THE COTTAGES AT MILL CREEK.
THE COTTAGES AT MILL CREEK is Ranked in the bottom 3% on citation severity among Washington peers with 17 DSHS citations on record; last inspected Dec 2025.
A medium home, reviewed on public record.
Compared to 38 Washington facilities with a similar number of beds.
ALF memory care · 36-month window. Higher percentile = better performance on inspection record. Source: Washington DSHS · Aging and Disability Services Administration.
among peers to rank.
Rankings based on 36-month DSHS inspection data. Severity and frequency: fewer citations = higher percentile. Repeat rate: lower repeat citation share = higher percentile.
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THE COTTAGES AT MILL CREEK has 17 citations on record. Know the moment anything changes.
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Citation history, plotted month by month.
17 deficiencies on record. Each bar is a month with a citation.
Finding distribution
17 total · 36 monthsScope × Severity (CMS A–L)
Questions to ask before you visit.
A short pre-tour checklist tailored to THE COTTAGES AT MILL CREEK's record and state requirements.
Eleven inspection reports are on file with Washington DSHS, documenting 15 deficiencies — can you walk us through the corrective action plans the facility submitted for those deficiencies, and show us the written policies that were updated as a result?
Ask the operator on tour. Take notes and compare answers across facilities you visit.
Nine complaints were filed with DSHS Residential Care Services during the inspection period on file — were any of those complaints substantiated, and what specific remediation steps did the facility take in response to substantiated findings?
Ask the operator on tour. Take notes and compare answers across facilities you visit.
The facility holds a DSHS Specialized Dementia Care contract — can you provide a copy of the written dementia care program that describes how staff are trained to support residents with memory loss, and show us the documented competency assessments for caregivers on all shifts?
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Every inspection visit, verbatim.
10 inspections in the public record, most recent first. Click any row to expand — cited rows open automatically.
2025-12-01Annual Compliance VisitType B · 4 findings
Plain-language summary
During an unannounced inspection on September 30–October 2, 2025, the Washington Department of Social and Health Services found deficiencies at The Cottages at Mill Creek: one caregiver's state background check expired and was not renewed until 68 days late, and two medication technicians did not receive tuberculosis testing within three days of hire as required. These failures placed residents at risk from potentially uncleared staff and exposure to communicable disease.
“Staff member (Staff F) did not have a valid Washington State name and date of birth background check completed every two years as required. The background check was 68 days late (not completed until 10/25/2024 when it was due by 08/18/2024).”
“Two staff members (Staff B and Staff D) did not complete tuberculosis testing within three days of hire. This failure placed residents at risk of exposure to communicable disease.”
“Staff member (Staff C) did not complete the initial TB skin test within three days of hire (completed 38 days late on 06/26/2025) and did not complete the required second step TB test one to three weeks after the first test.”
“Two staff members (Staff D and F) did not complete required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training as required within 30 days of employment, placing residents at risk for compromised care and safety.”
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WAC 388-78A-2466: Staff member (Staff F) did not have a valid Washington State name and date of birth background check completed every two years as required. The background check was 68 days late (not completed until 10/25/2024 when it was due by 08/18/2024). WAC 388-78A-2480: Two staff members (Staff B and Staff D) did not complete tuberculosis testing within three days of hire. This failure placed residents at risk of exposure to communicable disease. WAC 388-78A-2484: Staff member (Staff C) did not complete the initial TB skin test within three days of hire (completed 38 days late on 06/26/2025) and did not complete the required second step TB test one to three weeks after the first test. WAC 388-78A-2474: Two staff members (Staff D and F) did not complete required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training as required within 30 days of employment, placing residents at risk for compromised care and safety.
2025-08-01Complaint InvestigationNo findings
2025-05-01Complaint InvestigationType A · 3 findings
Plain-language summary
A complaint investigation at The Cottages at Mill Creek in March and April 2025 found that staff crushed and mixed one resident's medications with food without a physician's order, violating medication administration rules. The facility had no documentation that a pharmacist or doctor approved the medication alteration, and staff did not inform the resident that the medications were being changed, which placed the resident at risk for medication interactions and reduced effectiveness. A deficiency was cited for this violation.
“The facility administered crushed medications to a resident without a physician's order. Staff crushed and mixed medications with food without documented physician authorization, and the resident was not informed of the alteration due to dementia.”
“The facility failed to ensure a resident received medications as prescribed. The facility was unable to obtain a new prescription and provided medications in an altered form without proper authorization.”
“The facility failed to assess and take appropriate action when a resident's condition deteriorated before the resident passed away. Staff did not identify and respond to changes in the resident's physical and mental functioning.”
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WAC 388-78A-2250: The facility administered crushed medications to a resident without a physician's order. Staff crushed and mixed medications with food without documented physician authorization, and the resident was not informed of the alteration due to dementia. WAC 388-78A-2210: The facility failed to ensure a resident received medications as prescribed. The facility was unable to obtain a new prescription and provided medications in an altered form without proper authorization. WAC 388-78A-2120: The facility failed to assess and take appropriate action when a resident's condition deteriorated before the resident passed away. Staff did not identify and respond to changes in the resident's physical and mental functioning.
2025-04-01Complaint Investigation1 finding
Plain-language summary
A complaint investigation at The Cottages at Mill Creek from December 2024 through February 2025 found that staff failed to provide required assistance with walking to a resident with cognitive impairment who needed moderate help and a walker, resulting in three falls and head injuries. The facility was cited for not following the resident's negotiated service agreement, which specified that staff must assist this resident during ambulation because the resident was at high risk for falls and would try to walk independently. Staff acknowledged observing the resident walking without assistance or their walker but did not intervene, including during one incident where a staff member was putting away dishes instead.
“The assisted living facility failed to implement a negotiated service agreement. The facility must provide care and services as agreed upon in the negotiated service agreement to each resident unless a deviation from the negotiated service agreement is mutually agreed upon between the assisted living facility and the resident or the resident's representative.”
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WAC 388-78A-2166: The assisted living facility failed to implement a negotiated service agreement. The facility must provide care and services as agreed upon in the negotiated service agreement to each resident unless a deviation from the negotiated service agreement is mutually agreed upon between the assisted living facility and the resident or the resident's representative.
2024-10-01Complaint Investigation2 findings
Plain-language summary
A complaint investigation at The Cottages at Mill Creek between July and August 2024 found that the facility failed to provide adequate supervision and monitoring of a resident with a history of attempting to leave the facility, who escaped multiple times and broke through the back patio fence; the facility also failed to properly report these incidents to the state. Citations were issued for violations of Washington staffing and reporting requirements.
“The facility failed to report to the department's Aging and Disability Services Administration Complaint Resolution Unit hotline when a resident left the ALF's secured memory care unit unsupervised. The resident eloped around 8:00 PM and was returned by police around 9:00 PM.”
“The facility failed to ensure staff monitored the resident at all times according to the facility's alert charting and progress notes, allowing the resident to leave the facility unnoticed.”
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WAC 388-78A-2630(1)(a): The facility failed to report to the department's Aging and Disability Services Administration Complaint Resolution Unit hotline when a resident left the ALF's secured memory care unit unsupervised. The resident eloped around 8:00 PM and was returned by police around 9:00 PM. WAC 388-78A-2450(1)(a): The facility failed to ensure staff monitored the resident at all times according to the facility's alert charting and progress notes, allowing the resident to leave the facility unnoticed. WAC 388-78A-2630(1)(a): The facility failed to report to the department's Aging and Disability Services Administration Complaint Resolution Unit hotline when a resident broke the facility's back patio fence and left the ALF. Police located and returned the resident. WAC 388-78A-2450(1)(a): The facility failed to ensure staff monitored the resident at all times according to the facility's alert charting and progress notes, allowing the resident to leave the facility unnoticed while staff prepared breakfast. WAC 388-78A-2630(1)(a): The facility failed to report three separate elopement incidents to the department's Aging and Disability Services Administration Complaint Resolution Unit hotline when a resident left the ALF unsupervised multiple times. WAC 388-78A-2450(1)(a): The facility failed to provide the level of supervision specified in the resident's negotiated service plan and failed to ensure staff monitored the resident at all times, allowing the resident to leave the facility unnoticed on multiple occasions.
2024-08-01Annual Compliance VisitType A · 1 finding
Plain-language summary
A routine inspection of The Cottages at Mill Creek on February 21 and 28, 2024, found deficiencies in maintenance and housekeeping across all four cottages, including dust and debris on handrails, tissue on emergency alarm panels, holes in walls exposing pipes and plumbing, and a cracked shower door with sharp edges, placing all 37 residents at risk of injury and exposing them to unsanitary conditions. The facility was required to correct these deficiencies within 45 days and submit a corrective action plan to the Department.
“The assisted living facility failed to follow the primary care physician's recommendation to send a resident to urgent care or the emergency room for evaluation. Staff faxed the PCP about the resident's concerning symptoms (coughing, breathing difficulties, not eating) at 9:11 AM, and the PCP replied at 10:15 AM recommending urgent care or ER evaluation, but facility staff did not see or act on this recommendation until after the resident died later that afternoon.”
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WAC 388-78A-2350(1): The assisted living facility failed to follow the primary care physician's recommendation to send a resident to urgent care or the emergency room for evaluation. Staff faxed the PCP about the resident's concerning symptoms (coughing, breathing difficulties, not eating) at 9:11 AM, and the PCP replied at 10:15 AM recommending urgent care or ER evaluation, but facility staff did not see or act on this recommendation until after the resident died later that afternoon.
2024-05-01Complaint InvestigationType A · 1 finding
Plain-language summary
A complaint investigation found that the facility failed to properly monitor and secure residents in its memory care cottages, allowing two residents with documented wandering behaviors to leave the building undetected through unsecured doors without working alarms. One resident went missing on October 29, 2023, and was later found by police and taken to a hospital; the facility's own staff had reported the broken front door and non-functioning alarm days earlier but the facility did not repair them. The state cited the facility for failing to provide sufficient trained staff and maintain safety, as required by Washington regulations.
“The facility failed to provide sufficient trained staff to furnish services and maintain safety. Two residents in memory care cottages were able to leave the facility unnoticed through unsecured doors, as staff were unable to maintain adequate supervision and ensure all secure doors were properly locked and alarmed.”
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WAC 388-78A-2450: The facility failed to provide sufficient trained staff to furnish services and maintain safety. Two residents in memory care cottages were able to leave the facility unnoticed through unsecured doors, as staff were unable to maintain adequate supervision and ensure all secure doors were properly locked and alarmed.
2024-03-01Complaint InvestigationType B · 2 findings
Plain-language summary
A complaint investigation found that the facility failed to include a resident's ordered ROHO cushion in their care plan and negotiated service agreement, despite hospice documentation requiring it; the facility was cited for noncompliance with healthcare coordination and ongoing assessment requirements. Staff were available during the unannounced visit, and the resident did not display signs of discomfort in their wheelchair during observation. This deficiency was not corrected when reinspected in December 2023, resulting in an uncorrected deficiency citation.
“The facility failed to integrate information from external providers into the negotiated service agreement for one resident. Specifically, the NSA did not identify that the resident was admitted to hospice services and did not include an order for a ROHO cushion for pressure ulcer prevention, placing the resident at risk for unmet care needs.”
“The facility failed to update the assessment and negotiated service agreement when they no longer addressed the resident's current needs. The NSA indicated the resident could ambulate with contact guard, but the resident was no longer able to walk independently, placing the resident at risk for unmet care needs.”
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WAC 388-78A-2350(7)(a): The facility failed to integrate information from external providers into the negotiated service agreement for one resident. Specifically, the NSA did not identify that the resident was admitted to hospice services and did not include an order for a ROHO cushion for pressure ulcer prevention, placing the resident at risk for unmet care needs. WAC 388-78A-2100(2)(b): The facility failed to update the assessment and negotiated service agreement when they no longer addressed the resident's current needs. The NSA indicated the resident could ambulate with contact guard, but the resident was no longer able to walk independently, placing the resident at risk for unmet care needs.
2024-01-01Complaint Investigation1 finding
Plain-language summary
A complaint investigation was completed at the facility. No violation was found and no citation was issued based on the investigation findings.
“The facility failed to ensure residents were regularly engaged in activities as scheduled. Four collateral contacts reported never seeing residents engaged in activities, and staff indicated they did not have sufficient time to complete scheduled activities.”
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WAC 388-78A-2180: The facility failed to ensure residents were regularly engaged in activities as scheduled. Four collateral contacts reported never seeing residents engaged in activities, and staff indicated they did not have sufficient time to complete scheduled activities.
2023-12-01Complaint Investigation2 findings
Plain-language summary
A complaint investigation from April through May 2023 found that the facility failed to provide activities matching residents' interests as outlined in their service agreements, and failed to follow recommended infection control practices during a COVID-19 outbreak. The facility discharged a resident with urgent medical needs after the resident exhibited aggressive behavior including breaking doors and entering other residents' rooms, and the discharge notice did not identify a placement location once the resident stabilized.
“The facility failed to provide independent or self-directed activities consistent with sampled residents' interests and the negotiated service agreement.”
“The facility failed to follow the Communicable Diseases Center's (CDC) recommended infection control practices during a COVID-19 outbreak.”
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WAC 388-78A-2180: The facility failed to provide independent or self-directed activities consistent with sampled residents' interests and the negotiated service agreement. WAC 388-78A-2610: The facility failed to follow the Communicable Diseases Center's (CDC) recommended infection control practices during a COVID-19 outbreak. WAC 388-78A-2180: The facility failed to provide independent or self-directed activities consistent with sampled residents' interests and the negotiated service agreement. WAC 388-78A-2610: The facility failed to follow the Washington State Department of Health's (DOH) recommended infection control practices during a COVID-19 outbreak.
1 older inspection from 2023 are not shown above.
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