The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Seattle, WA for 2024
Seattle’s downtown area is dense and busy, but the city is surrounded by beautiful Pacific Northwest neighborhoods. For seniors who enjoy outdoor scenery, the Emerald City’s diverse landscape offers easy access to beautiful ocean shores and views of snow-capped mountains. The City of Seattle is home to 737,015 residents, with 17% age 60 and over. However, the Seattle Metro area includes a population of 4,069,180 residents.
Assisted living facilities provide personal care assistance in a homelike community for seniors who can no longer reside at home alone. Staff members help residents with daily living needs, and housekeeping and transportation are included. The average cost per month for assisted living in Seattle is $6,750, higher than Washington state at $6,000 and much higher than the national average of $4,500.
This informative guide provides information about assisted living in Seattle and the costs. Also provided are the pros and cons of retiring in the city and a list of free resources for seniors living in the Seattle area.
Directory of Assisted Living Facilities in Seattle, WA
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COVID-19 Rules for Assisted Living in Seattle
Since most COVID-19 rules for Assisted Living Communities and other Senior Living Facilities are set at the state level, you can view the specific rules for your state on our Guide to Assisted Living in Washington. Keep in mind that every community has specific policies that they put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.
What To Consider About Assisted Living in Seattle
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services regulates and licenses assisted living facilities, performing regularly scheduled and unannounced inspections to ensure all state rules are followed. The Washington State Assisted Living Licensing Rules outline standards of care and residents’ rights.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in Seattle
- Seattle is part of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, a program developed by AARP with older adults in mind to create livable communities with safe, walkable streets, transportation options and access to services needed to live life well. The city’s action plan outlines strategies to address livability and promote the health of older adults.
- Although Seattle often receives criticism for the amount of rain the city gets, it averages 38 inches of rain each year, the same as the U.S. average. There’s a chance of a few inches of snow in the winter, but it typically doesn’t stay around very long, and the summer temperature average is a pleasant 76 degrees. The one drawback is 226 gray days per year, which make Seattle the cloudiest city in the United States. Still, the area’s natural beauty outshines the clouds.
- Seniors may find their hard-earned income goes further in Seattle, as Washington is a senior retiree tax-friendly state. Social Security income, withdrawals from retirement accounts and pension income aren’t taxed, and Washington doesn’t have a state income tax.
- The cost of living in Seattle may present a hardship to some seniors overall, being 172.3 out of a national average of 100. The highest costs driving this number are housing at 309 out of 100 and groceries at 108.7. The lower cost-of-living numbers are utilities at 68.8 and health care at 85.2.
- Seattle does have higher crime rates, with a violent crime rate of 32.3 versus the U.S. average of 22.7 and a much higher property crime rate of 76.9 compared to the U.S. average of 35.4. These rates are for the Seattle downtown city area. Other communities in the Seattle Metro area have lower crime rates.
Paying for Assisted Living in Seattle
The Genworth Cost of Care Survey reports an average monthly cost of $6,750 for assisted living in Seattle compared to the state average of $6,000. These amounts are both much higher than the national average of $4,500.
The Cost of Assisted Living in Nearby Cities
The cost of assisted living in Seattle is one of the most expensive in Washington, at $6,750. Just across the bay from Seattle, Bremerton averages less at $5,750. South of Seattle, the state capital of Olympia averages $4,805 monthly, and further south, Longview’s monthly average is $5,300.
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
Seniors can choose from additional long-term care options in Seattle based on their needs. Adult day health care, for seniors who only need weekday supervision, averages $2,600 per month. Seniors who decide to remain at home can choose homemaker services or home health aide care, which provides some medical assistance at a monthly average of $6,769 for each. Seniors who may need a higher level of medical care from a nursing home will pay an average of $9,916 for a semiprivate room and $11,984 for a private room.
Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Seattle
There are Medicaid programs offered by the state of Washington to pay for the cost of ALF services in Mountlake Terrace. Eligible seniors may qualify for the Community First Choice (CFC) State Plan or one of the Home and Community-Based Service 1915(c) waivers which are the Community Options Program Entry System (COPES), New Freedom and Residential Support waivers.
Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in Washington page.
More Ways to Pay for Assisted Living
While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:
- Veterans Benefits
- Life Insurance Policy
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Reverse Mortgage
For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Washington page.
Free Assisted Living Resources in Seattle
Seattle is committed to being age-friendly, and part of this commitment includes offering numerous free resources for seniors. Government and local agencies provide community and social recreation, benefits education and additional support services for seniors.
Resource
Contact
Service
1 (800) 562-6028
The Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program assists seniors and their families with issues or complaints with long-term care facilities. It also protects the rights of the elderly and educates them about the benefits and programs offered through Medicaid and Medicare. Ombudsmen help find resolutions for situations involving quality of care, seniors' rights, elder abuse and other aspects of dignity and personal rights for residents in long-term care facilities.
(206) 932-4044
The Senior Center of West Seattle provides support, socialization and activities to promote the health and wellness of area seniors. Fitness classes include yoga, exercise, qigong and tai chi. Activities include cribbage, mah-jongg, live music and drumming workshops.
(206) 727.6262
The Hyde Shuttle program offers seniors van service to locations throughout King County. Rides are provided for meal programs, medical appointments, senior centers, grocery stores, medical appointments and other local destinations.
Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Seattle
Seattle-area assisted living communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all assisted living communities in Washington are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in Washington page for more information about these laws.
