Assisted Living in Washington

Assisted living in Washington State affords seniors breathtaking scenery, comfortable residences and convenient access to some of the best hospitals and medical facilities in the country.

Washington state assisted living communities are also required by law to meet quality measures that set healthcare standards in Washington above assisted living care in other parts of the country.

Assisted Living in Washington Defined

Adults or seniors who live in Washington assisted living facilities receive food, lodging and help with personal and health-related tasks such as help with daily dressing, teeth and hair brushing, washing, meal preparation and managing medications. This type of personalized assistance is not usually offered at a retirement community or independent living facility.

However, seniors residing in assisted living in Washington receive less care than at a skilled nursing facility, also known as a nursing home. Nursing homes in Washington are residential treatment facilities where on-site doctors and nurses provide 24-hour supervised medical and rehabilitative care to patients with chronic illnesses.

Regulation of Assisted Living in Washington

Communities of assisted living in Washington are licensed and regulated by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). State inspectors conduct in-person, annual inspections of each assisted living community. They observe and record observations about the general upkeep of the facility, review medical records and ask residents about the quality of their care.

Each inspection produces a report that requires assisted living homes to design a plan to address any issues that were uncovered during the inspection or risk the loss of their operating license. These facility inspection reports are available for public viewing either upon request from a specific residence or from DSHS for a minor fee.

Washington State has legally recognized long-term care recipients as a particularly vulnerable group and legislated additional protections for all residents of assisted living in Washington and other long-term care facilities. This “Bill of Resident Rights” grants residents of assisted living communities specific rights concerning their care while in residence, and outlines rules for how staff are permitted to treat them during their stay.

Training of Assisted Living Employees in Washington

The recently passed Initiative-1029 mandates greater training and hiring requirements for paid caregivers who work in skilled nursing facilities and communities of assisted living in Washington.

Workers are now required to undertake at least 75 hours of training and pass a certification exam before they are allowed to work in a licensed facility. Employees are also subject to a criminal background check.

Support for Residents of Assisted Living in Washington

Washington State provides a broad array of services to help seniors pay for and manage assisted living care, including participation in the national Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman program.

LTC Ombudsmen are specially trained, certified volunteers who serve as advocates for seniors and their families. Washington State has over 500 certified LTC Ombudsman who can help make sure residents of assisted living in Washington are getting the care they need.

Cost of Assisted Living in Washington

Here is a list of the average monthly rates* broken down by city for a one-bedroom, single-occupancy apartment in a Washington assisted living facility:

*Genworth Financial 2011 Cost of Care Survey.

Find Assisted Living in Washington

You can find assisted living in  Bellevue, Puget Sound, Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver and other parts of Washington.

To learn more about senior living in Washington and the Pacific Northwest, visit 50plus Northwest.

Written by senior housing writer Jacqui Tom.