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Seattle is known as the Emerald City because of its surrounding evergreen forests. It’s a beautiful urban area that’s still in touch with nature. If you or a loved one is looking at senior living options in Seattle, exploring the information in this guide will help you better navigate senior living and select the best possible option.
When looking for senior living options in Seattle, “nursing home” is often used as an all-encompassing term. The reality is nursing, as defined by government agencies, refers specifically to skilled nursing facilities that care for people with significant short- and long-term health conditions or injuries. Skilled nursing facilities benefit seniors who need full-time care. However, many seniors don’t need this degree of attention. Rather, they’d do well in an assisted living or memory care facility that allows them to live as independently as possible.
In this guide, we’ll go over information about skilled nursing to help you determine whether it’s the right care level. While we don’t partner with any stand-alone skilled nursing facilities, some of our assisted living and memory care communities have skilled nursing care services on-site.
A Place for Mom partners with 153 assisted living and memory care facilities within a 10-mile radius of downtown Seattle. And we have many more options in a 25-mile radius if you are looking beyond the immediate city. In this guide, we will take a look at the costs, ways to pay, health care options, transportation methods, and more.
Types of care available in Seattle, WA
Mom moved from another facility and our experience here has been so much more positive. The office staff processes insurance information accurately. The care staff is very involved with the residents.
It's been fine here. Everyone here is about the same as the other buildings I've lived at. I'm very independent, so everyone pretty much leaves me alone. I'm happy here and feel good here.
I can confidently rate Aegis of Kirkland a 5 out of 5. My brother and I found Aegis to be very clean in all the common areas as well as private areas. The food is excellent, and the staff is compassionate. They have several activities going on throughout the day. There is something that should appeal to anyone tastes. [name removed], the marketing manager, was so helpful during the transition process.
17127 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98155
13112 Military Road SW, Tukwila, WA 98168
The national median cost of a nursing home in a private room is $8,910 per month.[01] This cost is for skilled nursing facilities providing 24-hour supervision and on-site health and rehabilitative services.
Skilled nursing facilities are ideal for seniors who need long-term care due to serious conditions or short-term care for those recovering from surgery, hospital stays, or injuries. Here are services in skilled nursing facilities that are often included:
In Seattle, the average cost of assisted living is $6,246 per month, and the average cost of memory care is $6,508 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.[02] These figures include associated fees and service fee add-ons. You’ll notice these numbers are lower than the national average cost of a nursing home because residents don’t need 24/7 skilled nursing care.
11.65 miles from you
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9.80 miles from you
Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, or memory care can be paid for in a few ways. Private options, such as savings accounts, are commonly used alongside public options, such as Medicaid or Medicare. While some people choose to use one funding method to pay, most people prefer to use a mix of private and public funding.
In this section, you will learn about how private funding, VA benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare can all be used to help pay for different types of senior living facilities.
There are many different ways people can pay for skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care facilities using private funding. The most common are savings and pensions, Social Security benefits, and investment returns. However, there are also the following options:
In Washington, skilled nursing facilities must be licensed by the state and are regulated at a federal level by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
On the state level, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) regulates nursing homes in Washington. This organization is responsible for performing inspections, which are available on the DSHS website’s nursing home locator. Inspections are broad but include ensuring a registered nurse is on duty at all times, an appropriate staff ratio to residents, and that residents get at least 3.4 hours a day of direct care. Federal law requires the state to conduct full inspections, unannounced, at least every 15 months.
For additional information on skilled nursing facility regulations in Washington, the following resources are also available:
In Washington, assisted living facilities must also be licensed by the DSHS. To become licensed, an assisted living facility must complete an application; meet certain health, safety, and comfort requirements; and be inspected by a DSHS surveyor. The facility will be inspected regularly to ensure it continually meets the department’s criteria.
You can find these inspection reports on the Washington State DSHS website. You can type in a ZIP code, the city name, or the name of a specific facility in the search box. PDFs of the reports will then be available for download. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can also request inspection reports and licenses here. You can also report any complaints or violations.
Memory care facilities in Washington must be licensed as assisted living facilities by the DSHS. This means a facility must complete an application, meet certain requirements, and be regularly inspected. DSHS will ensure compliance with state regulations. Requests for inspection reports and licensing can be made via the DSHS website. You can also look them up here by clicking on “advanced ALF search.” then searching by county, city, or ZIP code, and — finally — by selecting “Dementia Care” under “Specific Criteria.”
What requirements do memory care facilities need to meet? According to this policy, facilities must meet certain standards in regard to staffing, medication management, safety and security, and resident care. For example, staff members at memory care facilities must have dementia care training. Additionally, these facilities must have individualized resident care plans, including specialized programming and activities designed for people with memory impairments.
The following links provide additional information on laws and regulations around assisted living and memory care facilities:
Washington State Department of Health
111 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
Phone: 800-525-0127
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Washington has rescinded many of its state COVID-19 guidelines to better align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. However, like many long-term care facilities, nursing homes follow guidelines from the Washington Department of Health and the CDC.
Vaccinations. Guidelines recommend that staff and residents are vaccinated and up-to-date on boosters.
Masking. It is recommended that staff wear well-fitted masks, like the N95 mask, and eye protection where appropriate.
Facility cleanliness. Dedicated medical equipment must be used on residents who are suspected or have a confirmed case of COVID-19. Additionally, routine cleaning, disinfection of surfaces, and optimized ventilation and filtration are recommended.
Quarantining. Staff should only move residents who have COVID-19 from their rooms when it is medically necessary.
Number of in-network assisted living facilities in market
In Seattle, nursing homes, assisted living, memory care facilities trend toward upscale, luxury living. Residents will enjoy mild summers, scenic views, and the benefits of urban life.
Amenities and services will vary depending on the senior living option you or your loved one pick. In the following sections, we’ll go over what to expect from each type of facility in Seattle as well as which requirements you may encounter.
While many people use the term “nursing home” to discuss any senior living option, government agencies use the term to refer to skilled nursing care. Skilled nursing facilities primarily focus on care for people with significant health conditions. They provide hands-on care services like physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, wound care, intravenous therapy, injections, and medical equipment and vitals monitoring.
A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with any nursing homes. However, we do partner with 153 assisted living and memory care communities in Seattle. These facilities may be a better fit for you or your loved one.
Assisted living and memory care is a more appropriate senior living choice for people who are able to live more independently.
In terms of care, seniors at assisted living or memory care facilities benefit from typical services like housekeeping, personal care, meal preparation, scheduled social outings, medication management, and more. Some combination facilities may also offer skilled nursing services or a skilled nursing wing.
When it comes to amenities and activities, many facilities offer enclosed walking spaces, stretching classes, and yoga or chair yoga for some on-site physical activity. Group spaces, such as libraries, courtyards, and game rooms, give residents places to socialize. Dining is also a provided amenity, and most facilities offer specialized diets for those who need it. For example, almost all of our in network facilities offer vegetarian dining options. If you have a beloved cat or small dog, more than half of the facilities in our partner communities offer pet-friendly services, too.
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Percentage of seniors 65 and older within Seattle
Seattle has a number of top-tier health care options, from the nationally recognized University of Washington Medical Center to several well-regarded clinics specializing in senior care.
Named as one of the best teaching hospitals in the nation, UW Medical Center ranks nationally in seven adult specialties and is known for high-quality cancer care, nephrology, and urology programs.
Taking a patient-centered health care approach, Virginia Mason is well-known for its care in orthopedic care, cancer care, and digestive disorder programs.
This Bellevue-based medical center, just 10 miles from downtown Seattle, was qualified by U.S. News and World Report as “high performing” in 13 different adult procedures. [06]
With two campuses in Seattle, this general medical and surgical facility has been named the best Seattle Metro area hospital by U.S. News and World Report.
Part of UW Medical Center, this geriatrics clinic prioritizes care for people over the age of 75. It offers various services, from primary care, to memory care and palliative care.
Offering primary care and specialty health services, the VA Puget Sound Health Care facility focuses specifically on veterans’ unique needs.
While Seattle is known for being both walkable and bike-friendly, there are plenty of other transportation options available for you or your loved one. This includes public services as well as on-site transportation at our partner assisted living and memory care facilities.
Overall, 64% of our partner communities offer complimentary transportation, and 74% offer at-cost transportation services. These options are good for seniors in assisted living and memory care who may need assistance when traveling.
Visitors to the city and residents with more mobility will benefit from the many public transportation methods available. Beyond the bus system operated by King County Metro Transit, which has extensive downtown coverage, there are also ferries and a streetcar system. The light rail serves downtown Seattle and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
There are also options specifically for seniors and those who can’t access public transport. These include:
No matter what senior living option you or your loved one select, there will be plenty of recreational opportunities. Most nursing home, assisted living, and memory care facilities offer a variety of in-house classes and activities. This can include cooking lessons, arts and craft sessions, music therapy, gardening, scheduled board and card games, and more.
Seattle also has a diverse variety of downtown activities and sights you or your loved one could visit. For instance, art and music lovers will appreciate Seattle’s Museum of Flight, Museum of Pop Culture, and Art Museum. All three museums offer senior discounts and accommodations for disabilities and mobility issues. For those who love theater and live music, the event guide EverOut lists dozens of timely theater and concert options to choose from.
Sitting between Puget Sound and Mount Rainier, Seattle has many beautiful natural areas. If you or your loved one enjoy the outdoors, there are many accessible walking trails, calming parks, and tranquil gardens. For instance, the Japanese Garden and Volunteer Park Conservatory are both wonderful ways to spend an afternoon; they have plenty of benches and rest areas where you can sit and enjoy the surroundings.
Seattle has two casinos nearby: Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort, which also has a spa, and Muckleshoot Casino, which has an array of gaming options and touts its status as the state’s largest smoke-free table games area.
Do you or your loved one like live sports? Get tickets to a major league baseball game to see the Mariners or an NFL game to watch the Seahawks. Other professional teams in Seattle include the Kraken hockey team, the Seattle Storm WNBA team, and the Seattle Sounders soccer team.
Fieldstone Memory Care Puyallup, Holden Southcenter Assisted Living and Memory Care and Cogir of Kent are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Seattle, WA. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Seattle is 5,190 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Genworth. (2021). Median Cost of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, & Home Care. Genworth.
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran Status (S2101): Seattle, Washington; United States [Data set]. QuickFacts.
Washington State. (2022, June 29). RCW: NURSING HOMES—RESIDENT CARE, OPERATING STANDARDS. WA.gov.
ALTSA. (n.d.). Long-Term Care Residential Options. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
U.S. News. (2023). Best Hospitals in Seattle, WA.
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