Juniper Village at Louisville - Wellspring Memory Care

This is an assisted living facility in Louisville, Colorado, just a few miles outside Boulder. It offers memory care, and I've worked with family caregivers here, so I know it well.

One of the best things about it is that it's set up like little neighborhoods, with each care team responsible for a small group of residents. It's more home-like and intimate, and the staff really gets to know the people they're caring for. It's an older facility—maybe 10-15 years old. But it's comfy, homey, and the residents have lots of personal belongings in their rooms. And the rooms are spacious. There's also a good outdoor space, good for wandering (safely) for those who want that.

Another thing I like about Juniper Village is that they've created special places or rooms to make the residents feel useful—just little nooks that fit the residents' backgrounds. There's an “office” for residents who remember that they used to work and are looking for a place to go to, for example.

The direct care staff is really good. They're receptive to family input and proactively seek it out. They really make an effort to get to know each resident and his or her needs. Activities are good too, with lots of variety: an ice cream social each week, for example, and—maybe more important—good 1:1 activities.

They also make an effort to allow residents to age in place. They offer hospice, so residents don't have to make out for end-of-life care.

Its only real drawbacks are that it's a little on the pricey side and outside Boulder (for those who'd prefer to be right in town).