Aljoya Thornton Place

Aljoya Thornton Place was a new building and well furnished. The amenities and organization were very nice. I saw the room, and we would have to furnish it. It was better than any other place we looked at.

Aljoya was OK. The staff was knowledgeable and very friendly. The rooms were good, clean, and adequate. The dining area looked OK, but we did not eat there.

Aljoya has been a wonderfully warm and welcoming community for not only my mother, who suffers from dementia and even at the beginning of her residency could not remember people’s names and how to get from one place to another, but also for us, her family. As an only child I was concerned about my mother continuing to live by herself. I knew that, although I was with her frequently and doing things with her, I could not possibly give her the care and activities I knew she would need. Mom and I had visited other retirement communities and mom was very adamant that she did not like their environments or décor. For my own part, I wasn't very encouraged about either what we'd seen or by my mother's reaction. One day, after our weekly routine of shopping at Northgate, mom suggested we visit Aljoya. We made an appointment and the moment we walked in mom smiled, breathed in the aroma of the espresso in the Bistro and said “This is it!” She was of course very impressed by the elegance in the décor and the bright warm colors. (She often complained that most of the other facilities were depressing in colors etc.) What impressed me the most were the employees. To this day, 2 ½ years later, the employees are the most amazing group of people of all ages who always have a smile, who greet everyone by name and enthusiastically always try to do something to help residents and visiting family members. The Wellness center, headed by Annie R.N., who is our number one “Angel,” as my mother calls her, and all of her staff have become an extension of our family. They monitor mother daily and all of her vitals and are sure not only to watch over medical needs but also her psychological and emotional needs. It is clear that Eli and Rebecca and their amazing son, Jacob, have approached the creation of their facility as though they were creating a home for one of their own family members. They have not overlooked a single detail, from the outstanding staff that they hire and train to the smallest details of fresh flowers on the dining room tables to bowls of fresh fruit available to the residents as they wander throughout the complex. The Almos are an extremely caring family, who are concerned about their residents from the day they walk in to the days that follow as some residents become more frail or ill. They have been a huge and very responsive support system to my family. I truly do not know what I would do or where I would have been able to turn in these recent months as my mother has continued to decline. At Aljoya the Almos have created a positive caring community. From those who work there to the other residents who live there, Aljoya has provided a welcoming neighborhood that surrounds my mother with life, love and caring. In many respects, giving up living "on her own" in her later years has been a gain and a blessing, not an ever increasing struggle. It has in fact brought her new comforts, new security and a new environment of great beauty. Because of Aljoya, the staff and the Almos my mother will be able to live her last days in a warm and friendly atmosphere with exceptional nursing care and surrounded by her own personal possessions and family by her side. We can’t thank everyone enough for all that they do every day and what they have done these past 2 ½ years.

We did not select this facility, as we felt we just could not afford the high price. But! I totally recommend it. When we came in ... unannounced .. for a visit, we quickly realized it wasn't right for our mom. But the manager, I wish I could remember his name, could not have been more gracious and kind. He treated us to coffee and dessert in their dining room, which was lovely, and spent a good half hour with us, going over various options. He took the time to make up a list for us, ranging from hiring in home caregivers to finding a more affordable assisted living, age in place home. And he had NOTHING to gain from that, but the pleasure of helping another human being. I really, really wish I could remember his name. I was very impressed by his warmth and obvious caring for elderly people.

Of all the assisted living centers I have visited in Seattle, this offers the most comprehensive amenities and local attractions. It is located at the south end of the Northgate Mall, which allows for a large walking/shopping area, as well as a movie theater and coffee shops. It is near my home in Greenlake and is easily accessible through 85th and 5th, or through Roosevelt. There is a medical center nearby, and the in-house gym features water exercise classes. The facility interior is beautiful and the rooms are spacious (although you certainly pay a premium). The assisted-living and active retirement communities mingle, which has pros and cons, but I appreciate it for my father because aging isn't a smooth, one-way process. Adults who need more active monitoring may prefer places that are dedicated to assisted-living. The surrounding neighborhood is residential district called Maple Leaf, and there is transit center, steps away, that connects to Greenwood, Ballard, Wallingford, Downtown, and University District. A medical center that provides emergency services is located a couple of blocks away. One drawback is that the nearest full size grocery store is not walkable for an older adult. However, the facility offers a shuttle service. It is an easy driving distance. Impressive place and a nice location.