Brookdale West Seattle

Is it time to trade home upkeep for more free time, or is a bit of daily help needed as well? Brookdale West Seattle, 4611 35th Ave SW in Seattle, Washington, offers both independent living and assisted living, run by Brookdale Senior Living. Independent living suits residents who manage their own day and want fewer chores, while assisted living adds support with daily routines for residents who need more help.

Apartments are spacious and pet-friendly, and some include a kitchen for residents who still like to cook. Daily programming includes yoga, walking groups, creative classes and games, organized loosely under Brookdale's Optimum Life approach, which is built around a resident's own interests instead of one fixed schedule for everyone in the building.

Through the Personal Solutions program, residents or families can order everyday items such as toothpaste and soap for delivery, billed to the monthly account instead of requiring a trip to the store. Residents enrolled in Brookdale HealthPlus also get access to an RN Care Manager who helps coordinate care plans and follow-up appointments with outside providers. Compare this option with other senior living communities in Seattle.

Because both independent and assisted living are offered here, a useful question on a tour is how the move from one level to the other works, and whether it changes which apartment a resident lives in. Asking how pricing changes between the two levels also helps with planning ahead.