My dad has lived here for a couple years now. Every time I talk to him about it or visit him, I continue to unimpressed, especially for the amount of money per month he is paying. (The first irritating thing being the monthly rent was raised by a couple hundred dollars a few months after he moved in and that upcoming rate change was not revealed to him when he signed the papers.) They have a vulnerable population that in many cases is getting substandard amenities. I'm not talking about actual physical care. I don't have experience with that side of it. Everything is clean, frequent varied activities for residents, etc. Here are some things I don't like: 1. The internet in my dad's room is terrible. It's slow as molasses. There have been occasions where the internet is flat out not working and it doesn't seem to be a priority to get it working again (although my dad noted on one of those occasions that the internet in the office area still worked.) My dad is too old to realize this is not acceptable. Even if all he was planning on doing was playing online solitaire. I would urge anyone moving in who likes the internet to fully investigate this in the room they are planning to move into. 2. My dad expresses concerns about the high rate of turnover in the kitchen/dining room staff. He reports that this causes inconsistency in quality of food. 3. Also, new faces all the time means the residents can't build relationships with staff, which is a missed opportunity to make the place more special. 4.The high turnover raises the question about how good the work environment is. I assume it pays not much more than minimum wage. I overheard a slightly racist interaction between a resident and one of the staff recently which makes me wonder if sensitivity training needs to be offered to the residents, OR the staff's rights to be treated well by both management and residents is not being stood up for. Maybe this is just me resorting to stereotyping about the older generation that they might demonstrate racist values when interacting with people of color serving them. This is pure speculation--all I know is the turnover is high and whatever the root cause is should be addressed. Pluses are great location and the lobby is spacious and comfortable. read more

Very inconsistent service, particularly in the dining room. Dining room service generally ranges from "not so bad" to "horrible" - seldom does it deserve to be rated "just okay," and it is extremely rare for the service to be rated "better than just okay." Their (the staff) hearts seem to be in the right place [they sort of care], but they do not get enough training. The cooks run the show, and they seem to be very temperamental and inconsistent. The serving staff seems to be dominated by the moods of the cooks. If the cooks are being temperamental, that experience is transferred out to the food service presenters who then pass it on to the customers, patrons, and residents. Generally it seems be best to avoid having anything to do with the dining room, unless one chooses to be aggravated and frustrated. There seems to be communication issues - lack of communication, and how information is communicated. read more

It's rare that I write a review about a community, yet I'm compelled to especially because of the caliber of the leadership at Ballard Landmark. First, it's such a beautiful community with all the amenities. Second, location location location. To be able to walk on flat streets to amazing restaurants, boutiques, you name it. Most importantly is the team. Having an RN as an Executive Director means she "gets it" when it comes to care and support of residents. In my work, I touch all leadership, from the ED to Marketing, to Wellness, and hands down they get a 5 start for professionalism, collaboration and a focus on helping residents live a full, whole life. Keep up the amazing work and I always feel confident refering our clients to your community. read more

My mother-in-law has been living at The Landmark for four years. Each time I visit she would say "I love living her". Every time! She loves the care workers, the social director, all the activities she's participated in. There is always something interesting or entertaining going on. I love how each month the decor is changed to reflect a season or holiday. They even move the existing furniture around in the community areas so it seems like you are somewhere new. The food is good. All the staff is WONDERFUL!! I recommend this to everyone. And I also say, I'd love to be living here myself. Shelle Bjolstad read more

This is billed as a high-end retirement and assisted living community. Don't be fooled. The ownership -- likely crippled by economic conditions -- has ratcheted back services to the bare minimum. With some notable exceptions, the staff is surly and disinterested. The onsite management is even worse. The management ignores residents when they try to address concerns including bad food and cleanliness issues. I would look hard and ask a lot of questions before moving here, or moving a loved-one in. read more

Advertised for independent and assisted living services. Facility is not really equipped for assisted living. The facility will complete an assessment for assisted living clients and accept the client after a $3,500 community fee. However, assisted living staff doesn't provide consistent services. The company will bill you for services that they can't perform when the assisted living client doesn't cooperate with staff. Staff just goes away and doesn't try to redirect or engage the assisted living client with creative solutions. Staff, including the Executive Director, Nursing Director, and Maintenance Direct has been replaced several times in the two years that the facility has been open. If the assisted living client has to relocate to a facility that will provide proper care, this company will not refund any of the $3,500 community fee. The building and the apartments are quite nice and the location is great for Ballard activities; however, I would only recommend this facility for an independent living client. A modern building is not a substitute for quality care that treats assisted living clients with dignity, respect, and consistent care. read more

Been to many such places in area, this is high quality! Fresh fruits & vegs daily, cooked just as you ask. Servers & cook deliver healthy choices to please. I heard complaints about the daily special, if you don't like it, just order something else from menu! Bistro large & well stocked with hot coffee, tea, pastries. A-1 gym with great trainer. POOL, live music every Monday. Lively residents, caring staff. I need the assisted care & the price is beyond fair. Mgr has gone above & beyond to fix any issues I had upon moving in. Clean, homey, safe, and a neighborhood PACKED with shops, cafes, grocery, drug store that delivers, parks, medical offices & fire station just blks away. LOVE IT read more

See all

A few weeks ago I posted a scathing review of the food in this facility. However, in the weeks since I have seen significant improvement. What impressed me even more than the food quality is the responsiveness of management. Now that I have been here awhile I can attest to the degree of caring that helps residents feel their concerns matter. To feel "heard is powerful, especially for older people who have already lost some degree of control over their lives. Bravo, Ballard Landmark, for listening and following through with promises! read more

I helped my mother move my grandparents into Landmark and in the process, visited several communities in the north Seattle area with her. Before this, we had been in a facility that was negligent to both of my grandparents' needs so safety, attentiveness, and care for their general wellbeing were certainly at the top of our list. A close second, was that there were enough opportunities for interaction and socialization to keep them happy and active. Ballard Landmark checked all of these boxes for us. Not only does Landmark have a great location, but as soon as you walk through the doors you can feel the energy of the seniors whether they're sitting down to lunch, reading the paper by the fire, having a glass of wine, or heading to the movie theater. That was our first impression. Next, we met with the Facility Director and the Nursing Director to talk about their assisted living provisions and were very satisfied with what we heard. My grandparents have now been at Landmark for almost a year and I can say that their assisted living promises have certainly lived up to their guarantee (I won't go into details as every resident's needs are different) and best of all, their nurses care about their residents! I know this may sound like a simple thing but given our experience with caregivers and facilities in the past, this is not that common and to truly find a nursing staff that cares about your elderly loved ones will give a peace of mind knowing they're in good hands. As a bonus - they take the time to text my mother in between visits to let her know how her parents are doing which makes it much easier on her! As for the activities, Landmark offers house happy hours twice a week, errand and grocery runs, doctor transports, special events around holidays (or the Super Bowl :)), and more. Plenty of opportunity for my grandparents to get out and get active and honestly something we can all do as a family that is within their comfort zone. This is a great place, I encourage you to check it out! read more

Since I use reviews for my research on different services and products I felt obligated to write my experience with Ballard Landmark. Life as it moves forward and my mom's situation led me in my search for assisted living in the Seattle area. A few months ago, I was going to use one of the many senior care companies to assist with my search until I came upon a facebook picture of a person named Betty Ballard. Further reading of this profile it was speaking of Ballard Landmark, a senior community in the heart of its namesake. The next day I called Ballard Landmark and spoke with the receptionist and they connected me with Mindy Byers who is the marketing director. She immediately understood my concerns and calmed my fears which seemed overwhelming at that time. She gave me enough information so that I could investigate further and weigh my options regarding neighboring senior communities and alternative services. A few weeks later and after consulting my siblings, we made an appointment with Mindy. About an hour into our tour and meeting a few current residents my mom made the decision that this would be her home. It's been over a month and mom is happy! Thanks to all of the people at Ballard Landmark who made this decision easy. With much appreciation. Beth read more

My mother has lived here for the past 6 months. As we need to step up to skilled nursing now I wanted to leave a review of Ballard Landmark. The good: Caring staff. A very active community with lots of chatter in the beautiful lobby. Great neighborhood with Sunday farmer's market. Clean, beautiful, modern apartments with views. Good place to visit once you figure out parking. Lots of pets around and a nice patio or private rooms for shared meals. Feels more like a hotel than an institution- a place to live and not to die. The ok: Food is fine but not exceptional. Staff reacts well to health issues but has trouble keeping up with care plans (like check in the room at meal times). Assisted living will only work here if you have your wits about you to pull the cord as needed. The bad: Only pull strings for emergencies, no around the neck emergency button system. When visiting the parking, phone, check in, and elevator setup is ridiculously slow and cumbersome. No ac in the apartments so you'll need to buy one (the heat one day almost killed my mom). read more

My experience working with Mindy and Ann at Landmark Ballard has been very professional and positive. They both worked tirelessly to answer all of my questions and I am impressed with the building and how fresh the air smells in the hallways. read more

The Ballard Landmark was a godsend...Our 90-year-old mother was able to live a rich, full, independent life with dignity until the very end. The employees are kind, patient and her days were filled with wonderful classes and activities. The facility is clean and well maintained. The community of residents is friendly and welcoming. It is located in a neighborhood filled with every convenience and an amazing amount of activity. We couldn't have been happier with our choice. read more

When my mother moved in 4 years ago the management team on staff was wonderful. The GM outgoing & friendly with the residents and the woman at the front desk was professional, knowledgeable & extremely helpful. The food was delicious and our family enjoyed attending the functions and meals. Sadly they are all gone and several other managers have come & gone. The food is sometimes in inedible for the residents. Obviously GenCare has made financial cutbacks from employees that constantly turnover to 'FoodServices' trucks that deliver prepared processed foods. Do not believe that this is an organic fresh food facility unless you believe canned fruit & canned soups fall into that category. The facility is clean although there are many residents that are not and pets that do their business in the hallways. Overall the rates have gone up and the quality has gone way down! read more

After much research I helped my father move here a year ago. My sisters and I are frequent visitors and we always find the establishment clean and the workers - from the front desk to the cafeteria friendly and helpful. The difference in my father is amazing. He's happy and has met many new people. He especially likes the happy hour Tuesdays and Fridays. There are lots of activities and events scheduled. My sisters and I are perplexed about the poor review of this facility. I have eaten many meals with my father and as a vegetarian I have many choices and the salads are always impeccably fresh. Each of the waiters and waitresses have taken the time and trouble to remember what my father likes to order. I have never interacted with a surly worker and I often give feedback to the staff. A couple times my father has fallen at night and the staff has been instantly available (there are emergency help cords in each room). Having my father live at the Ballard Landmark has given my sisters and I peace of mind and allowed my father to still maintain his independence. read more

I am surprised to read negative reviews of this facility. When I first visited here to potentially move my parents in, the first thing I noticed was it FELT like a true community of staff and residents who truly cared about each other and their quality of life. I had visited several retirement facilities as I was moving my parents out of their current retirement facility because their assisted living nurse had no idea what he was doing. At first I was a little concerned about how they could provide for 2 seniors, both wheelchair bound. When you visit you definitely get the feeling that this is apartment living w/ great amenities but you get no feeling of a "nursing home", which is actually a positive thing. After meeting with the Nursing director and the Facility director, we realized that their assisted living provisions were above and beyond what I first thought. Now that my folks have lived there for 9 months, and I am there everyday-sometimes twice a day, for couple hours, I feel like I can write a credible useful review that may help potential residents make a decision on the Landmark. ACTIVITIES: there are many outings and special features, such as in house happy hours twice a week, errand and grocery runs weekly, doctor transport twice a week, and every holiday or special day includes either a special dinner or party. They plan many interesting outings and even take the van to the casino! There are several functions for men only also which seems very popular. NURSING SERVICES: This is the area that I know the most about. I have been immersed in the assisted living/skilled nursing section of retirement living for ten years. My father had a debilitating bicycle accident and has been primarily confined to a wheelchair since his accident. When I considered the Landmark for assisted living I was a bit hesitant how they could provide assistance for a couple who had so many physical challenges...That is until I met Jamie, the director of assisted living. She sets the bar very high for her aids and 2 full time nurses. I am at the Landmark everyday for 2-3 hours .Not only are the aids skilled, efficient, and professional--they sincerely CARE about the residents and the families. They are fully aware of the challenges I face caring for aging parents, working full time, and having a large family. They do everything they can to make things easier for me and we all work as a team to provide the best care for my parents. They even take the time to text me from their personal phones to inform me of a concern they may have or supplies that we are out of. I am most grateful for the times when an aid has some extra minutes and they sit with my parents as a "companion" not just a worker. I will admit there were some challenges when we first moved in, but for Jamie---- it was always "lets see how we can make this work".... Never did she say to me "this is not going to work". This same genuine care and concern extends to the receptionists., who are always available and approachable to assist residents with a cheerful, kind approach. It is very clear that the welfare of the residents is their top priority. FOOD SERVICE:I seldom eat meals there, but my folks enjoy all the meals and the alternatives. Beyond that, there is an amazing food service staff. Each of them makes every effort to meet the dietary needs and food preferences of each resident. I am always so impressed with their kindness and sincerity as they interact with the residents at meal times. They promote a cheerful atmosphere at every meal. The many attractions of this community include a library, piano, movie theatre, pool table, bistro, swim pool, hair salon, outdoor courtyards, work out gym, and more. There is a full time trainer who leads exercise classes and gives personal training sessions to assess what would be an appropriate exercise program for a resident and how she can assist them in reaching their fitness goals. She even takes residents for daily walks in the neighborhood. And on several occasions I have seen her with resident's dogs along on the walks! Pets are welcome at this facility and the residents enjoy the companionship of the dogs. Pet owners use discretion when sharing their pets in the community and they are always leashed. Opportunities for improvements: There needs to be more automatic door buttons on the heavier doors, but I know this is being worked on. Also, I would like it if they had a larger bus to accommodate more wheelchairs on outings. I am pleased with the care my parents receive at the Landmark. I completely trust the nursing staff and am confident that I can count on them to provide the higher level of assistance that my folks will need. My only regret is that I didn't move them in sooner. Paula Gray read more

My dad recently passed away. He was so happy at Ballard Landmark! The staff is amazing. The food is great. It has been much improved over the last several months. I always got a free parking pass for several hours while I visited. There is nothing but great things to report. I would highly recommend to all! read more

Our dad was not excited about moving from our home to a senior living home. That was before we visited Ballard Landmark. The facility is 5-star. Beautiful public areas where everyone congregates and socializes (or just relaxes to read a book by the fire-place). Guest rooms are perfect. Not large but lovely and spotless and designed for elderly folks with mobility issues. ​But aside from that, there are two things that stand out. First, everywhere you look, you see people who are happy. The residents clearly enjoy their home and the community. Second is the straightforward transparency of the staff. We so appreciate the help from the professionals at Ballard Landmark. Mindy Byers and Ann Rogers gave us comprehensive tour of the home before sitting down to answer all questions and address all concerns. Our dad is very excited about moving into his new home. And we are very excited for him! read more

Our family toured a number of retirement homes before helping our mother decide on Ballard Landmark a year ago. Unfortunately, we have been very disappointed in our choice. The facility looks and sounds good, but falls considerably short of its billing as a "vibrant community," or a "community" period. To be fair, the activity director is a gem--lovely, personable and extremely hard-working, but she seems to have to do everything--with little support or backup. And therein lies the main problem: insufficient staff for a facility of this size to run smoothly. As a result, there is poor follow-through when problems are identified. The answer to everything seems to be "we're doing the best we can," whether the problem is broken equipment, lack of promised (and paid for) services such as internet or housekeeping, or maintenance issues in the individual units. I have observed residents who are paying for assistance sitting alone for so long in the dining room waiting to be wheeled back to their units that I've wondered whether I should intervene. If they can't get the basic things right, how can we trust them when our mom needs assistance? Much ado is made about the healthy meals at Landmark, and I will say that the Food Service Manager does a great job. If only the rest of the facility was managed so well... read more

I never write reviews. In fact I find that reviews like this are rarely posted when individuals are satisfied and unfortunately these reviews have all been written by a few folks that seem to complain about everything. Unfortunately many of those living at Ballard Landmark are seniors and not particularly computer savvy and have never heard of Yelp. In that light, it is unfortunate that the over 150 people that live here, happily, would never contribute to this website. Ballard Landmark does require a community fee for all move-ins, this is standard for independent/assisted living facilities. When I moved in I happily paid this community fee as an alternative to paying a first month, last month and deposit that would have been required in any other rental agreement. There have been rent increases, but they are not unreasonable and are still below the Seattle rent increase average. Really, where would you rent that would not have rent increases in the City! The food is great, the dining staff attentive, you will never see canned fruit and vegetables here, only fresh! The building is clean and beautiful. Yes sometimes their is a stain on the carpet... there are over 150 people living here! But the carpets are cleaned frequently. The staff is wonderful and although other posts suggest that there is a lot of turnover I do not feel that it is excessive and many of the managers have been here for the 2 years that I have. The building has the best activity program and amenities. Where else do you get a full-time personal trainer for free. It makes me very sad that earlier ratings on this website make Ballard Landmark look like a horrible place. Because it is not! And like I said earlier, if more of my fellow resident's were computer savvy this place would have 5 stars!!! I know Mr. B. Brown (who wrote a very negative and in my opinion completely untrue rating) personally and the only comment I have for him is that if he did not waste all his money gambling then he could move anywhere he wants. I do not see him complaining when he is using the pool and community computers everyday. I was also at the cinco de mayo event and found the food delicious, the band exceptional and especially enjoyed the free margaritas! read more