Desert Cottages II
Conveniently set along Himalaya Drive, Indio, CA, Desert Cottages II is a unique community that offers dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Hospice care, transitioning program, and respite care is also provided to meet residents’ special needs. A compassionate and well-trained team delivers the utmost care and assistance 24/7 for residents to enjoy a worry-free lifestyle.
The community also conducts personalized exercise programs to improve their well-being. Heart-healthy and delicious meals are served for residents dietary needs and preferences. Incontinence management, medication management, medication-use reduction, and high acute care are also provided for residents’ convenience. Cherish every moment of your later years and live happily with the community’s friendly vibe.
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About this community
Occupancy
Desert Cottages II is legally operated by Desert Cottages, L.l.c., and administered by Elizabeth Hengstler.
Staffing
Key information about the people who lead and staff this community.
Inspection History
In California, the Department of Social Services (for assisted living facilities) and the Department of Public Health (for nursing homes) conduct inspections to ensure resident safety and regulatory compliance.
Inspection Scorecard
This scorecard compares key inspection, citation, and complaint metrics at this facility against the California state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.
Since 2021 vs. California state average• Total visits (138% above)
• Other visits (186% above)
• Official inspections (25% above) 2 At Avg Metrics at California average:
• Complaint visits (at CA avg)
• Complaint investigations (at CA avg) 5 Better Metrics better than California average:
• Total citations (60% below)
• Serious citations (Type A) (67% below)
• Moderate citations (Type B) (25% below)
• Citations per year (60% below)
• Citations per inspection (97% below)
Citations
| This Facility | CA Average | vs. CA Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total citations
| 4 | 10 | This facility has 60% fewer total citations than a typical California assisted living residence (4 vs. CA avg 10).↓ 60% better |
|
Serious citations (Type A)
| 1 | 3 | This facility has 67% fewer serious citations (type a) than a typical California assisted living residence (1 vs. CA avg 3).↓ 67% better Rank #412 / 1160 Serious citations (Type A) — State benchmarked This home is ranked 412th out of 1160 homes in California for # of serious citations. Shows this facility's # of serious citations compared to the California average among 1160 comparable communities in the ranking pool. Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in California that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking. |
|
Moderate citations (Type B)
| 3 | 4 | This facility has 25% fewer moderate citations (type b) than a typical California assisted living residence (3 vs. CA avg 4).↓ 25% better |
|
Citations per year
| 0.8 | 2 | This facility has 60% fewer citations per year than a typical California assisted living residence (0.8 vs. CA avg 2).↓ 60% better |
|
Citations per inspection
| 0.1 | 3.3 | This facility has 97% fewer citations per inspection than a typical California assisted living residence (0.1 vs. CA avg 3.3).↓ 97% better |
Inspections & Visits
| This Facility | CA Average | vs. CA Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total visits
| 38 | 16 | This facility has 138% more total visits than a typical California assisted living residence (38 vs. CA avg 16).↑ 138% worse |
|
Complaint visits
| 13 | 13 | This facility has complaint visits in line with the California average (13 vs. CA avg 13).— At avg Rank #949 / 1388 Complaint visits — State benchmarked This home is ranked 949th out of 1388 homes in California for # of complaint visits. Shows this facility's # of complaint visits compared to the California average among 1388 comparable communities in the ranking pool. Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in California that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking. |
|
Other visits
| 20 | 7 | This facility has 186% more other visits than a typical California assisted living residence (20 vs. CA avg 7).↑ 186% worse |
|
Official inspections
| 5 | 4 | This facility has 25% more official inspections than a typical California assisted living residence (5 vs. CA avg 4).↑ 25% worse |
|
Complaint investigations
| 10 | 10 | This facility has complaint investigations in line with the California average (10 vs. CA avg 10).— At avg |
Inspection Reports Summary
An editor-reviewed summary of the themes and findings across this facility's recent inspection reports.
- The most recent inspection on February 20, 2026, found no health or safety concerns and no deficiencies were cited during two announced visits.
- The December 3, 2025 complaint investigation substantiated two personal rights violations for restricting visiting hours and moving residents without consent.
- The September 30, 2025 complaint investigation substantiated use of weighted restraint vests on residents, posing immediate health and personal rights risks.
What does this home offer?
Pets Allowed
Housing Options: 1 Bed / Semi-Private
Building Type: Single-story
Transportation Services
Parking Available
Housekeeping Services
Recreational Activities
Places of interest near Desert Cottages II
1.6 miles from city center
Estimated distance in miles from Indio's city center to Desert Cottages II's address, calculated via Google Maps.
Calculate Travel Distance to Desert Cottages II
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Compare Assisted Living around Riverside County
The information below is reported by the California Department of Social Services and Department of Public Health.
| Meridian of Riverside | AL MC | Riverside (Magnolia Center) | 232
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232
CA AVG
104
Rank
#106 / 1648 | No |
74
Facility
74
CA AVG
57
Rank
#597 / 2087 | 77
Facility
77
CA AVG
81
Rank
#924 / 1399 | 2 | 42
Facility
42
CA AVG
13
Rank
#1322 / 1388 | 0
Facility
0
CA AVG
3
Rank
#1 / 1160 | 2
Facility
2
CA AVG
13
Rank
#1305 / 1494 | 49.1% | - | Riverside Retirement Villa LLC | Semi-Private / 1 Bed / Studio |
| Savant of Jurupa Valley | AL MC | Riverside (Pedley) | 197
Facility
197
CA AVG
104
Rank
#175 / 1648 | No |
60
Facility
60
CA AVG
57
Rank
#1048 / 2087 | 81
Facility
81
CA AVG
81
Rank
#824 / 1399 | 3 | 86
Facility
86
CA AVG
13
Rank
#1379 / 1388 | 1
Facility
1
CA AVG
3
Rank
#412 / 1160 | 3
Facility
3
CA AVG
13
Rank
#1215 / 1494 | 72.1% | - | Villa De Anza Holdings, LLC | Private / Shared Apartments |
| Community Care On Palm | AL ADC NH RC SNF | Riverside (Wood Streets) | 51
Facility
51
CA AVG
104
Rank
#1124 / 1648 | No |
55
Facility
55
CA AVG
57
Rank
#1213 / 2087 | - | - | - | - | - | 95.1% | - | - | Shared Rooms |
| Integrated Care Communities | AL HOS MC | Moreno Valley | 20
Facility
20
CA AVG
104
Rank
#1282 / 1648 | No |
16
Facility
16
CA AVG
57
Rank
#1891 / 2087 | 91
Facility
91
CA AVG
81
Rank
#355 / 1399 | 5 | 5
Facility
5
CA AVG
13
Rank
#588 / 1388 | 1
Facility
1
CA AVG
3
Rank
#412 / 1160 | 24
Facility
24
CA AVG
13
Rank
#265 / 1494 | 100.0% | A+ | California Drug Consultants, Inc | Private / Semi-Private Rooms |
| Desert Cottages II | AL HOS MC RESC RC | Indio | 6
Facility
6
CA AVG
104
Rank
#1321 / 1648 | Yes |
47
Facility
47
CA AVG
57
Rank
#1420 / 2087 | 85
Facility
85
CA AVG
81
Rank
#687 / 1399 | 5 | 13
Facility
13
CA AVG
13
Rank
#949 / 1388 | 1
Facility
1
CA AVG
3
Rank
#412 / 1160 | 17
Facility
17
CA AVG
13
Rank
#458 / 1494 | 100.0% | A+ | Desert Cottages, L.l.c | 1 Bed / Semi-Private Room |
Financial Assistance for
Assisted Living in California
Desert Cottages II is located in Indio, California.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in California.
Frequently Asked Questions about Desert Cottages II
Who is the owner of Desert Cottages II?
Desert Cottages II is legally operated by Desert Cottages, L.l.c., and administered by Elizabeth Hengstler.
Is Desert Cottages II in a walkable area?
Desert Cottages II has a walk score of 47. Somewhat walkable. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation.
What is the occupancy rate at Desert Cottages II?
Desert Cottages II's occupancy is 100%.
Are pets allowed at Desert Cottages II?
Yes, Desert Cottages II allows residents to bring their pets.
Who is the administrator of Desert Cottages II?
Elizabeth Hengstler is the administrator of Desert Cottages II.
How many beds does Desert Cottages II have?
Desert Cottages II has 6 beds.
Has Desert Cottages II had any citations?
Desert Cottages II has had 4 reported citations since 2021 according to records from California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
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