<meta name="robots" content="noindex">
Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 336413271
Report Date: 02/20/2026
Date Signed: 02/20/2026 03:09:40 PM

Unsubstantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE ASC, 1650 SPRUCE ST STE 200 MS29-27
RIVERSIDE, CA 92507
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
10/07/2024 and conducted by Evaluator Glenn Trueman
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 18-AS-20241007191717
FACILITY NAME:DESERT COTTAGEFACILITY NUMBER:
336413271
ADMINISTRATOR:ELIZABETH HENGSTLERFACILITY TYPE:
740
ADDRESS:83-617 HIMILAYA DRIVETELEPHONE:
(760) 342-7767
CITY:INDIOSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92203
CAPACITY:6CENSUS: 6DATE:
02/20/2026
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:00 AM
MET WITH:Administrator Elizabeth HengstlerTIME COMPLETED:
03:10 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Staff is isolating a resident in care.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Glenn Trueman made an unannounced subsequent visit to the facility and was greeted by Staff S1 and explained the reason for the visit.
Shortly thereafter Administrator Elizabeth Hengstler arrived.
The purpose of the visit is to investigate the above allegation and deliver findings.
The initial visit was conducted on 10/16/2024 and included the following:
Licensing Program Analysts (LPA) Seo Jeon and Ferrer Sabarias conducted an unannounced visit to the facility to initiate the investigation into the allegation listed above. The LPAs met with Destiny Villalta, administrator, and informed them of the purpose of the LPAs' visit.
The LPAs conducted a tour of the interior/exterior areas of the facility, conducted a review of records, obtained, and requested copies of pertinent documentation.
At today's visit 2/20/2026 the following was done:
Interviews were conducted with the Administrator, Staff S1 and Staff S2. Staff S3 was interviewed during a collateral visit at Desert Cottages II. Resident R1 was also interviewed during a collateral visit at Desert
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Wei Siew Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Glenn Trueman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/20/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/20/2026
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 2
Control Number 18-AS-20241007191717
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE ASC, 1650 SPRUCE ST STE 200 MS29-27
RIVERSIDE, CA 92507
FACILITY NAME: DESERT COTTAGE
FACILITY NUMBER: 336413271
VISIT DATE: 02/20/2026
NARRATIVE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Cottages II.
Resident's R2- R7 were interviewed at this facility.
Power of Attorney (POA) for Resident R1 was interviewed telephonically.
A tour of the facility was conducted with LPA observing 4 residents at the dining room table and 2 Residents in the television room.
File for Resident R1 was reviewed and the following forms were to be submitted:
Admission Agreement, Physician's Reports dated 08/26/2025 and 09/13/2024, Identification and Emergency Information page, Assisted Living Waiver (ALW).
Documents reviewed and to be submitted from Comfort Care Hospice included the following:
Initial Plan of Care dated 09/16/2024 and Complex/Psycho Social Assessment dated 10/17/2024.
In regards to the allegation Staff is isolating a resident in care, based on interviews conducted and information gathered Resident R1 stated that staff at Desert Cottage were wonderful and they went above and beyond. Wasn't able to walk or sit up and staff went out of their way to provide assistance.
Stated this has been going on for 20 years.
Also stated that there was always interaction with other residents and that staff always would interact and there was never an issue with isolation.
Power of Attorney (POA) for Resident R1 stated that staff treated Resident R1 fine. Said that due to being bed bound residents all came to R1's room and would talk for hours.
Stated that Resident R1 was never isolated and the facility never did anything out of malice.
Resident's R2- R7 all were out of their rooms and 6 out of 6 said that no one tells them to stay in their room and they talk with each other every day in the dining room or television room.
Staff S1 and S2 have been here for 5 and 7 years respectively and stated that Resident R1 always interacted with their roommate and other residents would go back and forth to talk with Resident R1.
Said that there was never isolation for Resident R1 or any of the other residents.
Physician's Reports dated 08/26/2025 and 09/13/2024 under Capacity for Self Care it is checked off that Resident R1 is not able to bathe self, dress self or care for own toileting needs.
Listed under Overall Physical Health it is checked off that Resident R1 needs assistance with transferring.
Also it is listed in the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) it states that Resident R1 needs total assistance with ADL's. Comfort Care initial Plan of Care under Information Patient Status it is circled for Resident R1 being bed bound .Document titled Complex/Psycho Social Assessment states under Medical Decision Making that Resident R1 is bed bound.
Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is no preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is unsubstantiated. An exit interview was conducted and a copy of this report was provided to Administrator.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Wei Siew Ho
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Glenn Trueman
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/20/2026
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/20/2026
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 2