Washington has earned its nickname as “The Evergreen State” for its wide swaths of coniferous forest. Many people may be most familiar with Seattle and its iconic Space Needle, but the eastern half of the state has a personality all its own, with a serene desert beauty akin to parts of Idaho or Montana. In contrast, Washington’s Pacific Coast is home to an actual rainforest. The state’s varied landscape as well as its relatively mild climate make it an ideal retirement destination.
When it comes to retirement communities, Washington state has many great options. Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 300 independent living communities in Washington. The median monthly cost of independent living in Washington is about $2,600. A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help you find the best retirement communities in Washington state.
I have been at Broadway Court Estates for about one and a half months. The staff is very courteous and know everyone’s names. Transportation is provided within five miles, to go to doctor appointments, bank,...
Good maintenance, very good director. Good program. The travel program is very good. The Tuesday and Thursday happy hour and music is enjoyable. The singers and servers are delightful. The movie theater is...
All care givers, activity team members and front desk staff are so patient and caring. There is a 24 hour Med Tech to administer timely medications, which is so important. You can tell they use high quality...
The one-bedroom is small but sufficient for two people and manages to include two closets, ample bathroom storage, and a full kitchen. it's actually got three closets plus lots of separate pantry cabinets...
First it is clean and spacious. Second as a vegetarian, I have been able to eat food that I like and plenty of it. Third the atmosphere is quiet and comfortable. And outside, the creative neighborhood is...
My brother is exceptionally happy there. Their medical staff is very attentive to his needs, the staff is kind and the food and dining times are great. Lots and lots of activities in and outside of the...
All care givers, activity team members and front desk staff are so patient and caring. There is a 24 hour Med Tech to administer timely medications, which is so important. You can tell they use high quality...
My mother recently moved into Edmonds Landing about a month ago. The whole process of touring, discussing options, moving and getting settled in has gone as smooth as it could - and that is in large part due...
My mom loves her new Sunrise community. Her apartment is very comfortable, the staff is remarkable, and she engages in almost all the activities. Our family feels incredibly assured that she is in the right...
I’m very grateful to the entire team at Merrill Gardens at Wright Park. They have made a real difference in my mom’s life and in our family’s lives. I would highly recommend Merrill Gardens to anyone looking...
Cogir at The Narrows is a beautifully decorated and landscaped facility in a walkable neighborhood very close to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The staff is friendly and responsive. My father-in-law is in...
I'm very pleased with my experience. The staff have been very supportive, helpful and friendly. All interactions with each person has been very positive and warm. I had thought I wanted a two bedroom...
My sister is in assisted living and is going to be moved to memory care next week. The staff has been very helpful in working with my sister. [name removed], my sister really likes her apartment and enjoys...
Recent upgrades to the interior areas and the roof of the complex. Reception, nursing, dining and support staff are great and very friendly and caring. There has been a change in the main admin staff shortly...
Truthfully - all the staff were so very kind. When Dad was in his last days, the attention was perfect - enough to keep us feeling supported and that Dad was being cared for with extra special attention....
Washington doesn’t regulate independent living communities unless they share a building or campus with an assisted living or memory care facility. This means stand-alone independent living communities only need to abide by general housing and rental regulations. However, some communities do have their own residency requirements, like residents needing to be 55+, or 62+ in some cases.
Independent living communities sharing a building or campus with an assisted living and/or memory care unit must follow the same policies those facilities do. The Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration licenses, regulates, and inspects these facilities to ensure compliance.
Landlords and tenants are responsible for following general housing and apartment guidelines in stand-alone independent living communities since Washington doesn’t regulate them. A landlord’s duties include:[01]
Likewise, tenants have their own obligations, such as:[02]
Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect tenants from renting discrimination. The Washington Law Against Discrimination similarly shields tenants from prejudice based on:[02]
Washington landlords must also allow tenants to make reasonable accommodations and modifications to the property. Reasonable accommodations are changes in a policy, service, or program that lets someone with a disability fully access and enjoy the dwelling. This can come in the form of things like a reserved parking space near the tenant’s unit or allowing service animals despite having a no-pets policy.
Reasonable modifications are physical changes to the property that allow someone with a disability full enjoyment and access of the home/common areas of a community. Lowering closet rods, installing an entrance ramp, and adding bathroom grab bars are all examples of reasonable modifications. In Washington, tenants usually pay for modifications unless the property receives federal funds.
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Stand-alone independent living communities may not have state-mandated inspections, but some cities and counties do require them. For example, Othello passed legislation that states landlords must obtain a rental housing license that must be annually renewed and must take part in the city’s inspection program. Because of this, it’s worth checking with an area’s housing authority to see if any regulations like that are in place.
The Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration conducts unannounced assisted living facility inspections every 18 months. The department checks that infection control, emergency preparedness, general design, and life safety requirements are being met, while also interviewing staff and residents. If staff or residents file a complaint against a facility, the department conducts the same kind of investigation.
The department logs violations in a Statement of Deficiencies (SoD) report that the facility receives. The facility’s administrator must acknowledge and sign the SoD. The facility then corrects any discovered problems, while also developing systems or programs to ensure the same issues won’t occur again. The department can make unannounced inspections at any time to confirm the corrections.[03]
The department’s assisted living facility locator provides a facility’s inspection, complaint, and violation history. You can find a facility by searching for its name, zip code, or city to see a list of reports. Alternatively, you can request to see specific public records using an online form. The long-term care ombudsman service is available if you’re curious about a facility’s violation history.
Washington State Department of Health
111 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
Phone: 800-525-0127
Washington State Legislature. (2024). Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.
Washington State Legislature. (2024). Discrimination – Human Rights Commission.
Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy. (2015). Washington.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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