Anyone have an opinion on apartment vs. cottage style memory care?

Deedee ask your MD which would be SAFER for mom. There are four levels of cottage care assisted living (Irvine CA) and it would depend on what functional level mom is at. Certainly having the smaller settings of ten prevents one resident from infecting 99 others during flu season. Now if mom likes a big party, she might enjoy 99 other residents.

The thing about the cottage style is that it is more intimate (around ten residents), but also a bit more confining for mom who can still walk with a walker. Also, I've heard that they hire fewer workers in the cottage because the residents are easier to monitor when most spend their day in a living room together. That could be good and bad, but just wondered if anyone had opinions on the topic before I try to decide what is best for my mom.

Me, too, I know I would rather live in a cottage setting if it was considered a safe environment for whatever would be my age related illnesses.

Of course when I think of cottage, I think of only a few other residents on-site... I assume there would be a caregiver on each 3 shifts. And if located in the snow belt, that it would be cleared out for easy access... and house generators if the power goes out.

I would opt for the cottage if it were my choice. You could take pictures and offer the decision to your elder if reasonable.
What really matters is the quality of care. That deserves the real investigation, but you still may end up greatly disappointed and/or stressed.
I wish you all the best of possible outcomes.