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.
They have been wonderful. This community is designed for active, independent seniors. While they don’t provide medical care directly, the staff can assist in connecting residents with outside medical support...
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.
Facilities are nice. Everything works in my apartment very well. Staff is always on top of things. Food is mediocre. I prefer to cook for myself. Activities are varied and suit a wide variety of interests.
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.
Overall probably like many places I received much prompter assistance when we were in sales mode. After signing the contract they have been less responsive. For example we have been waiting several weeks for...
My opinion is based only on our interactions through the move in process. Unfortunately, my mother passed the day before she was to move in. Generally yes we had a good impression of the community. She...
Friendly, and they know me and my loved one immediately always available to answer questions and help clean good food many activities all levels of care.
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.
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.
Facilities are nice. Everything works in my apartment very well. Staff is always on top of things. Food is mediocre. I prefer to cook for myself. Activities are varied and suit a wide variety of interests.
Just had a pajama happy hour with wine, beer, and snacks with music to entertain us. There is so much to do that I haven't had a chance to check them all out yet. There's a gym with lots of exercise...
5 for all. I visited several facilities for my husband and Van Mall was by far the best! The Community Director herself, so friendly, helpful, the tour and description of services, all the resiand the layout...
Our dad moved to Merrill Gardens Wright Park a year ago. From our first visit and everyday since, the staff has been kind, respectful and helpful. Staff members have helped our dad maintain his independence...
I myself enjoy living here I've made many friends everyone here. very friendly Management and staff. I know that this is my last home and I'm very happy here. That being said of course there are things where...
I was asked to write a review for Cogir at The Narrows, and I’m happy to do so! The rating was on a scale of 1-5, I wish it were higher and rate 5++++ Our experience at Cogir has been absolutely wonderful!...
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.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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