Seattle, Washington Assisted Living: Search Near You, How To Pay, Licensing, Local Resources, and Questions To Ask
Seattle is the largest metropolis in the pacific northwest of the United States. Known for its hill points of beautiful views and legendary Space Needle, there are plenty of excellent Seattle assisted living communities across this unique city.
Facilities in this area could accept State Medicaid, private payers and long-term care insurance.
CareAvailability.com has been used by families and care professionals in the Seattle area to find real-time openings and provide a comprehensive list of options for care.
We do all the work for you when it comes to finding the best assisted living in and around Seattle. We do extensive research on the facilities and provide you with the most current information and care availability.
Assisted Living Communities near Seattle, Washington
Franke Tobey Jones
Tacoma, Washington 98407
Harbour Pointe Senior Living
Mukilteo, Washington 98275
Queen Anne Manor
Seattle, Washington 98109
Cogir Of Edmonds
Edmonds, Washington 98026
Sunrise Of Edmonds
Edmonds, Washington 98020
Cogir Of Kirkland
Kirkland, Washington 98033
Gencare Lifestyle The Lodge At Eagle Ridge
Renton, Washington 98055
Gencare Lifestyle Federal Way
Federal Way, Washington 98003
The Gardens At Town Square – Era Living
Bellevue, Washington 98004
Ida Culver House Broadview – Era Living
Shoreline, Washington 98133
About Assisted Living In Seattle, WA
Caring for someone at home who has declining physical or cognitive abilities can be difficult and expensive. Assisted living communities offer substantial care at a secure and friendly location.
Typically, a resident in assisted living will get help with some or all of their activities of daily living from a trained care professional. In a communal setting, care can be provided to multiple residents with an appropriate staff to resident ratio.
In addition to providing care to residents, many communities offer a full range of social, emotional, physical and even spiritual services to their residents. Having a robust life enrichment program may be of great value to some.
Considerations when looking for care in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, the largest city in Washington, hails from across the river of another large PNW city, Portland. Seattle has an approximate population of 777,000 residents with approximately 10% of it’s population being people over the age of 65. The increasing popularity in the region for retirees and the growing industrial and tech sectors in Seattle means tremendous growth and a wide variety of options for those looking for senior care.
There are about 29 colleges in the area, including 16 private colleges and universities, 12 public colleges and universities, and 1 community college.
Cities near Seattle, Washington with Assisted Living
- Mercer Island, WA.
- Bellevue, WA.
- White Center, WA.
- Kirkland, WA.
- Newcastle, WA.
- Tukwila, WA.
- Burien, WA.
- Shoreline, WA.
How to Pay for Assisted Living
You want to consider your payment options for assisted living, memory care, and care homes. For these services, Medicare is NOT an option for payment.
The most common payment for these services would be out of pocket Private Pay and assessing a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
Medicaid can also be an option, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.
Long-Term Care insurance is also a possible option in cases of chronic conditions, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.
For our Veterans and spouses of veterans, be sure to assess Veteran Aid and your eligibility for these benefits.
Medicare – NO:
- Medicare does NOT pay for Assisted Living.
- People 65 years and older and individuals with end stage renal disease are eligible for Medicare benefits, no matter their income.
- Coverage is meant for people in need of short-term care.
Private pay – YES:
- Many families pay for assisted living with private funds.
- Private pay can be a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
- Family members may contribute funds to pay for assisted living or other senior housing and care.
Medicaid – MAYBE:
- Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans. Eligible participants include: low-income adults, elderly adults and people with disabilities.
- Medicaid is administered by state, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by each state and the federal government.
- Every state has their own individual Medicaid assistance program.
- National guidelines are in place do decipher how states must spend Medicaid money, but with allowances toward the guidelines.
- The state determines what levels of care will be covered by Medicaid, who is eligible, and how much the state will reimburse the care community.
- If you are unsure whether you qualify for Medicaid, you should apply. You may be eligible depending on your household income, family size, age, disability and other factors.
Long-term Care Insurance – MAYBE:
Long term care insurance is a great way to pay for assisted living, and planning ahead is important when considering how to pay for senior housing and care. Nearly 75% of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care and services at some point. Buying into long-term care insurance when a person is in their 50s and 60s is the most common time to do so.
- Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs of chronic medical conditions.
- Individuals and couples with the ability to pay into long-term care insurance have the advantage of a head start in allocating funds for senior care.
Veteran Aid and Assistance – MAYBE:
This benefit is available to some military veterans and surviving spouses who live in an assisted living community and those who have in-home care.
- There are specific guidelines, but a veteran may qualify for as much as $2,050 each month.
- A veteran with a sick spouse may be eligible for $1,600 per month.
- If a veteran has passed, their surviving spouse can qualify for $1,300 per month.
How much does Seattle assisted living cost?
The average cost associate with care at an assisted living facility in Seattle, WA is $4600 / month.
The truth is that care, no matter the setting, but especially in nursing homes, requires robust staffing 24/7. The costs of hiring and keeping exceptional caregivers and medically trained staff such as nurses, is very costly. Add in the price of running a medical facility all day and night, pricey medical supplies and needed administrative staff, and you’ve got quite the overhead.
Although the cost can seem overwhelming, it’s smart to look into financial planning for end stage retirement and expected care needs.
Local hospital and healthcare providers in Seattle, WA
- Virginia Mason Medical Center
- UW Medical Center – Northwest
- Kindred Hospital Seattle – First Hill
- Harborview Medical Center
- First Hill Medical Swedish Hospital
- Swedish Medical Center Ballard Campus
- Swedish Hospital – First Hill Campus
- Harborview Medical Center
- UW Medical Center – Montlake
- Virginia Mason Hospital
Resources and Links – Washington
Community Living Connections For people who are looking primary for Information and assistance line for people facing aging and disability issues.
Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program – Promotes and protects the rights of long-term care residents living in licensed care facilities with the assistance of trained volunteers, the Ombudsman investigates and resolves complaints made by or on behalf of residents, and identifies problems that affect a substantial number of residents.
Adult Protective Services (APS) For those who are looking to contact APS for reports on allegations of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of vulnerable adults living in the community and in facilities.
Department of Social and Health Services Adult Abuse and Prevention A Department we are tied together by a single mission: to transform lives. Each administration within DSHS has a refined focus on this mission. Individually we have the following missions to transform lives by promoting choice, independence and safety through innovative services.
Office of Insurance Commissioner, Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA)– SHIBA has volunteers who can help you with your health care coverage questions. You get free, unbiased and confidential education and assistance.
Eldercare Locator This is a great resource to search for specific care in specific counties and cities. This database is a nationwide resource that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. Connect with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver education or respite from caregiving responsibilities. The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
Medicare provides a search feature to find & compare providers near you, most senior housing and care providers are included on CareAvailability.com. Find & compare plans in your area. Determine if you qualify for premium savings
Medicaid offers information on how to apply for Medicaid, eligibility criteria, links to local state offices, and additional resources
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Whether you are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with the disease, information and resources are available.
Questions to Ask
Finding an assisted living community can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on things to be observant of:
- Make sure the facility is clean and well maintained. You can tell a lot about the operation by noting what is clean and maintained. Are doorknobs loose or damaged? Do you see any frayed carpet or trip hazards?
- Visit during lunch hour to observe what the residents are eating. Ask questions about the nutrition program. Is there diversity in meals, healthy fruits and vegetables served at all meals, drink options?
- Speak to residents and/or family members to learn their perspective.
- Ask about staff and resident engagement. Get a feel for how staff interact with residents.
- Ask about the life enrichment programs. Activities are crucial when it comes to quality of life and play a key role in care for older adults.
- And finally (along with a plethora of more things to consider), get to know the leadership in the building. If you feel good around the Executive Director, Head Nurse, Lead Activities Director and even the Chef or Janitor, it is a good sign you can trust them with the care of your loved one.