Cedar Community Memory Care - The Cottages sits on a big 160-acre space right next to Ridge Run Park in West Bend, Wisconsin, full of rolling hills, woods, and meadows, which makes it feel peaceful and open with lots of natural views and plenty of windows, and you'll notice how the buildings use a "front porch" cottage design where residents can feel some comfort and familiarity, with open corridors and no fencing so people with memory issues can walk around safely but still feel free, and each residence has spacious bathrooms and open-concept layouts with a lot of sunlight. The community's set up to care for folks facing Alzheimer's disease or other types of memory loss, and it divides living spaces into three neighborhoods of about 20 residences each, creating a more intimate and settled environment within the larger memory care community which has 66 units in total, and offers both studio and one- or two-bedroom options, plus semi-private rooms, with men and women living separately for increased comfort and privacy. Staff here includes a mix of nurses, a podiatrist, a dentist, and therapists for physical, occupational, and speech needs, and everything gets overseen by managers like Nicole Pretre, Alissa Nagel, and Lindsay Sauer, all helping make sure residents get the right care.
Cedar Community Memory Care - The Cottages focuses on serving people with early- to mid-stage memory loss through routines developed for each person, and the staff get special training in dementia care and stay on the job 24 hours a day, ready to help with daily tasks like transferring, toileting, and dressing, including managing diabetes and other health needs, and there's full-time non-medical support if someone needs extra reassurance or supervision. Meals are included and served in shared dining spaces, taking away the worry of meal prep, and there's a beauty salon for haircuts and self-care. The setting aims to support safety and reduce confusion or wandering, and the environment uses calm layouts and a secure courtyard with over an acre outdoors so everyone can safely enjoy fresh air and nature.
Residents have access to homecare, hospice, and respite services if needed, and aging in place options mean people can stay even as their care needs change, with help from onsite nurses and a nurse on call. Activities fill both days and schedules, with in-house options like crafts, games, art therapy, music, and pet visits, as well as offsite trips to stay active and connected, all designed to match how each resident prefers to spend their time or what they remember enjoying in the past. The program has been recognized with the Alzheimer's Foundation of America Excellence in Care Dementia Program of Distinction, and the community traces its experience in memory care back to 1976 as part of a faith-based nonprofit with a larger mission to help seniors live vibrantly, including independent and assisted living, skilled nursing, and a long tradition of resident-driven programs.
Cedar Community's larger campus hosts over 900 residents, supported by nearly 400 employees and more than 300 volunteers, and includes prairies, waterways, and forests specific to Wisconsin's Kettle Moraine, making this a place with a lot of natural beauty and purposeful design. The Cottages makes sure spiritual care is available, too, with worship services and devotionals for those who want them. The community supports both male and female residents, but they live in different parts of the buildings. There are regular parties, seasonal events, and social gatherings. The approach here values safety, routine, and dignity, aiming to keep people comfortable, engaged, and as independent as possible, and the team always looks for ways to make days meaningful, whether through therapy, movement, social time, or helping keep old hobbies alive.
