Center provides memory care services in a homelike setting where residents can focus on gaining new skills and retaining existing ones. In this community, memory care programming centers on comfort. This means seniors enjoy three restaurant-style meals daily, a combination of group and individual activities and a structured approach to wellness. Memory care residents also benefit from medication management, housekeeping and linen services, and who prefer private dining options and suites structured for couples care.
The staff is one of the most commonly mentioned benefits of this community, as residents and their loved ones focus on the quality of care and professionalism exhibited towards residents. One writes, "The Aristocrat was wonderful and was clean. I like everything about it. It was nice. The staff members were very nice and helpful."
The Heritage Assisted Living is situated in a residential area of Las Cruces. Memory care services administered here include medication management and patient education programming. Residents have access to an on-site wellness director and programming is individualized to each person depending on their health status and need. Additional community amenities include a party space that residents can use for special functions, a garden area and scheduled transportation. General services include weekly housekeeping and laundry and linen care. Family communication is also emphasized in this community.
Community reviews discuss the high level of resident engagement and numerous activities. Residents and their loved ones also emphasize the spacious floor plans, noting, "I truly can not say enough wonderful things about The Heritage Assisted Living facility. The rooms are very nice and you can have the freedom to express your loves, and talents and familiar items from home."