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 Palm Springs’ senior population continues to grow (19.1% growth between 2014 and 2019), so does the concern about aging and the risk of cognitive impairment.
In Palm Springs, the number of deaths for those 65 and older caused or partly caused by Alzheimer’s disease increased by 21.25% between 2014 and 2019. To put that in perspective, the number of deaths from all causes for that same age group only increased by 16.55%, showing that Alzheimer’s is a growing concern in the region. Overall, the percentage of seniors’ deaths related to Alzheimer’s is higher than the rest of the nation (9.33% in Palm Springs 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 dozens of hours researching senior living communities in Palm Springs. 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 Palm Springs, 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:
Atria Hacienda is an upscale senior living community near Palm Springs, California. This elegantly decorated community offers memory care, assisted living and independent living services. The Life Guidance neighborhood is a secure, homelike environment designed for memory care residents. Skilled staff members encourage memory care residents to pursue activities they enjoy while at the same time discovering new interests. A team of trained nurses and caregivers is available throughout the day and checks on residents regularly. Licensed physical therapists and massage therapists are on staff, and Atria Hacienda offers water aerobics in its heated pool. Activities include a daily walking club, putting green sessions, painting, jewelry making and aromatherapy sessions. The custom-designed fitness center, spa and salon are open to members of the community.
Relatives appreciate the design of the memory care suites. One says, "One of the things that I particularly like about the layout is that when you walk into the room you don't see the beds. I very much like the layout. The staff has been really helpful, caring and personal. It feels like it is a very good place."
Conveniently located just south of the world-famous Palm Springs, Bayshire Rancho Mirage offers easy access to restaurants, hospitals, grocery stores and shopping malls. This community sits on 5 acres of landscaped grounds with beautiful gardens and walking paths, a heated outdoor pool, outdoor jacuzzi, library, fitness room and grooming salon. There is also an outdoor dog run and area for seniors to play with their furry friends. All residents get an emergency alert pendant and have 24/7 access to staff. This community provides many activities to keep its residents fulfilled, such as water aerobics, happy hours, pet therapies and balance classes. Restaurant-style meals are prepared by a chef on staff three times a day from menus carefully planned by a registered dietitian, and outside of the three meals, snacks and beverages are available around the clock.
Family members love the service and the staff of this community. One son writes, "My mother is a resident of the memory care area. In every single area, we have not found anything that's less than excellent. The place is already very excellent as far as the appearance, furnishings, the setting, all of that is beautiful.
Located less than 15 miles southeast of Palm Springs, Brookdale Rancho Mirage offers memory care, assisted living and independent living in a beautiful setting surrounded by golf courses. Conveniences such as shopping, dining, recreation and medical care are all located nearby. The community offers a wide range of amenities that encourage residents to stay active and socialize, including an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a putting green, walking paths and an on-site pub. Services such as meals, housekeeping and transportation are included. The community offers 24/7 care by staff specially trained to care for seniors with cognitive challenges. The signature Clare Bridge memory care program offers residents six dementia-friendly activities daily, including cognitive workouts, brain games, physical fitness designed to help them use their current skills and maintain their abilities. Its dining program offers dementia-friendly menus.
Family members appreciate the caring staff and overall community. One writes, "The staff members are very, very nice. They're very helpful and always trying to do whatever you want to get done. Adds another, "Love this beautiful place, my father is so happy here! Food, staff, decor, medical attention, housekeeping are all top notch!
Life at Brookdale Sunwest offers a comfortable and peaceful environment for residents in Hemet just minutes away from Valley Medical Center. Trained staff members are available 24/7 to help those with Alzheimers and dementia, and safety measures such as secure circular pathways, dementia-friendly menus and personalized apartment entryways keep residents safe and healthy. Each senior here receives a customized care plan. The community provides its Personal Solutions program for prompt free delivery of personal care products. Other programs organized by the community include Optimum Life and Clare Bridge Programs, which focus on the physical and mental well-being of the seniors. Residents can savor delicious nutritious meals in a restaurant-style setting. Housekeeping, laundry and linen services are also available.
Families and residents appreciate the ambiance and professional staff at Brookdale Sunwest. One writes, "The staff is very nice, they had a gymnasium, vegetable garden and a lot of garden space. The apartments were a good size, a good layout, and the dining area was very nice. It's a nice place, spotlessly clean and well-maintained.
Caleo Bay Assisted Living and Memory Care offers safety and comfort with its upscale amenities and customized care packages. Settling into the community is stress-free with senior-specific assistance from a trusted moving company. The relaxing living areas and secure, well-maintained grounds add to the welcoming environment. Caleo Bays memory care program caters to varying degrees of cognitive conditions, from mild memory loss to advanced Alzheimers and other forms of dementia. Using the research-based Montessori approach, the community's holistic care focuses on meeting seniors' physical, cognitive, emotional, sensory and spiritual needs. Residents benefit from therapeutic activities that can help alleviate symptoms of dementia; aromatherapy uses soothing aromas to calm the senses, and music therapy helps trigger memories and encourages social interaction. Residents also engage in regular physical exercises designed to maintain their strength and balance.
The communitys professional care leaves family members impressed. One writes, "[Caleo Bay] is very good. They are willing to try things that would help my husband and do what they can to keep him as normal as can be. They are very caring, have a nurse on-site, and let me know what's going on all the time.
Citrus Gardens Memory Care is a senior living community that offers a comfortable and homelike environment. The community is secure, and all exterior doors are locked for the safety of residents. Visiting family members have access to landscaped courtyards and spacious common rooms where they can enjoy their time together. A team of qualified caregivers is always on hand to provide support and to carefully monitor the needs of residents. All staff members are trained in the latest techniques for working with seniors with cognitive disorders and know how to gently redirect any difficult behaviors. The activities director works with caregivers to design daily activities that are tailored to the interests and abilities of each resident. These activities may include musical entertainment, art classes, gentle fitness classes, cognitive games and reminiscing time. Complimentary transportation is provided.
Family members are impressed by the wonderful caregiving staff at this community, with one reviewer saying, "My Grandpa's caregivers have all been excellent. Our concerns have been addressed and resolved quickly by the Wellness Director and Administrator. All the staff, who have specialized training to work with dementia residents are amazing."
Desert Hills Memory Care Center sits in the beautiful San Jacinto Valley in southern California. Residents of this community have easy access to nature, such as the San Jacinto Mountain, Diamond Valley Lake and Simpson Park. This community partners with the Alzheimers Foundation of America to ensure that it offers the highest level of care. It provides 24-hour licensed nursing care delivered by a trained team. During meal times, care associates sit with residents to help them eat and remind them of family dinners. Meals are served three times each day, and snacks are available throughout the day. To keep themselves engaged, residents can participate in a wide range of activities, including social clubs, support groups and balance classes.
Family members love the services and staff of this place. One daughter writes, "Mom was not easy to care for. However, their staff is highly trained in all areas of dementia and did a wonderful job of caring for mom during her 2+ years at Desert Hills. Not only did they care for mom, but for our family as well.
Integrated Care Communities, located in a serene setting near the Riverside University Health System Medical Center, offers assisted living and memory care. The community has a fenced perimeter suitable for residents prone to wandering due to Alzheimers and forms of dementia. Safety measures include strobe light alarms, delayed exits in memory care residences, individual emergency call systems, wandering resident identification systems and an automated computerized emergency contact system for police, paramedics and fire department. The skilled staff is available 24/7 to assist residents with directed exercises, weekly health assessments and medication management. Recreational activities and regular visits to the Jan Peterson Child Development Center for intergenerational interactions help stimulate the body and mind of the residents. Residents have access to a living room, a dining area, private patios, a sunroom and an outdoor barbecue area. Laundry and housekeeping services are also available.
People frequently mention the professional staff and their efforts to support the residents. One writes, "We got outstanding, professional and caring services from them for my dad who was at the last stage of cancer. Their working team was efficient and experienced. They kept him positive and motivated. We got everything we needed on time.
The Legend Gardens memory care community is designed around secured courtyards and comfortable rooms to provide a welcoming atmosphere, with outdoor walking paths that create a sense of rejuvenating independence. It also includes its own dining room, two activity rooms and an integrated nurse call system. Many of the staff, who deliver 24-hour care, have provided memory care in this intimate community for more than 15 years. Residents can enjoy fitness, crafts, gardening, and golf to keep physically and mentally active. The Joslyn Senior Center across the street provides more community activities fit for seniors.
Reviewers appreciate the friendly atmosphere. One relative is "impressed with their generosity of spirit" and expresses relief to know that "this would be Moms new home." Others note that the "residents are stimulated and look happy" and the "caregivers are truly loving and patient."
Located on a large plot on the edge of Hemet, Pacifica Senior Living is a memory care, independent living and assisted living community that builds each resident's routine from their memories and preferences. The Life Enrichment Program offers dementia-specific activities such as scrapbooking to help keep memories fresh and active. Pacifica also utilizes the Music & Memories program, an evidence-backed program that uses music to help enrich cognitive performance and reduce stress. Residents have a minimum of seven activities per day to help keep them active, including movies, cooking and outdoor activities. They also receive wellness checks, medication management and help with housekeeping. Depending on the floor plan, the cottage-style residences may include walk-in showers, bathroom cords and separate dining rooms.
Family members are pleased with the attention their loved ones get. One says, "My mother has been a resident of Pacifica Senior Living for a few years now. The staff is friendly and attentive to her needs. I feel she is in a safe, clean environment and I know she is taken care of."
Situated near convenient access to Highway 111 and Interstate 10, Pacifica Senior Living Palm Springs is close to many local amenities in Downtown Palm Springs, such as Desert Regional Medical Center and Plaza Rio Vista. The 24-hour staff provide personal care, including diabetes and medication management, to seniors with dementia and other cognitive issues. Caregivers can also assist seniors with mobility issues and escort them to and from meals and their preferred activities. From group exercises to guided walks around the beautiful campus, seniors can find several options to stay active. Trivia games and sing-a-longs offer fun ways for residents to challenge themselves cognitively. The pet-friendly apartments feature bright and open furnished living spaces, along with emergency response systems. Residents are welcome to bring their own furniture to make the space feel like home.
Reviewers like the communitys amenities. One wrote, "Why I chose Pacifica Senior Living Palm Springs for my mom over some of the other ones was because of one, location, two, the way they manage their medicine, and three, the grounds. They have lots of daily memory care activities and her room is quite large.
Pacifica Senior Living Palm Springs is set on 4.5 acres of pristine grounds against a backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains. The community consists of cottage residences housing a maximum of 12 seniors each and providing 24-hour care and assistance with the tasks of daily living. Residents with similar cognitive abilities are grouped together in residences designed for seniors with memory loss. New residents undergo extensive evaluations so that staff members can provide the perfect fit of therapy options, customized care plans and activities. Seniors can spend their time participating in activities that range from exercise classes, games and arts and crafts classes to regular outings. Residents are also encouraged to go for walks in the beautifully landscaped grounds featuring flowers and shade trees, or they can relax in the communitys pergola lounge and picturesque gazebo with scenic mountain views.
A residents son expresses his appreciation for the lifestyle and care his parents receive at the community. "Pacifica Palm Springs has changed our familys life in the most exceptional way Both of our folks are in Assisted Living/Memory Care at Pacifica Palm Springs, and my sister Judi and I are so very grateful! it was the greatest decision weve ever made.
Senior memory care residents at Rancho Mirage Terrace live in thoughtfully designed spaces that feature memory display cases with personal mementos and pictures right outside their rooms so that they can navigate back to their accommodations more easily. Artwork depicting local landmarks and nostalgic images also decorates the walls of the memory care neighborhood. The community's forward-thinking memory care approach includes resident assistance with all aspects of daily living, group exercise classes and musical performances that awaken memories of people, experiences and places from the past. Housekeeping, laundry and linen services are provided, and seniors receive full table services from the indoor communal dining room staff. This community is pet friendly.
Family members express long-term satisfaction. One says, "My mother is in Mission Hills Rancho Mirage. She has been there for two years. I like the fact that they do holiday parties for the family about a week before the holidays. They have the best food to do that. They have a really nice group of people who work there."
Renaissance Village Rancho Belago is a resort-style retirement community designed with state-of-the-art senior living features. It provides personalized, resident-driven services and staff that gets to know residents on a personal basis, treating them as members of their own families. The memory care wing is purposely designed to provide a sense of security through private dining, gardens and sensory rooms. Residents are also assessed and placed in the correct environments with activities to keep them engaged throughout the day. Its cognitive-behavioral management program collaborates with residents families to enhance independence, health and quality of living. These programs include fitness training, exercise classes, lectures and wellness assessments. The community also provides care through rehabilitation therapy, education, fitness and specialized programs.
A resident expresses his gratitude for the level of care and attention he receives at Renaissance Village, saying, "I'm new, but made to feel like I have been here longer. The complete staff knows my name and they are very friendly. All my needs are met and the food is amazing. This place really makes you feel welcome.
Sunny Rose Glen is dedicated to staffing its senior memory care neighborhood with employees who have the right motivation for its residents. Each caregiver undergoes ongoing, comprehensive training that allows them to give the best care possible to the community's residents living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Working with each senior's family members and physicians, the staff members devise a care plan that includes assistance with all aspects of daily living, addresses challenging behaviors and implements purposeful, therapeutic programs that seek to enhance the mental and physical well-being of each resident. The secure memory care accommodations are equipped with no-threshold showers and 24/7 emergency call systems with pull cords. Medication management and mobility assistance are available, and dining, housekeeping, laundry and linen services are performed regularly.
Family members stand behind this community choice. One says, "Sunny Rose Glen is very good, and we chose them after looking at six other places because they offer a better program. The staff is very good and cooperative, and we have no complaints about the food at all. It's just a clean and orderly place."
The Lakes at Banning is a family-owned and operated senior living community that offers residents views of the San Jacinto Mountains. For those with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, trained memory care staff members work together to create personalized resident care plans that include assistance with all aspects of daily living, memory-enhancing activities and exercises, and group indoor and outdoor fitness classes. The community's kitchen staff prepares specialized diets for residents as needed, and direct feeding assistance is also available. Memory care residents receive behavior management aid and medication management and administration by the 24/7 nursing staff. Scheduled medical transportation is provided.
Family members are grateful for this community, with one saying, "My Mom recently moved into The Lakes. She has a bright and spacious apartment, the food is wonderful and the ENTIRE staff is very friendly and helpful. I'm also very impressed with the quality of people they hire and how much they care for and about their residents."
The staff members at Wellquest of Menifee Lakes work with all of their residents' family members to create customized memory care treatment plans that enhance each senior's mental and physical health. Residents receive 24/7 help with all aspects of daily living and engage in memory-enhancing group activities throughout the week. Group fitness classes, including water aerobics and yoga, encourage residents to engage with other community members, while upscale in-room accommodations equipped with 24/7 emergency response and maintenance services help seniors receive immediate help when needed.
Residents appreciate the expansive external amenities and breathtaking views of Menifee Valley. Boasting outdoor grilling and barbecue stations, a dog park and multiple walking trails, residents appreciate meaningful time with fellow community members and their loved ones.
Wildwood Canyon Villa provides senior memory care services in an elegantly appointed, home-like environment. The community's staff members are trained in the specific needs of residents living with dementia and use empathetic validation and communication techniques to support each senior's individuality and self-esteem. Devoting attention to each resident's cognitive, spiritual and social stimulation needs, the staff members oversee a wide array of resident activities that stimulate each senior's mind. The community's on-site eatery prepares dishes using local, seasonal ingredients and accommodates all resident's special dietary needs, including religious and cultural dishes.
Family members appreciate the staff's attentive care. One says, "My father is in the memory care at Wildwood Canyon Villa. We love the place, he's happy there, and he's doing good. It's fabulous. They have a higher worker per patient ratio than the state requires. They treat the guests with respect and dignity. They're very friendly and extremely helpful to families."
Windsor Court Assisted Living provides memory care, assisted living and hospice care on a beautiful and idyllic campus close to downtown Palm Springs. There is an emergency call system in all bedrooms and bathrooms, and staff is available at all hours, ensuring quick response in case of accidents. Memory care residents can stay mentally sharp through a wide range of on-site activities, such as aqua therapy in the community's heated pool, fitness classes, movies, bingo, card games, board games and more. Residents can also schedule transportation to visit the many local attractions, such as the Palm Springs Library, the Mizell Senior Center and the famous boutiques and malls of Palm Springs. Windsor Court has an experienced executive chef on staff to create gourmet meals for its residents; there's also a '50s era diner for informal meals and socializing, with snacks available there at all times.
Family members love the amenities and staff. "We just moved my mother-in-law here for memory care [T]he staff has been so professional and caring," writes one resident's daughter-in-law. "The facility is clean, welcoming and modern. Looks like a cool hotel. Great food in the cafeteria. Nice little theater and diner-style eating space for residents and their guests.
Yorkshire Villages full range of senior living options caters to varying needs, from discreet assistance with daily routines to more comprehensive memory care. The community sits on 6 acres of landscaped property, with relaxing nature trails and plenty of sitting areas for entertaining visiting families and friends. An old-fashioned ice cream parlor adds to the charming village atmosphere. Seniors dealing with mild cognitive conditions benefit from the attentive support provided around the clock by trained caregivers. The team focuses on making daily living fun and purposeful through engaging activities such as baking and cooking classes, movies, games and other stimulating, therapeutic activities. The in-house chef prepares homestyle meals, featuring alternating menus and seasonal creations that meet residents nutritional needs and taste preferences.
Visitors often mention the community's positive, supportive atmosphere. "There's not enough words to say how wonderful this place is," writes one. "The caregivers go above and beyond to make sure their residents are happy and well taken care of. The staff treats everyone that enters their door with dignity and respect."