Our Story & Owner
Serving Eads, Colorado, since 2006.
Our story
Prairie Pines Assisted Living has served Eads, Colorado, since it opened on Lowell Street in 2006. Today it is a 20-room assisted living home for up to 24 residents, and every room has its own bathroom, heating and air conditioning.
The home is part of everyday life in town. Our indoor pool doubles as the town’s public pool, with water aerobics twice a week. On Tuesdays, people from town come in for coffee hour with our residents.
In 2026, the home came under new ownership. It is now owned by Parul Darji, RN, who also owns Aspen Leaf Assisted Living in Limon, Flagler and Stratton. Our administrator, Sheri Mendez, runs it day to day. She has lived in Eads all her life and started at Prairie Pines as a caregiver.
Meet the owner: Parul Darji, RN
RN, BSN, MSN, MHA · QMAP · BLS/CPR and First Aid instructor
Parul Darji, a registered nurse with more than 20 years in healthcare and nursing leadership, became the owner of Prairie Pines Assisted Living in 2026.
Before owning assisted living homes, she worked in hospitals, outpatient care and home health. As an Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, a Director of Nursing and a Medical Office Administrator, she was responsible for operations, staffing and the quality of care.
She also owns Aspen Leaf Assisted Living, with four homes in Limon, Flagler and Stratton. Her view is simple: residents should be known by name, not by room number.
Our team
Sheri Mendez, administrator
Sheri runs Prairie Pines Assisted Living day to day. She has lived in Eads all her life and has worked in healthcare since she was 15, starting as a nursing assistant at the hospital in town. She joined Prairie Pines about seven years ago as a caregiver, earned her state medication aide certification and took over as administrator in 2024.
She holds a Colorado assisted living administrator license and a certificate in home and community-based services (HCBS), and she is certified in first aid and CPR. Sheri leads tours, reviews every application before a move-in, and goes with residents to their local clinic appointments when she is in the office.
Caregivers and medication aides
Our caregivers help residents with bathing and dressing, and medication aides certified by the State of Colorado give medications on daily rounds. New caregivers shadow senior staff for a few shifts before working on their own.
Kitchen and housekeeping
Our cooks plan three meals a day from menus residents mark a week ahead, and there is always an alternative to the main dish. Housekeeping cleans every resident’s bathroom daily and gives each room a full deep clean on a rotation.
What we believe
Dignity, always
Residents make their own choices here, from the furniture, pictures and TV in their room to what they eat. They can cook in the kitchen with a staff member present and keep their own evening hours. Every room has its own bathroom.
Genuine connection
With no more than 24 residents, everyone here is known by name. Days have a rhythm people look forward to, with bingo three afternoons a week and every Broncos game on TV. On Tuesdays, neighbors from town come in for coffee hour.
Local roots
Prairie Pines is run day to day by an administrator who has lived in Eads all her life. Church services are held here on Sunday afternoons, people from town lead sip-and-paint and soap-making sessions, and our indoor pool doubles as the town’s public pool.
Family partnership
Families are welcome from 7 AM to 7 PM, and pets can visit during the day. If a resident falls or goes to the hospital, we call the family member who holds their medical power of attorney.
Visit us in person
Choosing a new home is a big decision, and our team is here to help however we can. Reach out with your questions or come see Prairie Pines in Eads for yourself.