Washington assisted living facilities and personal care communities

Washington Assisted Living Communities

According to Washington state law, an assisted living home or personal care community is defined as a residential building with the intended purpose of providing meal services, housekeeping services, personal care services, shelter and general responsibility for the well being of seven of more aged residents.

There are approximately 467 assisted living facilities operating within the state of Washington.

Assisted Living Communities in Washington – Cost Comparison

City	Monthly Minimum	Monthly Maximum	Monthly Median
Bellevue	$1,800	$7,750	$4,500
Bellingham	$3,338	$4,750	$4,050
Longview	$3,325	$4,838	$4,405
Seattle	$1,800	$7,750	$4,500
Spokane	$1,705	$5,250	$3,700
Tacoma	$1,800	$7,750	$4,500

The average cost for assisted living in Washington is $4,625 per month. The average monthly cost can also vary depending on the amount of personal care needed. Compared to the remainder of the United States, Washington falls among one of the most expensive states for long-term senior care. Within the state, average area costs for assisted living vary depending on location and population size.

For more information about assisted living costs in Washington, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.

Recreation & Attractions in Washington

Known for its mountainous and rugged terrain, Washington offers an array of scenic outdoor activities. For those searching for a relaxing outdoor experience, Olympic National Park offers a myriad of activities from swimming in Lake Crescent to exploring the mineral springs at Sol Duc. For the nature lovers, Mount Rainier National Park offers endless activities to explore the park and its natural wonders. Since 1880, visitors from around the world have explored the park through horseback riding, hiking, camping, mountaineering, and fishing.

Washington’s Climate, Geography, & Culture

Neighbored by the Pacific Ocean, Washington’s climate varies from the west to the east. The western side of the state experiences an oceanic climate. This climate produces rainy and humid weather. The eastern side of the state experiences a more semi-arid dry climate. Both climates produce varying temperatures throughout all four seasons. Summer temperatures are fairly warm with averages climbing into the 70-degree range during the day. Winter temperatures vary more throughout the state.

Coastal cities experience mild winters with temperatures falling in the 40-degree range. As winter moves in, temperatures are much colder on the eastern side of Washington and in the mountains of Washington falling into the 20-30 degree range. Washington accumulates an average of 38 inches of rainfall annually. Western areas of the state experience 11 inches of less of snow per year. However, the mountains and eastern areas of Washington will accumulate as much as 100 inches or more of snow annually.

Washington’s Assisted Living Centers Regulations & Laws

Assisted Living homes are regulated by a state-to-state basis. Every state has a publicly accessible legal document outlining the regulations, licensing, operation and other rules for assisted living. The official regulations for assisted living homes operating in Washington state can be obtained online via the Washington state legislature website. These regulations will also outline any differences between assisted living and personal care. Public records concerning citations, inspections, violations, and the like pertaining to individual Washington senior care homes can be obtained through the official Adult Family Home Locator page.

Crime & Safety in Washington

Finding a safe place to live in is important to make sure your senior feels secure in their new environment. Violent crime rates are lower than the national average in Washington, so you should have no problem finding a safe place to live. Here are some of the state’s safest communities:

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Dupont	0.52	5.03
Moxee	0.26	6.86
Mattawa	0.89	6.69
Sammamish	0.16	7.57

(Source: safewise.com)

Payment Options for Washington Assisted Living Homes

Community First Choice Option (CFCO)

For those seeking financial assistance, Washington’s Medicaid offers the Community First Choice Option to elderly residents who qualify for nursing home level care but opt to reside in a personal home or alternate senior care community. This program is designed to provide supportive services, personal care services, and non-care related services to elderly participants living in one of the following: a personal home, an assisted living home or an adult family home. Under this program, participants can choose to self-direct the care provided including hiring a family member to provide care. To find more information on this program, please visit the Community First Choice Option page online.

Assisted Living Family Loans

Alternate payment options are available. Families can apply for an assisted living family loan. This provides temporary or long-term financial assistance when paying for assisted senior care. The program allows multiple people to contribute to payment.

Senior & Elderly Rights for Assisted Living Residences in Washington

While residing in the home, a resident retains constitutional civil rights, rights of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. The resident also retains the right to personal possessions, autonomy over personal finances, bodily autonomy, and power of attorney. The resident has a right to be informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations, abuse, neglect and the like. The complete list of resident rights as guaranteed by the state of Washington can be viewed in the official Washington regulations for personal care homes.

Washington Personal Care Homes: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

Washington assisted living homes are required to provide appropriate health services that are ordered by an attending physician, as well as keep all medical information confidential, accurate, and complete. Medical records must include a recent photograph of the resident, and shall be kept for a no shorter than 5 years from death or discharge date.

Residents in Washington personal care communities have access to their medical records and can request a copy of all or a portion of their medical records. They can also request a copy of some or all of the information, and it is to be provided at a cost not to exceed the community standard for photocopies.