Senior Living Series, Part 2: Opportunities in the South Sound
- By Sharon Benson
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- 05 Jun, 2024
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In our last article about the process of transitioning into senior living, we spoke about the trepidation that many people feel about making that move. While those concerns are certainly understandable, we are so lucky to live in an area that has an abundance of residences ready to accept newcomers – enough facilities that finding your right fit is just a matter of looking around you.
Peter
Adams is the Community Relations Director at Merrill Gardens, Pierce County’s
newest senior living facility, that nestles near Tacoma’s beautiful Wright
Park. We spoke with him about what to look for in a senior living community,
and any tips he might have for finding a community that’s perfect for you.
“I
really encourage seniors, and the families I work with – their adult children –
to look at it not as a whole, but as one step at a time,” says Adams. “I had an
old administrator I used to work with who said, ‘You know, we’re eating an
elephant here. You can’t eat an elephant with one bite; you can only eat an
elephant one bite at a time.’ So, for this type of process, it’s one step at a
time.
“So, I encourage people not to worry about movers, and what you’re going to keep, and what you’re going to discard, and what you’re going to give to family, and what you’re going to sell,” Adams continues. “Don’t worry about that stuff right now. Right now, it’s simply a matter of you defining what it is you want from a senior living community, what you’re looking for, and then you can begin to explore.”
Adams says that there are typical things that jump out to prospective residents that need to be addressed.
“There are some automatic things, some big features that jump off the page for people that I support and get to work with,” says Adams. “Things like budget – there’s a wide range of monthly rates out there, a wide range of sizes of apartments, hopefully something to fit every budget.
"I encourage people not to worry about movers, and what you’re going to keep, and what you’re going to discard, and what you’re going to give to family, and what you’re going to sell,” Adams continues. “Don’t worry about that stuff right now. Right now, it’s simply a matter of you defining what it is you want from a senior living community, what you’re looking for, and then you can begin to explore."
“Geography is a surprisingly large factor,” Adams continues. “It might be an area where someone has lived, so they know the area and it’s not completely new to them. That might be something that brings the person comfort. For a lot of them, it might be proximity to family and friends, that close support circle. ‘I’ve got two sons and they both live in University Place.’ Well, guess where that senior is probably going to be looking! In that UP, Fircrest, Narrows area.”
Ultimately, nothing can compete with going to a facility and getting a sense of the vibe. After all, this is about a person choosing their home, not just a place where they can stay until something else comes along. If you’re leaving a place you’ve built a lifetime with, it ought to be to move into a place where more wonderful memories can be created.
“Usually, families will narrow their choices down to four or five communities, and then they’ll visit,” says Adams. “And then, when they visit, it’s truly about walking through the community and hearing that question down in their gut, in their heart: ‘Can I see myself living here? Can I picture myself being a resident here.’ That’s ultimately the question. And they may have one or two communities where the answer is yes.
“Then, I’d encourage people to visit multiple times, different times of the day, for different experiences,” Adams continues. “One visit might just be a tour, or a tour and a dining experience. Well, the next time might be for happy hour, or another special event, or just to look expressly at apartments. … A lot of the time, when they come back, it’s to spend time with the other residents in the community, and begin to bond with them. Those are the times when I’ll back off. I won’t involve myself, because I want them to feel that organic experience, and be able to feel themselves in that life.”
"A lot of the time, when they come back, it’s to spend time with the other residents in the community, and begin to bond with them."
Eliseo
Eliseo provides a Life Plan Community, which is a way of describing residences that cater to anyone from the spry and lively elders enjoying their autumn years, to those with needs like memory care or assisted living. Located in an area just off of the main drags of Pearl St. and 6th Ave., Eliseo is near so many exciting locales, so excursions could be exciting. And, for those curious, or for those who may need to know, “Eliseo” is a Hebrew word meaning “God is my salvation.”
1301 N Highlands Parkway, Tacoma
253-302-3509
eliseo.org
Franke Tobey Jones
For a Tacoma resident, Franke Tobey Jones is likely one of the first places locals think of when they consider a senior living facility. With its lineage stretching back into the early 1900s and the formative days of Tacoma, it’s an institution. The most immediate perk of the facility is that it sits next to the beautiful Point Defiance, but the campus is also gorgeous. With all the different types of residences – from luxury apartments to duplexes to more modest accommodations – this is a relatively high-end facility with some wiggle-room for finances.
5340 N Bristol St, Tacoma
253-752-6621
franketobeyjones.com
Heron’s Key
It’s hard to match the beatific surroundings of Gig Harbor, and Heron’s Key is positioned directly in the middle of all that beauty. This is another campus that combines independent living spaces with ones that factor in assistance and memory care. Amenities aside – as most of these place have good things on offer – what’s really selling Heron’s Key is the feeling of communing with the forest.
4340 Borgen blvd, Gig Harbor
877-892-7129
heronskey.org
Cogir at the Narrows
Cogir is a senior living organization that has facilities across the US, with this Narrows location receiving glowing reviews. This a clean, open, modern facility, with tremendous views of the Narrows Bridge and that sun setting behind the horizon.
8201 6th Ave, Tacoma
253-564-4770
cogiratthenarrows.com
GenCare-Point Ruston
Point Ruston was designed to be a walkable, bustling neighborhood that’s full of restaurants, entertainments, and activities, so it only makes sense to place a senior living facility here. The list of amenities here is outrageous, with indoor pools, wellness centers, and live entertainment – along with all of the requisite elements of physical and mental care required.
4970 Main St, Tacoma
253-203-6460
gencarelifestyle.com/communities/point-ruston
Merrill Gardens – Tacoma
Merrill Gardens has a couple offerings in the Tacoma area, each with their own advantages. This one, out by University Place, is eager to talk about how near they are to all sorts of desirable locales: restaurants, parks, healthcare facilities, and the ability to access much more by virtue of being near a bustling Pierce Transit station, providing easy routes to the rest of the city.
7290 Rosemount Circle, Tacoma
253-460-5851
merrillgardens.com
Merrill Gardens at Wright Park
As we mentioned before, this is Pierce County’s newest senior living facility, and it sits atop the precipice of Downtown Tacoma, right next to the historic Wright Park. For those “city mice” out there who enjoy feeling the energy of downtown, this one may be right up your alley. Being mere seconds away from a walk in the park is also very alluring, and testimonials from residents are roundly positive.
5 South G St, Tacoma
253-460-5851
merrillgardens.com
Weatherly Inn
Sitting in a recessed area by the busy Pearl St. is the Weatherly Inn. This one has a homier vibe, with more of an emphasis on community and comfort than fancy perks. Still, with a nearby golf course in walking distance, and a preschool in the area for those who love to see the exuberance of youth, there’s plenty to recommend for those who value a more relaxed lifestyle.
6016 N Highlands Parkway, Tacoma
253-752-8550
weatherlyinn.com
Solstice Senior Living at Point Defiance
As we mentioned with Franke Tobey Jones, there may be no more lovely a spot in Tacoma than Point Defiance, so if you’re looking for proximity, Solstice Senior Living may be your huckleberry. This is about as close as you can get to living in Point Defiance, and its acreage stretches into the forestry with beautiful paths. One for the nature-lovers.
6414 N Parkway, Tacoma
253-683-8104
solsticeseniorlivingpointdefiance.com
