Elk Ridge in Maplewood, Minnesota is a secured memory-care community that focuses exclusively on residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other advanced dementia conditions. The team is equipped to manage behaviors often associated with memory loss, including wandering day or night, exit-seeking, combativeness, and other complex behavioral issues. Clinical support extends to wound care, oxygen management, specialized therapeutic diets, and diabetes management whether residents use oral medications, injections, or sliding-scale insulin. Younger adults with cognitive impairment are accepted, and the on-site medical roster includes nurses, medication management staff, hospice partners, visiting podiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and targeted incontinence and ambulatory care.

Daily care needs receive the same level of attention. Staff provide full assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting, and they can accommodate mobility plans ranging from standby help with a walker to two-person or Hoyer-lift transfers for bed-bound residents. Because the property is secured and designed specifically for memory care, environmental safeguards—such as cueing, color-coded hallways, and monitored doors—help reduce confusion and enhance resident safety. Around-the-clock staffing ensures immediate response to behavioral changes, nighttime wakefulness, or medical events.

Accommodation options are structured but varied. Each residence is handicap accessible, air-conditioned, and designed to fit wheelchairs, with some units offering roll-in showers, Wi-Fi access, and proximity to common areas that feature a central fireplace, piano, and outdoor patios. Not every apartment contains every feature, so families can choose a layout that matches individual needs. On-site parking is available for visitors and staff.

Dining is planned by a professional chef who prepares three core meals daily and offers an all-day menu to accommodate erratic schedules common in dementia care. Menus can be adjusted for vegetarian, vegan, organic, low-sodium, no-sugar, and other physician-ordered diets. International dishes, guest meals, and holiday favorites are routinely included, and nutrition staff monitor intake to align with diabetes, wound-healing, and other clinical plans.

Pet companionship is permitted at Elk Ridge, and staff evaluate each situation to ensure the animal’s presence aligns with resident safety and community policies. It’s a good idea to check with the community during your visit to see if your pet will be allowed.