The Best Independent Living Communities in King County, WA

"I toured their independent living section of The Watermark at Bellevue, and it's very nice and very high-end. As a matter of fact, up on the top floor, they have a penthouse there for $12,000 a month. The lower floors are cheaper. For people who like city life, it's like living in a big city where you have to pay for parking, and that's not my cup of tea. I want something more rural where I can drive in, drive out, and not have to pay for parking. I'm just more of a suburban type. It was very nice, though. I've been there twice, and their food was excellent. The facilities were very nice because they're new, so everything was perfect."

"Excellent ALL around !! From the admission process to the discharge planning. Professional loving atmosphere. Longevity of staff that really care about the residents. "

"Overall excellent, Garage is difficult for larger vehicles/handicap vehicles. Cluttered and needs cleaning. Littered. Every other public place is well kept and makes a wonderful impression. Very caring and pleasant staff. Overall nicely maintained. Front desk is amazing. Programming is diverse and appears to be well run. I would consider living here"

"In my youth I found it very easy to move around the country. I loved doing so, and was saddened when I found that after my retirement I simply could not book flights or travel packages because of my distrust of computers. However, the travel agents provided with a person's stay at the Bellettini helped me regain my independence. My only complaint with the facility is the library, which does not have nearly enough books for people of my generation. I quite like the older stuff, thank you. Most important to me was the private transportation - ask, and a private driver will transport you to any location within 50 miles. Great for visiting Seattle or any places around Bellevue. Alas, I had to move to Boston with my daughter, but I loved the Bellettini very much. I would recommend it to anyone due to the excellent level of amenities that were provided to me during my time there. "

"I moved my mom moved into Bridge Park. Her apartment is fine, and she’s very happy there. She’s done a couple of tai chi classes and went on the shuttle bus a couple of times. My mom’s biggest complaint is the food because the quality and the quantity are inconsistent. There are always a lot of people out and milling around, whether they’re sitting downstairs in the dining room or in different rooms doing activities. "

"GenCare The Lodge at Eagle Ridge was nice. My only problem there was the parking wasn't great. It was very clean and very well laid out. The halls were wide. They would be great even if you were using a wheelchair or a walker. I like the place. The staff were very personable, and they answered all my questions quickly and accurately. I was very impressed. They had some activities going on in the main living area when I was there. It was like a cornhole tournament or something like that. The rooms were okay. They were a little on the small side for my liking, but if I had more in mind what I wanted at that point, it probably would have been acceptable to me."

"Brookdale West Seattle was very nice. I liked the amenities, and the staff was extremely nice and very helpful. Everyone was very kind and very nice. I looked at an apartment there that I like a lot. I was in love with it, actually. It seemed larger than the ones at the other community. It also had a beautiful view. Their activities were better than the things that were offered at the other community. They had Tai Chi once a week, and that's important to me. However, I found the downstairs common area to be gloomy."

"I love El Dorado West and I love the people there and the community itself. My mother was really content there even though she was only there for a short time. Her apartment was very nice and very clean, and the place is beautiful. I got to eat there a couple of times, the meal was very delicious and nourishing. The food was very good."

"I visit this facility regularly, as my client has weekly hair appointments here. I am always impressed. The lobby is beautiful and clean, and there are often musical performances in the afternoons. There are a multitude of things to do, whether it's visiting the casino, learning to use Facebook, or playing Wii Golf. The staff knows my client by name, even though she isn't a resident. I would not worry about my client's welfare if she chose to live at this facility."

"I have toured Cogir of Queen Anne several times. It feels well-run, there were people at the desk, people were out of their units, and the place was friendly. The place was very clean. The staff who gave the tour was excellent, they were very informative, there was no pressure, they show you the unit, and they tell you what the prices are. It's pet-friendly, and I have two kitties. They have an extremely excellent chef. They also have exercise classes and walking classes, and they have a theater as well. They have lovely grounds."

"I toured Overlake Terrace, and I liked seeing people out in the lobby using the facilities. I also liked the location. It seemed more updated. The person who gave us the tour was well informed. They have a crafts room too."

"My wife (a young 78) and I (72) have begun our search for a retirement community. We have looked at four so far. Far and away, the Revel Issaquah is the best so far. Exploring retirement communities is an education unto itself. There are buy-ins and rentals. We only want a rental. The Revel offers a variety of rental options and can lock in a price for up to two years. Some of the places we’ve looked are high pressure (both getting our contact, following-up each week, even though I asked not to). The Revel was just the opposite. We loved our agent, Jim. No pressure. He's a great listener. He was genuinely interested in who we are and our needs/desires/vision for our next chapter. He invited us to stay 2 nights so we had an opportunity to meet residents, sample their gourmet food service (the chefs and servers are great), and get a feel for the living atmosphere. Staff at all levels live the ethic of service and were there for anything we needed. They made us feel like we were staying at a resort hotel. We'll be making a decision in the near future and so far, Revel Issaquah is at the top."

"Cogir of Kirkland only has assisted living, they don't have memory care. It's a lovely place. They showed me a studio apartment that was quite lovely. The place itself was very nice and the staff was nice, but they couldn't provide what my husband needs. I would like to have a swimming pool and they don't have a swimming pool, but they have everything else. I'd go there myself. The room they showed me was a corner room. There was a bed, a couch, a TV, and a very small kitchen. It's large enough. The dining area was probably 25 steps away. The people that I talked to were charming and wonderful. They were great."

"Village Concepts of Fairwood is a beautiful facility. It's brand new. It felt like you were in a very nice country club house. It was very quiet, except when you're on the outside. It's very noisy because you're on a very busy street, and I didn't like that. The rooms were beautiful. They had a one-bedroom with a den, which mom really liked. She liked the one that had a view of the golf course and a little tiny patio, where you could go and sit outside. We only got to meet one person, who was the manager. She was super friendly and helpful. I would have liked to meet more staff, though."