Era Living

We chose Ida Culver for our Mom's dementia care after having her there for rehab following an unwitnessed fall and hospital stay. The staff in Memory Care are numerous, everyone busy all the time, always filling needs. The activities staff (June, et al) are amazing and patient with everyone; the nurses and caregivers are the best we've seen and never close the office door, even during quick meetings, so they remain aware of the residents at all times. An LPN and an MD are there weekly from Harborview to connect care and a swarm of high-quality licensed services are available as needed. They take such good care of Mom here.

Best place in the world. Really appreciate Lynda Krill. Employees are so kind and helpful. Food is exceptional. Thank you, thank you for everything!

I cannot say enough about the great job that is done by all of the staff, and the attention and care that we residents receive. Special kudos to Grant and his kitchen staff for their inventive, nourishing and very well prepared meals. the young servers, the general supporting staff and certainly the professional management give excellent hands on care. I am very happy here.

We moved my mom in after my dad died. It has been such a wonderful transition for her. she loves the apartment she lives in and enjoys the food a great deal. It gives us peace knowing that the University House has great care for my mother. After almost two years my mom is very happy!

Excellent place to live! Personnel friendly and helpful. Residents interesting and friendly. Like the cloth napkins, white table cloths, etc. Enjoy the upscale decor.

We're still in the adjusting period, but it's gone well as of now. The staff does very well and the food is very good.

While a sad period in my life, I was extremely grateful for the care Ida Culver took of my Grandma in some of her last days here on earth. The staff is extremely friendly and kind. I have gone back on several other occasions to visit others I know and have always been treated extremely well. They even found jumper cables after hours when my car battery had randomly died while visiting someone there.

All the people who work at the University House are very friendly, helpful and so patient with the guests as well as the residents. The food is excellent. Beautiful on the inside and the gardens around it. My parents love it!

Twelve years ago, while still very active, my parents chose to sell their home and move into the University House at Wallingford. At that time my Mom wasn't sure she wanted to make the switch. But within no time, she was sure they had made the right decision. They loved and took advantage of many of the activities. They became involved in a number of committees, which introduced them to other residents who became close and long term friends. They loved the choice of their dining program. And the staff, especially the dining room staff. grew to be like part of the family. Calls to them usually involved them keeping us up to date with the lives of all their new "grandchildren". One concern they had when they moved in was that they would no longer be able to host the family holiday dinners. University House solved that family problem quickly by always being ready to cater dinners, buffets, events right at the facility. Not always easy as they have ranged in sixe from 15-150 people. But they have always provided beautiful meals and friendly, helpful service. The apartments are very comfortable and well kept, as are the main areas of the building. When I come from out of state and stay in the apartment I always feel welcome and at home. It also gives us comfort to know that this facility is one of the "emergency/disaster" centers in the Seattle area. It is good to know that even for an unplanned event, they are the safest spot. Last year we lost our mother. During the last of her life the University House offered us options for multiple levels of care when she needed it. In her last days of hospice she was visited by some of her "kids" that had either graduated from school and left University House employment or still worked there. They had truly become family. She loved them. My father still lives at University House. He works out in the gym facilities 2-3 times a week. Helps on committees, and has enjoyed the comfort of friends as he has transitioned to being single again. He continues to think moving to the UH was one of the best decisions he ever made. Unfortunately I do not live in Seattle, but I hope that when it is finally to "retire" that I can find a place as enjoyable as the University House at Wallingford.

My family had a very positive experience with University House. My mother lived there for four years and was able to thrive as she transitioned from fully independent living to assisted support. The staff was excellent from the folks in the dining area, the wellness center group and especially the Life Enrichment team. For us the highlight was the activity programs offered. Programs from speakers, to art showings, to social get togethers. My mom especially enjoyed the 'outings' to parks, museums and general sightseeing. As my mom’s memory needs changed, the Life Enrichment team stepped up and offered custom programs for small groups that encouraged my mom to maintain her independence as she worked to stay engaged with others. The personal touch from these amazing professionals will always be remembered and I cannot say enough how they helped my mom and my family.

My experience here had been pretty well. I feel comfortable there at University House. The staff is great, very responsive. The food is pretty good. I give it an 8 out of 10. They offer lots of activities, in fact, I just got back from going on a hike near Lake Washington. Those type of activities are offered three times a week. They also have all sorts of programs to offer, such as book programs, movies, and discussion groups. University House Wallingford is expensive, but worth it if you can afford it.

The facility is great, the staff is superior. Mom could not be happier with her new studio apartment and care. The move-in was flawless. I think what really struck me was not only a friendly and helpful staff, but even the people that live there are all smiles and sincerely happy.

On behalf of my parents, the 6 siblings and 14 grandchildren in our family, I’d like to express my appreciation for the wonderful living environment you and your awesome staff have created for the parents. There was great in trepidation, especially amongst siblings about the folks feeling like losing their independence and initiate a downward spiral with the recognition of need for assisted living. Our actual experience is the opposite. We have eliminated many stress points in their lives and they literally ‘brag’ to everyone about their ‘neat new home’. They are healthier and happier than they have been in years. It is obvious now that this solution could have worked earlier. A very big ‘Thank You’ from all of us to you and your awesome team of care givers.

From the moment we moved into The Gardens, my husband and I knew it was the right move for us. Both staff and residents have been so very helpful and pleasant, especially with the adjustment to downsizing and move-in. And with the abundance of activities and programs offered by The Gardens both on and off site, we are never at a loss to fill our days.

Exquisite environment with lots of extras. Its location is great for seniors who love the active city lifestyle.

The Lakeshore is hands down the perfect environment for my Father. He's happy, safe and enjoying his new home. I'm grateful for the wonderful resources provided by A Place for Mom and the awesome staff of The Lakeshore.

After living in the area for several years, and having relatives who lived in the University House, getting to know the staff and many of people who live here. Knowing the activities and the many good things this place has to offer, makes my arrival like "Coming Home".

My mother has been a resident of University House Issaquah for one year. She loves her new home and is delighted with the employees. Everyone is helpful, cheerful, and very kind. Each and every time I visit, it is a joy. Every person at the front desk is open, welcoming and very warm. I would highly recommend University House to anyone looking for a very special place for their parent.

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 Atienza 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 Almo 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.

After my mom passed away several years ago, my dad grew more and more isolated living alone in their home. When we'd visit, he'd take us to Lilly's for breakfast and show off all of the amenities that Aljoya had to offer, and would introduce us to the friendly staff who always greeted him so warmly. We could tell he wanted to live there, and he just needed a little help figuring out how to make it happen, which we ultimately did. He joined the community just in time. For the first year he was really happy and fairly independent, but later on, as his health began to decline, he was able to get the increased levels of support that he needed. The staff were always trustworthy, patient, gracious, supportive, informative and communicative. I have the highest regard for the organization, the staff, and the quality of service and care that they provide.