The Best Independent Living Communities in King County, WA

Live a life that inspires you. The Watermark at Bellevue is a thriving Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care community in the heart of beautiful Bellevue, Washington. With our unwavering commitment to crafting environments that foster dignity, respect, and joy, we’ve created a haven where every member is genuinely valued, cared for, and loved. The Watermark provides an array of luxurious amenities and services. Chef-prepared meals are served daily in the full-service dining room, while our designer finishes create an elegant atmosphere throughout the community. Additional amenities include a dynamic community life calendar, an indulgent salon, a member-inspired fitness center with yoga, and outdoor courtyards that invite relaxation and connection. Our concierge services, move-in coordination, and scheduled transportation offer a seamless living experience. Members also enjoy the convenience of secure underground garage, electric vehicle charging stations, laundry rooms, and a pet-friendly environment that extends our warm welcome to our members’ furry companions. In the spirit of Pacific Northwest charm, The Watermark expertly combines upscale living with the feel of a close-knit community. Our intentional design encapsulates the refreshing essence of Bellevue, paired with a holistic, innovative approach to senior living. To learn more about this provider’s license and review other available state reports, please visit: Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Long-Term Care Residential Options

"My wife moved into Pacific Regent Bellevue. They did fine. It was a very nice place, not cheap, but nice. The staff was great."

"In March 2024, our Dad passed away, rather suddenly, in our parent’s home in Bellevue. Our Mom expressed a desire to move out rapidly, and we discussed the option of a premier senior living community. My Mom’s hope was that, during this acute period of grief, that she would not have to part with her two cats. “We will cross that bridge if we have to, she said.” I told her that our family would take care of the cats if necessary. These were searing, early conversations. I assumed responsibility for our parent’s estate and became personal representative for our mother. I live in Southern California, but I am fortunate to have two siblings who live in Washington State. We felt that time was of the essence for Mom, so we moved swiftly. My brother and his spouse began to look for a potential community. Based on referrals from a network of friends, their top choice to evaluate was the Gardens. After identifying a wonderful unit that was available, they called me. My brother’s first quote was, “this isn’t just a place to live, it is a community; the residents are friendly, and it feels like a warm environment.” They brought our mother to the Gardens, and she gave it a big thumbs up. We moved her in, and the cats settled in rapidly. During the past seven months, I have spent a great deal of time at the Gardens. I have enjoyed breakfasts, lunches and dinners in the dining room and have had extensive conversations with other residents. Given that there is an on-site continuum of care offering, should Mom’s needs evolve over time, I take solace that she is settled. More importantly, given my geographic distance from her, the thought that there is a caring and competent Gardens team looking out for her provides additional comfort. I think that our Dad would be pleased and would have wanted the best that we can do for Mom."

"I'm moving into the Bellettini. It was in the right location, in a city. I needed an urban setting. It seemed far above the others, although it was a lot more expensive. At the time that I signed up for it, the meal plan was better, but they've consequently changed their meal plan. It had air conditioning and it had a gas fireplace. The gas fireplace is what attracted me to it. Very efficient, very friendly staff, and they kept in contact with me at all times. I loved the food. They had a range of activities, which appealed to me. They have a gym, hair salon, and two different restaurants."

"I toured the independent living community of Truewood by Merrill, First Hill. It's a nice community, and great. Their rooms are of adequate size. It's not a problem. The staff who gave the tour was very knowledgeable. She laid out everything, as far as explaining, so she was very good and very accommodating. They have a lot of activities and an activity room. There are a lot of things to do there, so it was good. They also have plenty of outdoor spaces to walk around in."

"Holiday Bridge Park seemed clean and spacious. There was good lighting, which was cheerful. It was also very quiet. I was there early on Saturday morning, so there weren't a lot of people out and about yet. The staff was great. It was like an open house, so they gave me some free snacks. It was from the bakery, and it was good. They had some exercise classes."

"My mother-in-law is expected to move into GenCare The Lodge at Eagle Ridge assisted living. I have toured the facility and I like it because they have a long-term staff so people have been there for years. They have systems in place that are tailored to individual resident's needs. The director also knows each resident by name, as far as I can tell, and the residents themselves are happy and engaged. They have exercise and personal trainers, their food is delivered to them, and they're also given personal care. For activities, they have a library and a salon, and they have trips."

"Brookdale West Seattle was a terrific facility. It was almost brand new. They had great staff. They had lots of open spaces and 2 outdoor gathering places that were really nice. They had wonderful activities going on. The residents were very, very friendly and welcoming to us. Lindsey assisted us with the tour and she was just focused on finding the right needs from my mom and assuring us that they can provide the care she needs. She showed us studios, a 1-bedroom apartment, and a 2-bedroom apartment. We did eat there and it was very good."

"I really liked El Dorado West. It's a very lovely facility. It was very warm and welcoming. They have a large dining room where people sit and be by themselves, or they can sit with somebody else. There were a ton of activities. I liked the fact that they come in and change the linens on a weekly basis, and my sister doesn't have to purchase food or prepare food. The staff members weren't communicating very well with each other because I gave them the deposit and I called them to get the deposit back and I asked them if I could get the medical records that the doctor's office had sent them and the staff said, "Yes, I'll make sure you get those." When I went to pick them up, they had been shredded, so they were not having good communication. I was not very happy. We had lunch there, and it was very good. They had a lot of different facilities. They had a game room and a large theater type thing with a very comfortable theater chair, so they can watch movies or watch ball games. They also have a hairdresser onsite for those who want to have that."

"Brookdale Admiral Heights was on a really busy street. There weren't any balconies, and there was a small garden, but it wasn’t cared for, so it didn’t look inviting. It was in too busy of an area for my mom to feel comfortable in with too much road noise. The staff was excellent and spent a long time talking to me about everything. I was very impressed. "

"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 toured Overlake Terrace. They offer quite a bit of other activities besides just a room and a place to eat. They provided the care that we are anticipating. They have a recreation room. When we were there, they had someone who came in and played some music for the folks. They have a little coffee shop bar, a theater room for movies, a pool table, and a library. It was very clean-looking. It looked like it had been renovated over the last four or five years, or maybe six years somewhere in there, so it was a little bit modernized. They took a bunch of assisted people there and brought them to Seattle to look at the Museum of Flight. They do outside activities, and they'll take them to the mall or shopping. I was surprised at how many people worked there. There must have been at least 30 or more people that went into the cafeteria for a staff meeting. As we were leaving, more people were arriving for work, which I assume was their shift. So, people come and go. I met with the director of the place, a nice gentleman. It's not a huge company, but it's a sizable group of people that work there. They served us lunch while we were there, and the food tasted good."

"I toured Revel Issaquah. It was very high-end and nice. Colleen was very nice. I was looking for a one-bedroom. She showed me the one-bedroom. It was staged very well. It was roomy. The kitchens there have probably been the best. They're almost like a full-size kitchen. It was nice, with full-sized appliances, not like that little teeny tiny refrigerator some places have, a full stove, and everything. The dining area was ample. It was very nice. It's fairly new."

"We are so grateful for Cogir Kirkland! My mom has lived there for 3 months, and it's such a relief to know she is safe and well cared for. The community is only a year old--it's beautiful, light, and well-maintained, plus the rooms are very large. And surprisingly, the food is great! But the very best part is the staff! They are very skilled and professional, while also being super kind and caring. My mom is at the end of life, and can be "difficult" on top of it. Each staff member works extra hard to ensure she is heard; that she has everything she needs; and that she is comfortable and happy. Cogir Kirkland has a new General Manager that has been successful in implementing new systems and processes, and in building a strong and committed team. We are so happy to have them as part of our family!"