Washington has earned its nickname as “The Evergreen State” for its wide swaths of coniferous forest. Many people may be most familiar with Seattle and its iconic Space Needle, but the eastern half of the state has a personality all its own, with a serene desert beauty akin to parts of Idaho or Montana. In contrast, Washington’s Pacific Coast is home to an actual rainforest. The state’s varied landscape as well as its relatively mild climate make it an ideal retirement destination.
When it comes to retirement communities, Washington state has many great options. Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 300 independent living communities in Washington. The median monthly cost of independent living in Washington is about $2,600. A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors can help you find the best retirement communities in Washington state.
The only comment I can share is that this is not a typical rental process, especially, if a candidate is applying for affordable rents. It is a complex process and takes patience. The staff at Vintage are...
I love this place. residents are not as young and independent as they say, but lots of fun and interesting people. As they have grown, they have cut way back on things like free Lyft rides. Room cleaning is...
We are so happy that we chose Merrill Gardens for our loved one. The staff is very friendly and caring, from the reception desk to the food servers to the care givers. The facility is a beautiful, welcoming...
I am very pleased about how everyone is so friendly! The opportunity to ask for anything from books to read to help if I fall or become ill. I am happy here.
Murano has been able to find many kind and caring staff. The place is really infused with a sense of fun as well as caring. That sense of staff being empowered but supported is very rare but precious.
my mom doesn't participate in any activities but she's been encouraged and they seem to have a variety they offer, so 5 for offerings. We would recommend this community to other families based on the...
Support staff and caregivers are great. Communication has at times been a struggle with administrators. Room size for one bedroom is great. Food could use more variety on the daily offerings but is largely...
I definitely recommend it if someone can afford it. The food is great when they do community events each month but not a lot of choices that my dad likes on regular meals.
What we like the most about the community is the staff is really friendly and involved with their clients. They've really helped me with caring for my friend.
My mom has been living at The Lofts by Cogir for three years and is really thriving there! There are many activities, events and outings that keep tenants socializing and interested in day to day fun. I just...
An open , friendly environment. Lots of art focused activities. Transportation to appointments good and flexible. Cottages are popular. Cottages are large and roomy. Apartments vary. Our 2bedroom is nice...
The community is full of things to do since it's right next to the Vancouver Mall for shopping, with lots of restaurants for dining. Yes, we would recommend this community to other families based on the...
We are so happy that we chose Merrill Gardens for our loved one. The staff is very friendly and caring, from the reception desk to the food servers to the care givers. The facility is a beautiful, welcoming...
I would give a four across the board. In general, the people were very friendly. The facility is a bit tired but clean. The apartment size was appropriate for the needs. My stepfather did not wish to...
We had a very good experience with Cogir They were very accommodating and worked on our schedule even though it was a bit out of the norm. Helped [name removed] make previously scheduled MD appointments
Washington doesn’t regulate independent living communities unless they share a building or campus with an assisted living or memory care facility. This means stand-alone independent living communities only need to abide by general housing and rental regulations. However, some communities do have their own residency requirements, like residents needing to be 55+, or 62+ in some cases.
Independent living communities sharing a building or campus with an assisted living and/or memory care unit must follow the same policies those facilities do. The Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration licenses, regulates, and inspects these facilities to ensure compliance.
Landlords and tenants are responsible for following general housing and apartment guidelines in stand-alone independent living communities since Washington doesn’t regulate them. A landlord’s duties include:[01]
Likewise, tenants have their own obligations, such as:[02]
Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect tenants from renting discrimination. The Washington Law Against Discrimination similarly shields tenants from prejudice based on:[02]
Washington landlords must also allow tenants to make reasonable accommodations and modifications to the property. Reasonable accommodations are changes in a policy, service, or program that lets someone with a disability fully access and enjoy the dwelling. This can come in the form of things like a reserved parking space near the tenant’s unit or allowing service animals despite having a no-pets policy.
Reasonable modifications are physical changes to the property that allow someone with a disability full enjoyment and access of the home/common areas of a community. Lowering closet rods, installing an entrance ramp, and adding bathroom grab bars are all examples of reasonable modifications. In Washington, tenants usually pay for modifications unless the property receives federal funds.
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Stand-alone independent living communities may not have state-mandated inspections, but some cities and counties do require them. For example, Othello passed legislation that states landlords must obtain a rental housing license that must be annually renewed and must take part in the city’s inspection program. Because of this, it’s worth checking with an area’s housing authority to see if any regulations like that are in place.
The Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration conducts unannounced assisted living facility inspections every 18 months. The department checks that infection control, emergency preparedness, general design, and life safety requirements are being met, while also interviewing staff and residents. If staff or residents file a complaint against a facility, the department conducts the same kind of investigation.
The department logs violations in a Statement of Deficiencies (SoD) report that the facility receives. The facility’s administrator must acknowledge and sign the SoD. The facility then corrects any discovered problems, while also developing systems or programs to ensure the same issues won’t occur again. The department can make unannounced inspections at any time to confirm the corrections.[03]
The department’s assisted living facility locator provides a facility’s inspection, complaint, and violation history. You can find a facility by searching for its name, zip code, or city to see a list of reports. Alternatively, you can request to see specific public records using an online form. The long-term care ombudsman service is available if you’re curious about a facility’s violation history.
Washington State Department of Health
111 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
Phone: 800-525-0127
Washington State Legislature. (2024). Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.
Washington State Legislature. (2024). Discrimination – Human Rights Commission.
Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy. (2015). Washington.
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