Continuing Care Retirement Communities Communities in Seattle, WA

"I toured Brookdale Monroe. It was good. I got to ask questions. They are more like a wing. They had a nice internal garden area. They have assisted living, it's kind of a courtyard and then the memory unit is on the other side of the courtyard which is a secure unit. It was pretty good. The people there seemed to be happy. I got to see the menu. The cost was a little bit higher than a couple of others but they're well done in terms of the decor. The environment is very positive and seems to be a pretty high-quality place. The staff was good. They had all the options, you can have private or shared rooms. The assisted living people are given as much freedom to participate in the community as they want. There's some group of ladies there who do flowers. The residents grow flowers and cultivate flowers in the courtyard. They encourage the people there to contribute as much as the community wants. They are doing different things, which is kind of nice. They chose a room where the ladies were in there making flower arrangements. The price is a little higher, but it seems it comes with the quality of places."

"Horizon House has a variety of care, from assisted to memory care. Independent living is the very popular one and lots of people are living independently there. My husband and I both want to have socialization, it's a facility that really encourages people to socialize and they have lots of activities. It's not one of those things where you have a huge payment to make upon moving. If you need nursing care, you have to go someplace else. It also has multiple buildings that you move through."

"Visiting this facility is a pleasure which begins with the free valet parking under the downtown Seattle building. Of course, it is not free forever but the first hour is. My resident friend has been staying in the assisted living unit of the facility for several months after she had some medical issues and subsequently needed assistance with self care and safety. The nursing staff is fabulous and provides excellent timely care in a professional and friendly manner. The head nurse has always had answers to our questions and has been able to get us any adaptive equipment we needed quickly. "

"My father was at Terraces at Skyline for 18 days. I thought the staff was very professional and nice. I was invited to a meeting, and the whole staff was there. We talked to my father about things he could do to be safer. The staff brought up these concerns with him, and I thought they did it very well. On that floor, they had a dining area, so my father just walked a little way down the hallways for his meals, which I thought was very nice. He had a private room. Before he was released, the therapist came and assessed the house and made suggestions to us, which we took care of before he came home. "

"I really liked Bayview Retirement Community. It had a beautiful lobby and a friendly atmosphere. It’s very clean; the staff is great. "

"This facility has a million dollar view of Lake Washington from the Madison Park area of Seattle. The individual apartments are beautiful and most with stunning views. The caregivers are very considerate and patient. We love the staff who provide top notch care...we have no complaints. The only drawback is trying to find parking in this neighborhood which is fairly typically for just about anywhere in Seattle. "

"Merrill Gardens was clean, everyone was friendly, and the location was good. All of the apartments were too small, and my parents want more space. Even their two-bedroom unit was below 1,000 sq. ft. 1,200 would be better, but I can’t find any that size. The other thing I didn’t like was they didn't have a washer and dryer in the units. I only met the person who took me around, but she was very friendly, and the residents that I saw walking around were all very friendly. "

"The Hearthstone is a great place for my mom. She likes the food. It's the best. The staff is amazing. They are loving, caring, kind, compassionate, and wonderful people. They have a whole department of five or six people for activities, so the activities are pretty organized. There is a patio on the second floor, and the facility is right in front of Green Lake, so it has a beautiful view."

"Merrill Gardens at Ballard was nice and well-appointed. The staff was very friendly. We went in and saw some rooms. A couple of the residents opened their rooms up and let us look inside and they were very nice. They had a very nice rooftop garden with a view. Its location in Ballard was nice, but for parking, it's terrible. The accessibility to come to visit there would probably be the biggest concern. Also, it's full, but the staff was friendly and very helpful."

"The Kenney is a top-notch facility in beautiful West Seattle. The grounds are beautifully maintained, though I wish there were more parking. The staff is warm and friendly, from the front desk personnel to the serving staff in the dining rooms. I visit the Kenney regularly with my daughters, and the staff is always ready to accommodate our dining needs with a pre-set table. The meals are basic, but delicious. The multi-floor buildings are storied and showcase the Kenney's history, as well as artist work for sale and other exhibits. A large music room with a fireplace is always ready with fresh coffee, tea and treats set out on a tray. I've also noticed a game room, library and various puzzle alcoves. Rooms are basic, but fairly roomy. Guests have the option of dozens of daily activities and excursions! If you're visiting, you won't need a sweater -- the Kenney is kept quite warm! "

"Merrill Gardens at Kirkland was very good. The lady who showed us around was very kind. We saw an exercise room, dining room, and a room with a pool table. The staff member told us about the different clubs they have, like a bus that takes people around and to doctor's appointments. Each place has a little kitchenette. She took us to a one-bedroom, and it was very clean. I think people were friendly. They had a little balcony and a good garden space, so it has a lot going for it. The reason we'd rate it as a 4 is because we would love to have a hot tub and a little pool for exercising, but they don't have that there. Also, they have a three-meal plan, and we'd like to have a variety, like a two-meal plan, and we're hoping that it'd be a little cheaper, so we can make out own breakfast or lunch. They have an open kitchen that you can go anytime to have breakfast or lunch with a nice variety of salads and everything like that. One wing is for assisted living and one wing is for people who are on their own. They have a little theater. "

"We've chosen Merrill Gardens at Burien because it fits what we're looking for. It's very clean, very professional, and everybody's very pleasant, friendly, and easy to work with. We saw the one- and two-bedroom apartments. The lunch they provided was very nice, and we ordered off a menu. They showed us where they have the activities, and they have a really nice garden or picnic area with barbecues, tables, and umbrellas."

"Cristwood Park has been wonderful. They're a very open and welcoming community. There's a lot of activities that my mom has participated in over the years. When my mom first moved in, she was a lot more mobile and was able to do more and go more places. Now she would have to move to a different building for assisted living. My family and I have not been very happy with what we've seen at the assisted living. It's set up a lot differently. We've just decided to look elsewhere for that care for her, but we've had a very good experience with the staff. The food has been OK. Over the course of ten years, they've gone through a lot of different chefs; some some of them have been better than others. She hasn't complained too much about the food though. It's actually been pretty good. The community is a lot bigger, and they keep it up very well. They have a very nice cafe on the first floor when you walk in, where residents can go and buy all sorts of different things and food. It's very nice."

"My mom lives in Merrill Gardens at Renton Centre. There is nothing wrong with this community at all. It is just the cost is getting prohibitive. It’s basically independent, living but they can help with medication if you need it. "