For 25 years, The Cottages Assisted Living and Memory Care has been a place where compassion, dignity, and genuine connection come first. What began as a long-held dream, sparked by witnessing a beloved family member’s experience in a traditional care center, grew into a bold vision to do things differently. From the very first location, The Cottages was designed to feel like home: smaller, more intimate assisted living and memory care communities rooted in rural areas and thoughtfully expanding beyond. This year as The Cottages proudly celebrates its 25th anniversary, that original mission is stronger than ever. What started as a single home has grown into 10 locations with 19 homes and two more on the way, serving families with personalized care in warm, home-like settings. Read on to discover the inspiring history behind The Cottages, how one family’s experience changed senior care, and what continues to make The Cottages a uniquely trusted and sought-after choice for assisted living and memory care.
How It All Began
The story of The Cottages begins with a deeply personal experience shared by Garold Maxfield, the original owner, and his son, Mark Maxfield, the current owner. Like so many families, they found themselves facing the difficult reality of needing care for a beloved grandfather. At the time, the only available option was a skilled nursing facility, far higher in acuity than what he truly needed. While the care was necessary, the family wished for something smaller, warmer, and more like home. That experience planted a seed: there had to be a better way to care for seniors at different levels, one that preserved dignity, comfort, and connection during life’s later chapters.
Years later, after Garold gained firsthand experience working in the assisted living industry, that seed grew into a clear vision. He imagined intimate, residential-style assisted living and memory care homes where residents were known by name, meals were homemade, and daily life felt familiar and comforting. Caregivers would have the time and heart to truly know each resident, creating meaningful activities, shared moments, and experiences that honored who they were as individuals. With that vision in mind, Garold picked up the phone and called his son, Mark, asking if he would be interested in starting something new together—The Cottages. Mark famously responded by asking, “What’s an assisted living?” Garold explained how it differed from the skilled nursing facility their grandfather had resided in, and how it could offer the kind of home-like care they once wished for. Without hesitation, Mark said yes. Together, they began a journey that would change senior care in their communities forever, starting with their very first location in Emmett, Idaho, a place rich with meaning, history, and the heart behind everything The Cottages would become.
The First Cottages Location
The very first Cottages location, The Cottages of Emmett, holds a special place in the heart of the Maxfield family. Opening its doors in Emmett, Idaho in 2001, this inaugural home was built on land once owned by Mark Maxfield’s grandparents, a place rich with family history and cherished memories. As a child, Mark spent countless hours on that very property, running through the dirt, chasing chickens, and soaking in the simple joys of rural life. Years later, it became the foundation for something even more meaningful: a home where seniors could experience the same sense of comfort, familiarity, and belonging. From the very beginning, The Cottages of Emmett was more than an assisted living community, it was a continuation of family, legacy, and heart.
Mark will never forget the day the very first resident moved into The Cottages Assisted Living. A phone call came from an attorney assisting a woman who had no family members to help her navigate the transition to senior living. After thoughtful conversations, she knew The Cottages was exactly what she was looking for. When it came time to move, Mark personally stepped in, helping her pack, gently holding up belongings and asking which items she wanted to bring along. In a moment that still brings a smile, she suggested he take a look at her 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass and drive it over to her new home. Upon opening the garage, Mark discovered four flat tires, years of dust, and a hornet’s nest hanging from the rearview mirror, clear signs the car had been retired for quite some time. They decided towing it could wait. Since that unforgettable first move-in, countless residents have blessed The Cottages with their presence. The success and heart behind The Cottages of Emmett quickly made it clear this vision was needed elsewhere, leading to the opening of three additional locations the very next year, and the beginning of a legacy that continues to grow.
The Timelines of The Cottages Locations
From its humble beginnings in 2001, The Cottages has grown thoughtfully and intentionally, always guided by the mission to provide smaller, home-like assisted living and memory care communities. The journey began with The Cottages of Emmett in 2001, followed by a remarkable year of growth in 2002 with new locations in Weiser, Payette, and Mountain Home. As the model proved both successful and deeply needed, second homes were added in Emmett and Weiser in 2003, expanding care while preserving the intimate, residential feel that defines The Cottages.
Purposeful growth continued over the years with the opening of The Cottages of Meridian (Assisted Living & Memory Care) in 2004, Middleton in 2005, Boise in 2008, and Nampa and McCall in 2009. More recent milestones include The Cottages at Lochsa Falls in 2019, The Cottages at Columbia Village in 2022 with four assisted living and memory care homes, The Cottages at Alpine Meadows in 2024 offering assisted living, and an additional assisted living home added at The Cottages of Middleton in 2025. Looking ahead, The Cottages of Nampa is set to open in 2026, offering both assisted living and memory care. Each new location represents more than growth, it reflects a continued commitment to meeting families where they are and providing compassionate, personalized care across Idaho and beyond.
The timeline of The Cottages locations go as follows:
- 2001: The Cottages of Emmett
- 2002: The Cottages of Weiser
- 2002: The Cottages of Payette
- 2002: The Cottages of Mountain Home
- 2003: The Cottages of Emmett (second home)
- 2003: The Cottages of Weiser (second home)
- 2004: The Cottages of Meridian (Assisted Living & Memory Care homes)
- 2005: The Cottages of Middleton
- 2008: The Cottages of Boise (Assisted Living & Memory Care homes)
- 2009: The Cottages of Nampa (closed 2021 due to COVID staffing shortages)
- 2009: The Cottages of McCall (closed 2021 due to COVID staffing shortages)
- 2019: The Cottages at Lochsa Falls (Assisted Living & Memory Care homes)
- 2022: The Cottages at Columbia Village
- 2024: The Cottages at Alpine Meadows
- 2025: The Cottages at Middleton (second home)
- Opening 2026: The Cottages of Nampa (Assisted Living & Memory Care homes)
What Makes The Cottages Unique
What truly sets The Cottages Assisted Living and Memory Care apart is an unwavering commitment to personalized, relationship-centered care that feels genuinely like home. With the smaller, home-like environment, the caregivers are readily available to respond quickly and attentively to residents’ needs, allowing them to build meaningful connections and provide care with dignity and respect. Residents enjoy delicious, nutritious, meals prepared with care and thoughtfully tailored to the individual. Life at The Cottages is enriched by engaging activities led by dedicated Quality of Life Coordinators, who take the time to understand each resident’s interests, creating experiences that are not only enjoyable but deeply meaningful. But rides and outings are a common occurrence that residents love!
Families value the accessibility of on-site administrators who are present, approachable, and responsive, ensuring concerns are addressed promptly. The difference is visible in the residents themselves: content, well-groomed, and clearly well cared for, within an inviting, calm, and welcoming atmosphere that immediately feels like home. Backed by strong survey outcomes and recognition through local and national quality awards, The Cottages stands out as a trusted, sought-after choice for families seeking exceptional assisted living and memory care.
Thank You for 25 Years of Trust and Care
As The Cottages celebrates 25 years, it is a moment to reflect with deep gratitude and pride on a journey shaped by purpose, compassion, and community. Over the past quarter century, it has been a true privilege to care for thousands of seniors, each with their own stories, memories, and lives that have enriched The Cottages homes in countless ways. Along the way, The Cottages has also created meaningful career opportunities for dedicated caregivers, nurses, administrators, and team members who share a passion for serving others. Just as importantly, The Cottages has remained committed to giving back to the communities it calls home, building relationships, supporting local causes, and strengthening the places where residents and families live. To every resident, family member, employee, partner, and community supporter who has played a role in this journey, thank you. Your trust, heart, and dedication have made it possible for The Cottages to grow, thrive, and continue providing loving, home-like care to those it is honored to serve, now and for generations to come.
Let Us Help You Today!
We welcome the opportunity to speak with you about the care that our residents receive at our Idaho locations. We are experts in assisted living, memory care, respite, adult day care, and have been serving seniors for over 20 years. Our small home-like senior living homes and specially-trained team members offer an atmosphere that promotes the well-being of your loved one.
If you have any questions, would like to tour one of the Idaho assisted living or memory care homes, or speak with one of our licensed administrators, please fill out the form below. Please mention which location(s) you’re interested in.
