Continuing Care Retirement Communities Communities in Tacoma, WA

"We toured Cogir of Queen Anne. The tour was very nice. The people were nice. The food was good. However, their independent living is in a different building from the dining room. The meals are included in independent living, so by the time they added up meals, the dog, and parking, it had gotten to like $6000, which was way too much. And the distance from the apartment to the building where they had all the activities was across the street. My husband had a stroke, so he uses a wheelchair and a walker, so it wouldn't have been very convenient at all. The apartment was nice. It was a two-bedroom, and it had a patio outside. The guy I talked to was very nice and very accommodating. The people we met there were very nice. However, it just didn't work for us. We had lunch there and it was very good. We had it on the rooftop. They had a rooftop garden that overlooks Queen Anne and that was quite impressive. It was a beautiful day, and the folks were very nice. "

"I found the facility to be very well taken care of, the area was very clean, it even smelled clean. The food was pretty good, I will admit that it is a little bit limited, but the quality is decent. The staff was very polite and helpful, my grandfather and everyone else seem to get along with them pretty well. I found that there were actually many activities that a person could take part in, from the assorted board games, television, and art projects, even though for the most part we just sat around and talked. All in all I found the facility to be very enjoyable and could see my self retiring there if I had to, the ony real issues I had was that the dining options were small, and that it seemed very warm inside, but those issues are most likely due to health issues that the residents are dealing with. The fact is I enjoyed my visit and will be returning to visit again soon. "

"I toured Merrill Gardens at Tacoma. They are very nice. The one main thing that was missing in a lot of them when I toured, and that goes for both Washington and California, is the unit for a laundry facility for a washer/dryer. Merrill Gardens did have units. They are one of the few. It looks very appealing. The staff was very friendly and willing to answer questions. They have meals. It's a little pricey but you get what you pay for."

"For 5 years I've been witnesses what my Mother & Father in Law have experienced in 4 levels. (Independent, Assisted, Short Term, Long Term) They have been incredibly thankful from day one in Independent to now assistant. Trials with health, caused them the need an almost overnight move up to assisted and Long Term care. We were so impressed how they adjusted that move as quickly and smoothly as possible. All those working I've connected with have shows such a caring spirit. My father-in-law passed away last summer but we witness all workers going out of their way for all involved. Weekly I've been there visiting for years now, and every employee I've met, and after years gotten to know, confirms these people care. Yes, it was a bit challenging during the construction going on but oh, so worth it. I highly recommend people check this place out."

"Pioneer Place of Tacoma is very clean, and the staff is very nice and caring. They take very good care of my grandmother, who is pleased to be there. They have bingo, singing, and different activities every day, and she enjoys them all. The dining area is clean. The menu varies from day to day, and the food is very good."

"The grounds at Harbor Place at Cottesmore were very nice. It's extremely well-manicured. Almost like they have a staff on hand that takes care of it. The apartments were about average compared to what I've seen in other places. The lady that took me around was very informative, very nice, and very cordial. They had card rooms, craft rooms, and social areas for various games and such."

"I am currently staying at Franke Tobey Jones Retirement Estates and it is a fabulous place. It is a continuous care community on a very large piece of property that's beautiful with independent duplexes and nice apartments for independent living, so you buy into it. They have 21 duplexes. I'm in one of the 2-bedroom duplexes with a kitchen, a garage, and a back porch. All my maintenance is taken care of. The gardens are taken care of. To get a duplex and live here, I had to put down $150,000, which I could get back partially if I left within five years, and then every month I pay rent. The meals in the duplexes are not included, but you can add that service just like you can have housekeeping service if you want, instead of doing it yourself. They are like senior universities. They offer lots and lots of things to do both on campus and off campus, and via the Internet. They also have a gym, exercise classes daily, art classes, woodworking shops, and movies. You just call maintenance and they come over, and you can call security if you have any concerns. I could not be happier and safer."

"Sunset Garden Senior Living looked really nice. People seemed to be friendly and having a good time. They have little amenities like raised beds where I could grow some edible flowers and stuff like that. So, I liked it a lot. It's meticulously kept. It's beautifully clean. The apartment was just redone and I enjoyed my visit very much. They have outdoor areas that you can comfortably enjoy safely. It's near a lot of different things, like the farmers market and the Tacoma Mall. I met two people and they were very helpful and very knowledgeable, just like what you want to be, someone whom you feel confident with. The rooms are very nice. I loved it. There were three big windows, which made me very happy. It was redone with new carpeting, new paint, and all that."

"I moved to Heron's Key. It has everything someone might want and need. If I have any mental issues or other problems, they have the facilities to provide that type of care, all at no additional expense, because I paid quite a sum to get in here, as all members do. The new executive director sat down with members of each floor, asked them questions, and provided answers, as well as some information about what might happen in the future regarding future building and other developments. The meals are a separate charge because you have a choice of meals each time you go for a meal. They offer activities outside of Heron's Key, ranging as far as Seattle, Bremerton, and Gig Harbor. There are plenty of activities available for residents to choose from on a first-come, first-served basis. They have a waiting list in case someone needs to cancel, allowing another resident to take their place and maximize the usage of the trip."

"My mother moved into Merrill Gardens at Auburn. It's a very professional, very friendly, and caring community. Everyone seems to care for one another and take care of one another. My mother never felt alone when she went in. The minute she went in, there were people always that would introduce themselves and sit down with her, when she would go for her meals and everything. I like that they have meals from 7:00 in the morning to 7:00 in the evening. Any time during the day you can come and have a meal. They have a lot of activities. They are very secure. Even though they're in the middle of the town, they have secure facilities. They're very, very careful about COVID. You can't just walk in the door. It's monitored at all times. There's always somebody at the front desk and you have to have your temperature taken. They have a machine set up and they give you a badge. You must have a badge when you're walking around. If you live there, you can purchase an underground parking place and it's gated. You can't just go in the parking lot like the last place she was at. Since it's gated, they don't have a problem with safety issues. It's very clean and very nice. She has her own washer and dryer. It's a good size apartment and it has a living room and a bedroom. There are several different apartment styles, too, and many activities. They have a movie theater. If you go online, it explains everything on their website all the things that they have. They're opening up much more now because COVID is essentially over for them. They've been very careful, and so they're starting many more activities back that they didn't have for a while. They've got things every day. The food is very good. It's nice because they have a menu you can choose from. They have smaller portions for seniors, but you can always ask for more and they never question anything. You don't have to pay tips or anything. They just have it in the service package. I know they're still trying to get more people because during COVID they didn't have as many servers and now they're getting more. They were a little bit slow, but I don't want to complain too much because I know they're in the process of getting more people. It's a family-owned property and they have many facilities throughout the United States. It's expensive, but I think it's worth the money."

"We have been residents of Judson Park for six months now. We are independent living, but it has continuing care through the end of life. It's wonderful. It feels like home. Even though we have only been here for a short time, we have met and enjoyed a lot of different people and different activities. We love our apartment. Our apartment is bigger than our house in Arizona. It's only a one-bedroom, but it doesn't matter. We love it there. The activities are great. There is lots to do. They're so accommodating. If you need something, you can get it. It's an amazing place. They have many physical exercise programs. They have lots and lots of different card groups. I belong to a needlecraft group where we knit and crochet. They're remodeling an area for that sort of stuff right now to accommodate more things. They have a beautiful library. We do trips on the bus that they have. They have transportation to dental or doctor appointments. There is a woodshop. There are garden beds that you can use to plant flowers or vegetables. There are lots of spiritual activities that you can participate in if you want, but there is no pressure to do so at all. They have shopping trips and happy hours once a week for the whole community. There are lots of entertainers that come and perform for us. The staff members are fabulous. The meals are wonderful. We feel pampered every day. There are lots of choices. We have specialty meals. Once a month, they have a buffet of some kind, and usually there is a theme to it, like Mexican Night, Irish Night, or whatever. They also go all out on decorations. They make it fun and very enjoyable. The food is beyond compare; it is like going out to dinner every night at a special restaurant. We celebrated their 60th anniversary here not too long ago. They've added two full wings and a skilled nursing center as well. They keep it up very nicely. It's beautifully landscaped, and it's always clean, and they're always refreshing areas. If somebody moves out of an apartment, they would completely redo it."

"The physical appearance of Wesley Lea Hill in Auburn is very good. The grounds are 19 acres, this is one of the largest I've seen or heard about, and it's very impressive. Their plan was a very good layout, and they have all the comforts and amenities you want. The staffs who gave the tour are very courteous and tried to answer our questions. They're very nice. They do activities and they discussed that. They have a large variety of activities and hobbies, Bible studies, the opportunity to pursue whatever hobby you like. They also have shopping trips and so on. I like the rooms very well, they're spacious and very well appointed, they're in very good shape."

"We toured Wesley Des Moines. The staff was very open, very friendly, and very welcoming. It's brand new, very open, very bright and has lots of daylight. It was just very nice. We had lunch there. The lunch was fine."

To learn more about this providers license and review other available state reports, please visit: Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Long-Term Care Residential Options