Washington State is a great place to retire. With rugged Pacific Northwest beauty and a variety of climates across the state, you have tons of incredible senior living communities to choose from! But there are a lot of factors that go into choosing the right community for you or your loved one, including your desired lifestyle, level of care needed, and location. This post will narrow down the sea of options to highlight four of the best senior living communities in Washington State.
Quick Answer: What are the best senior living communities in Washington State?
Because of their high ratings, resort-style amenities, fun and active lifestyle, tons of activities, and high-end accommodations, some of the best senior living communities in Washington State include:
- Overlake Terrace, located in Redmond, just 20 minutes east of Seattle. This warm, welcoming, and experienced community offers a full spectrum of support options, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
- Edmonds Village is located in Edmonds, 30 minutes north of Seattle. This sleek and modern 55+ community offers fun and active independent living.
- Farrington Court is in highly sought-after Kent, 30 minutes south of Seattle. With an impressive 50 years of experience, they offer friendly and comfortable independent living and assisted living.
- The Gallery at Spokane is located on the eastern end of the state in Spokane. This gorgeous newly built community provides flexible long-term support, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
Why Choose Senior Living?
As a senior citizen, you have a variety of options when it comes to housing. You could stay in your current home, downsize to a smaller apartment, move in with a family member, or move to a senior living community. Independent seniors are sometimes reluctant to move out of their current home. And seniors with care needs have the option to move in with a family member or bring in outside help, instead of moving to an assisted living or memory care community. So, why choose to move to a senior living community? While all of these options have pros and cons, senior living communities offer benefits you won’t get anywhere else.
The truth is, living alone often means spending a lot of time alone. Retiring means you lose the social aspect of the workplace, and your children have grown up and moved away. Loneliness is common among seniors and retirees, and it isn’t just unpleasant–it’s a very real health concern. Studies have shown that loneliness and social isolation increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, suicide, dementia, and even premature death.
But loneliness doesn’t have to be part of getting older. In fact, senior living communities make loneliness almost impossible. Many seniors choose senior living communities because of the social benefits of community life. Neighbors similar in age and at the same stage of life, plus tons of social activities every single day, mean it’s easy to make friends. At a senior living community, there’s always someone to sit with or talk to.
Senior living communities also usually provide housekeeping, transportation, and linen services, as well as chef-prepared meals every day. You won’t have to spend your days cooking, cleaning, mowing the lawn, or doing home maintenance. This maintenance-free lifestyle allows you to spend less time doing things you have to do, and more time doing the things you want to do. With all this extra freedom, resort-style amenities, and an active social life, senior living communities are not just more fun than living alone–they’re better for your physical health, too.
Why Not Move in with a Family Member?
One way to resolve the loneliness issue many seniors face is to move in with an adult child or other family member. While this can prevent social isolation, it comes with other issues. Living in a family member’s home can create resentment, conflict, and strain relationships. Family members may come to feel that caring for their senior parent or loved one is an additional burden. No one wants to be a burden. And in your golden years, the last thing you want is more conflicts with the people you love.
Senior living communities offer a wonderful alternative. They provide social benefits and an active, energetic lifestyle, as well as maintenance-free living. And children and family members are still free to visit as often as they’d like.
Why Choose Senior Living in Washington State?
Washington State offers many benefits for retirees, including a mild climate, incredible natural beauty, top-tier healthcare, and no state income tax (which means more earnings from Social Security or other retirement income). With incredibly diverse scenery, Washington has something for everyone. Most of Washington’s population lives in or near either Spokane or Seattle, which represent two completely different regions with different pros and cons.
Senior Living in Eastern Washington vs Western Washington
Eastern Washington gets all four distinct seasons, with hot and dry summers and cold, snowy winters. Spokane, located in Eastern Washington, is the second-largest city in Washington. The Spokane River runs through the city, and it is surrounded by forests and mountains. Seniors choose the Spokane area over Western Washington for its drier weather and more agricultural and rural areas surrounding the city. The cost of living in Eastern Washington is also much lower than Western Washington. However, you’ll have to shovel snow here, and some find the area more remote than they would prefer.
Cross over the Cascade Mountains into Western Washington and you’ll find a completely different climate, characterized by mild temperatures and steady rainfall year-round. Seattle, in Western Washington, is the state’s largest city. Snowfall is rare, and summers are generally pleasant and cool, so it’s a good choice for seniors who like a more temperate climate.
Seattle is a heavily populated urban area with many miles of suburbs outside the city. While this gives you tons of recreation options and access to the world-class University of Washington healthcare system, it also comes with some drawbacks. With Puget Sound and multiple lakes within city limits, as well as high population density, traffic in Seattle is notoriously difficult. Cost of living and real estate prices are also high compared to the national average.
Both regions offer the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, tax benefits for retirees, and strong healthcare systems. These diverse areas give you lots of options when it comes to senior living in Washington State.
Choosing a Senior Living Community in Washington State
Many considerations go into choosing the right senior living community for you or your loved one. Before you begin researching communities, ask yourself:
- Would you prefer to live near family members?
- How important is proximity to major metropolitan areas?
- What amenities are important to you?
- What kind of lifestyle are you looking for?
- What level of care do you need now, and what level of care do you expect to need in the future?
Knowing what you’re looking for will help you narrow down which senior living community will suit you best. Not sure what level of care you need? Keep reading!
What level of care do you need?
Senior living communities use specific terms to describe the levels of care they offer. Most senior living communities offer one or more of the following levels of care:
- 55+ or independent living. This is a “level 0” level of care, with no daily care available. This level of care is best for active seniors who are completely independent and don’t need any help with daily life activities.
- Assisted living. These communities provide daily help for routine activities, like bathing, grooming, dressing, mobility, eating, drinking, and medication management. This level of care is good for seniors who aren’t experiencing memory loss or significant cognitive impairment, but need some physical help.
- Memory care. This is a type of assisted living community for people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, memory loss, or significant cognitive decline. These communities usually provide 24/7 care and supervision, as well as extra security.
- Skilled nursing. This level of care is for seniors with complex daily medical needs that can only be met by skilled nurses, doctors, or other medical professionals.
Choose a senior living community that offers the right level of care for your current needs, but also consider your future needs. Some communities offer multiple levels of care, which allows you to age in place even if things change over time.
The Best Senior Living Communities in Washington State
Now that you know what you’re looking for, which are the best senior living communities in Washington State? You have an overwhelming number of options, so we’ll spotlight just a few of the best communities near Seattle and Spokane. We’ve selected these top-rated communities based on their convenient locations, great staff, exemplary care, resort-style amenities, and tons of fun activities each week.
Overlake Terrace – Redmond, Washington
Overlake Terrace Senior Living residents making making potpourri sensory bags for Valentine’s day
Overlake Terrace is just about 20 minutes east of Seattle in upscale Redmond, Washington. While it’s near the Seattle metro area, Redmond itself has a charming small-town feel, with great hospitals and lots to do. Overlake Terrace is a long-established community with over two decades of experience. Residents describe a unique feeling of warmth and comfort in this down-to-earth community, with staff members that know them by name and treat them like family. It’s surrounded by enormous mature trees, with peaceful courtyards and scenic walking paths outside.
Overlake Terrace also offers a full spectrum of care, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care. This makes it ideal for those who want to make friends and put down roots, without needing to move if their needs change.
Edmonds Village – Edmonds, Washington
Residents of Edmonds Village Senior Living celebrate Mardi Gras!
For active seniors looking for exclusively independent senior living in Washington State, Edmonds Village is a top contender. It’s just 30 minutes north of Seattle in picturesque Edmonds, Washington. This community is new and modern, with warm and elegant decor that feels more like an upscale apartment building than a “retirement home.” Edmonds Village is great for independent seniors who want a fun, maintenance-free lifestyle. Apartments have full kitchens and in-unit washer and dryers, but weekly housekeeping and linen services and the restaurant-style Compass Rose dining room mean you only have to wash dishes when you want to.
Residents love the vibrant, busy atmosphere of Edmonds Village. Tons of daily activities, including educational classes, guest lecturers, and outings, and partnerships with both Edmonds College and Edmonds Waterfront Center mean there’s always something to do. Friendships are easy when your neighbors are active seniors just like you. It’s a great option for seniors who want to maintain their independence, while simplifying their lives and finding a sense of community.
Farrington Court – Kent, Washington
Farrington Court residents supporting the Seahawks!
You’ll find idyllic Farrington Court on Scenic Hill in Kent, Washington, about 30 minutes south of Seattle. While the building and apartments have been updated, this community has over 50 years of experience with senior living in Washington State. Many staff members have also been with Farrington Court for decades. This well-established community offers both independent and assisted living in every apartment, so you won’t need to move if your needs change. Many also enjoy their Signature Suite option, which allows you to put your own touch on your apartment’s finishes.
These unique offerings, as well as a great location, great food, and tons of fun activities, make Farrington Court another excellent choice.
The Gallery at Spokane – Spokane, Washington
Gallery at Spokane Senior Living residents walked to end Alzheimer’s
Also a stunning newly-built community, The Gallery at Spokane is our best option for senior living in Eastern Washington State. Like Overlake Terrace, The Gallery offers a full spectrum of care, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care. It’s conveniently located in Spokane’s South Hill neighborhood, a quiet residential area near plenty of shopping and dining options, as well as Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. Residents and their families appreciate the caring staff, as well as the Gallery’s ability to meet the needs of all their residents, regardless of age, ability, or activity level.
Since the Gallery at Spokane offers multiple care levels, it’s a great choice for couples who want to stay together even if their care needs differ. Overall, this community is an excellent long-term option for seniors who want fun activities and high-end accommodations, with the flexibility of multiple levels of support.
Senior Living in Washington State: Final Thoughts
Washington State is a great place to retire for many seniors, particularly those who enjoy the varied climates and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. We’ve narrowed down the list of hundreds of senior living communities to give you four great options in both Western and Eastern Washington, with a variety of levels of care. But only you can decide which community is right for you or your loved one.
The best way to make this important decision? Tour these communities in person! Friendly Family Advisors are ready to answer all of your questions and schedule a tour today. Contact each community at the link below.
Senior Living in Western Washington/Seattle Area
- Overlake Terrace Independent living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care in Redmond, Washington
- Edmonds Village Independent Living in Edmonds, Washington
- Farrington Court Independent and Assisted Living in Kent, Washington
Senior Living in Eastern Washington/Spokane Area
- The Gallery at Spokane Independent Living, Assisted Living, & Memory Care in Spokane, Washington
Why Choose Stellar?
You may have noticed that all of these are communities managed by Stellar Senior Living. Stellar Living’s management is just one of the reasons these are some of the best senior living communities in Washington. Stellar has specialized in managing senior living communities for over a decade. They are family owned and operated, and committed to treating all of their staff, residents, and families with respect and integrity. Their goal is to provide seniors with a life that isn’t just good–it’s Stellar. Learn more about Stellar Living here.
