My dad has lived here for a couple years now. Every time I talk to him about it or visit him, I…read morecontinue 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.

Very inconsistent service, particularly in the dining room. Dining room service generally ranges…read morefrom "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.

We recently had an opportunity to spend a week in a guest apartment at Ida Culver, Ravenna. I was…read moreimpressed by the welcoming atmosphere. A sign with our names greeted us in the lobby, a staffperson helped us unload and wheel our belongings up to the unit. The requested microwave was brought promptly. The staff made an effort to listen to our needs and sought our feedback on the visit. Great views and tasty food. Well worth looking into, especially as the entire building will be transformed with a major rebuild.

We moved my mother from a senior living apartment building that changed from senior to traditional,…read moreall ages. It's very difficult to make a change when one is in their 80s, but the staff and residents at Ida Culver Ravenna went above and beyond. Everything is five star in our book. At Ida Culver you will be surprised to find a warm, welcoming place behind the serious facade on NE 65th. The majority of the facility is older with big picture windows facing either a meditation garden or a beautiful, large sunny garden. This won't fill your needs if you're looking for brand new, McMansion type living. But if you are looking for wonderful spaces, bright and cheerful views, top notch staff with absolutely great communication, you have found the right place for your loved one(s). Soon after our Mom moved into Ida Culver, her health started to decline. The staff of Ida Culver was right on top of it, communicating to us what we didn't always see on our regular visits. Not only was the staff great, the other residents looked after Mom, and communicated to the staff when there was a problem. They were with us in dealing with hospitalization, were with us in dealing with the hospital regarding her care, and were with us for the short term of skilled nursing in order to gain strength. Our Mom will be transitioning to full assisted living, and the nursing staff has been wonderful concerning planning, communicating, and meeting with us. Bravo Ida Culver. It's wonderful to find a place that truly cares about their residents and 100% advocates for the best care possible. They have made this difficult journey that much easier.

Here is a suggestion. (Unless this is the result you outcome you wanted.)…read more Get your bigots off the phone. Two separate people, a man and woman, at separate times in trying to schedule for my parents to come see the facility-- made comments about our names, even joked that our last name doesn't sound Swedish. Listen- I've been a business owner here in Ballard and helped start three companies out of this neighborhood and lived here for nearly 30 years. No I'm not Scandinavian, thanks for noticing in the way your company seems comfortable doing. I am not only cancelling any visit, but I am also reporting your treatment of customers of color to the Secretary of State's office. You all are so comfortable in your prejudice you didn't realize that the year is 2026. You have as much access to the world as anyone and you should probably look out the window and check who your neighbors are. Your staff is atrocious. If you are a different company than you are showing yourselves to be- then what's the delay?

This is an incredible community with excellent management and community relations. The facility…read moreitself is a beautiful newer building, with Scandi details such as light woods, very uplifting, beautiful architectural details, lots of light and windows, and overall immersive and convivial common spaces. I found it very pleasant there. Also love the dining area overlooking the atrium. All spaces well designed, well kept, clean, and modern. The apartment rooms are also beautiful spaces with luxe carpets, modern kitchens, and baths, with good amount of storage. The food quality and service could be improved, but we ate at an odd time...2:30 pm on a Saturday. I can't say enough about the people running this... so many activities and the residents themselves are go-getter and so friendly. Beautiful facility ! We worked with the community relations Director and he was wonderful and helped us thru a very stressful process of convincing mom to leave her big house. He really knows how to talk to and relate to older persons, and he so committed and compassionate. He gave us incredible advice all along our journey to find a place for mom to live. He gave us incredible tips, referrals and information to help with the process. My mom chose this place out of all the ones we looked at, but due to timing issues and availability of units and some additional amenities she needed, we went with another wonderful Merrill Gardens property. Do not hesitate to make this your or your loved one's new home!

At Bayview, every detail--from the thoughtfully landscaped grounds to the curated activities…read morecalendar--reflects a commitment to enriching the lives of its residents. The community's vibrant social life includes regular arts workshops, music performances, and intergenerational events, all aimed at fostering connection, growth, and fulfillment. Looking to the future, Bayview continues to evolve, seeking resident feedback to refine its services and amenities. Whether through new wellness programs, enhanced dining experiences, or expanded learning opportunities, Bayview remains dedicated to setting the standard in senior living--a place where dignity, joy, and community flourish every day.

Have lived here going on three Years now. The relationship…read morebetween independent livers and staff is outstanding as is the food. The PT and OT staff are the best. The stand alone non profit and the positive role that independent livers play in leadership provide opportunities for rapid responses. Great caring place. .

My mother lived at The Empress Memory Care from September 2023 until her passing in May 2024…read more Within the first two weeks, her jewelry began disappearing, including a ruby ring she had worn daily for over ten years and never removed. Management offered no help or accountability, even suggesting she might have misplaced or traded items, which was not true. Over the next several months, more of her belongings went missing. 2 coats, sweaters and inexpensive earrings. During a later meeting with other residents' families, one man shared that his wife was terrified because staff were going through her things while she slept. This confirmed our fears. We paid roughly $20,000 to get her in this facility. We hoped it would be safe, compassionate care, but instead endured a deeply traumatic experience. I would never recommend this facility to anyone seeking trustworthy memory care for their loved one.

Empress Senior Living is a beautiful, boutique-style community in Laurelhurst that feels more like…read morean upscale hotel than a traditional senior living community--while still being very reasonably priced. The location is outstanding, with a Metropolitan Market across the street and some of Seattle's best parks and walking trails nearby. The food is excellent as well--especially the breakfast burritos. The staff is consistently friendly and welcoming, and there is always something engaging happening for residents. I've been especially impressed with the Health and Wellness Director, Heather. She has a strong pulse on the building and a deep understanding of each resident's individual needs. I've seen firsthand the care and intention Heather and her team put into ensuring that care is personalized, thoughtful, and well-coordinated. She does an exceptional job guiding her care team and working closely with outside partners to make sure residents who need specialized support receive it. Just as importantly, she communicates clearly and compassionately with families. Empress is a special community, and it truly shows in the quality of care and attention given every day.

My parents moved into Merrill Gardens at University Village when it became apparent my mom could…read moreno longer navigate the stairs in their 2 story home much less cook and clean. MG proved to be a wonderful place for them to live. They enjoyed the friendships they made with the fellow residents, the multitude of activities and events organized by Mindy, the simplicity of having their meals prepared and their apartment cleaned, the kindness of the employees including everyone from the administration to the front desk to the kitchen staff and especially the excellent care provided by the caregivers. Their compassion and professionalism was exceptional. My siblings and I are deeply grateful. Thank you!

Kudos to M.G. u for a fine job of orgaizing and conductingCovid Vaccinations for all residents and…read morestaff and for including private care givers. GoodJob! As we would say in the U.S. Navy, "Bravo Zulu to all hands."

In my last review I groused a bit about the food quality. The food quality has improved markedly…read moresince my last review. While I miss the luxurious buffet, a lingering result of COVID-19 protocols, the prepare to order delivered to table and available for pickup is back up to excellent quality. Put Mirabella on your list of retirement care communities to check out!

My husband and I have lived in a Mirabella apartment since July 2019…read more (I just happened on a negative review that shocked me. ) I initiated a search 5 years ago after falling down stairs twice in our wonderful Ballard house. the transition was fairly easy, much to my surprise. We had an easy move-in and live very comfortably here. There are staff dedicated to moves. The move-in fee was big, but we sold our house, so not a problem. If you move or pass away, a large % of the fee is refunded. We get the equivalent of a big meal a day per person (or 2 small ones) included in our monthly fee, as well as fairly thorough housekeeping every 2 weeks. I don't own a vacumn. They gave us new carpet and I chose to have wood floors for part. On move in, you choose things like wall paint colors, etc. The dining rooms include a casual one where you can pick up meals or choose baked goods etc. I love the staff here. I hire someone to help me above and beyond, but could comfortably manage without if needed. I love to be surrounded by books and have built- in shelves. Maybe you will be lucky and move into a place like mine where the previous occupant did so. We have an electric fireplace. You can move in your furniture at your own expense or find helpful relatives. Parking is an extra fee, tiny if you compare it to city charges. We have a big swimming pool, a smaller warjacuzzi and hot tub, a " Restore "  of items donated or left behind, where I like to shop. It was created by and staffed with wonderful resident volunteers. Lots of programs of all kinds, classes like a writing class I'm fond of. Many other services help, like packages delivered to your apt door. During Covid, they delivered our food. I think you get a certain number of such deliveries a year/ free. They are NOT paying me for this review.

Our adventure with University House Wallingford began in 2009, when my mother sold her house across…read morethe country and moved to Seattle to be close to family. We selected University House for a number of reasons, and while it wasn't perfect (what retirement community really is?), it was the best option for her. My mother certainly enjoyed most of her experiences there and met some incredibly interesting and accomplished individuals. She enjoyed the proximity to downtown Wallingford and, on the whole, enjoyed the food and staff. However, be aware of one very important concern. University House is managed by ERA Living, and this is probably the weakest point from the perspective of coming away from her time living there with a good feeling. Be aware that when a retirement community tells you that they can handle assisted living, it is by no means a guarantee that when the time comes to move to assisted living they will allow your elderly parent(s) to stay. That was the case with us, as my mother was essentially evicted from her apartment after a period of being ill for a number of months. Though there are residents of University House with debilitating conditions such as ALS who require constant care, it is the predictability of the care needed that will drive University House's decision regarding whether they will allow a resident to stay. So, if somebody's health is essentially up and down and unpredictable, they feel as though they can't handle that. If somebody, such as in the ALS scenario, has a predictable downward trajectory, they are OK with that. So, we were told to find her somewhere else to live. We did so and were very happy with the second housing situation, where she remained for the remainder of her life. But, there was one final surprise from University House. We were told near the end of the month that she could no longer live there, so we rushed to find the new housing alternative, and we had her out before the end of the month. But, University House has a 10 day notification of vacancy policy (it may have been a different amount, but my recollection is 10 days. . . nonetheless, the forthcoming point is still valid). Even though were were out of the apartment before the end of the month, they still opted to charge us for the now-vacant apartment for about five days afterwards. No attempt at good faith was shown on this issue, which really was heartbreaking for my mother. It wasn't the money. It was the loss of trust in an organization that she'd thought had the best interest of the residents at heart. So, yes, ERA Living is a for-profit company. They're allowed to make a buck (or a million). But, they really need to rethink the manner in which their policies come off in practice.

If you're considering a retirement home for your aged parent, you could do far worse. Having had a…read morerelative in both Ballard Landmark and U. House, each has their own charms to recommend. Ballard Landmark skews a little younger and buzzier and has the advantage of the animated Ballard Ave. But U. House is far and away more intellectually stimulating and cultural, with a heavy emphasis on musical offerings. The grounds are lovely and elegant, and the food, while not My ideal, is selected with care. The staff rotates, of course, but are generally well intentioned. Neither facility is recommended for heavy duty assisted living, so if serious infirmity is on the horizon, best to find somewhere with continuing care priorities.