This is a Seattle-first guide to assisted living: not national averages, but the providers licensed to operate here, current 2026 costs, and the local context that shapes a good decision. We currently track 54 DSHS-licensed assisted living facilities serving Seattle from Washington DSHS records.
What's below: the licensed providers, 2026 Seattle cost ranges, the local hospital and neighborhood context, what to ask on a tour, and how to act fast if a hospital discharge is looming. Prefer to talk it through? Get matched with a free local advisor — no fees, ever.
What assisted living means — and who it's for
Assisted living fits an older adult who needs daily help — bathing, dressing, medication reminders, meals — but does not require round-the-clock skilled nursing. It's the most common first move when living alone stops being safe.
How Washington regulates it: In Washington, assisted living is licensed by DSHS (ALTSA / Residential Care Services) under RCW 18.20 and WAC 388-78A. A facility's license can include endorsements — such as Specialized Dementia Care — that let residents stay as needs increase. Always verify the exact license and endorsements; they determine how long your parent can remain as care needs grow.
In Seattle specifically, that means weighing the licensed options against Seattle's cost range and your family's timeline. The right choice balances care level, budget, location near Harborview Medical Center (UW Medicine), and how quickly you need a spot.
Seattle assisted living: by the numbers
54 DSHS-licensed assisted living facilities on file in Seattle; about 3,606 total licensed beds; averaging 67 beds per community; the largest at 156 beds; 2 offering Specialized Dementia Care; 19 accepting Apple Health (Medicaid). These are real, current DSHS license counts for the area — not national estimates.
Licensed assisted living providers in Seattle
Selected by licensed bed capacity. Data: Washington DSHS / ALTSA (2026). Verify any license, beds, and inspection history yourself at fortress.wa.gov/dshs/adsaapps/lookup before you commit.
Memory care (Specialized Dementia Care): 2 · Accepts Apple Health (Medicaid): 19
| Provider | City | Licensed beds | DSHS license # |
|---|---|---|---|
| PARK PLACE | Seattle | 156 beds | 1532 |
| Cogir Queen Anne | Seattle | 130 beds | 2473 |
| Murano Senior Living | Seattle | 130 beds | 2521 |
| Providence Mount St. Vincent | Seattle | 122 beds | 198 |
| NORTHGATE PLAZA | Seattle | 120 beds | 2374 |
| Greenlake Emerald City | Seattle | 119 beds | 2696 |
| Aegis of Queen Anne at Rodgers Park | Seattle | 106 beds | 2381 |
| IDA CULVER HOUSE BROADVIEW | Seattle | 104 beds | 945 |
| Vineyard Park at Queen Anne Manor | Seattle | 103 beds | 2745 |
| AEGIS OF MADISON | Seattle | 96 beds | 2241 |
| Aegis Living Greenwood | Seattle | 91 beds | 2617 |
| FRED LIND MANOR | Seattle | 90 beds | 864 |
Senior care in Seattle, King County
Seattle is King County's urban core and Washington's largest city, with roughly 750,000 residents inside a metro of about 4 million and a growing 65+ population clustered in West Seattle, Ballard, Wedgwood, and the north-end neighborhoods near Northwest Hospital. As the region's medical and population hub — anchored by UW Medicine's Harborview and Montlake campuses and the Swedish and Virginia Mason systems — Seattle offers the widest range of senior care, from licensed adult family homes on quiet residential blocks to large assisted-living and memory-care communities.
Nearby hospitals: Harborview Medical Center (UW Medicine), UW Medical Center–Montlake, UW Medical Center–Northwest, Swedish First Hill. For Seattle families, quick hospital access shapes the shortlist — it eases discharges, emergencies, and the steady rhythm of specialist appointments.
Areas families ask about: Ballard, West Seattle, Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Greenwood.
What assisted living costs in Seattle (2026)
Seattle pricing runs $6,050–$8,500/month, above the metro average for the Greater Seattle metro — a reflection of local real-estate and the mix of small adult family homes versus larger communities.
- Assisted living (standard): $6,050–$8,500/month
- Memory care: $7,600–$9,950/month
- Adult family home: $5,050–$7,850/month
- In-home care: $40–$56/hour
In Seattle, the levers on price are room type (shared saves the most), facility size (small adult family homes run cheaper), an honest care-level assessment, and benefit programs like VA Aid & Attendance and Washington Apple Health (COPES).
How we vet Seattle providers
- Washington DSHS license active and clean, checked on the state ALTSA provider lookup
- Two most recent inspections read for repeat citations
- Family feedback gathered firsthand where possible
- Up-front written pricing with every recurring fee disclosed
- A recent advisor visit, not a brochure
Questions to ask on a tour
- What's your overnight staffing level for this wing?
- Which care needs are beyond what you support here?
- Can you itemize base rate versus add-on charges?
- How do you handle a decline in mobility or memory?
- What has staff turnover been over the past year?
What's included — and what costs extra
Usually included: housing, three meals daily, 24/7 awake staff, housekeeping, laundry, scheduled transportation, social and wellness programming, and a basic care plan. Typically extra: medication management above a basic tier, two-person transfers, incontinence care, on-site hospice coordination, and one-on-one aide hours. Ask any Seattle provider for an itemized rate sheet so you can compare apples to apples.
How fast you can move in Seattle
Plan on roughly 7–14 days for a Seattle placement: assessment, deposit, physician's order, then move-in. Memory-care and post-hospital moves can happen same-day to 72 hours when a secured bed opens. A free local advisor can tell you which Seattle providers have current openings.
For Seattle families specifically, timing matters as much as choice. Lining up assisted living before a fall or a hospital discharge forces the issue means you choose calmly instead of taking the first open bed. If you're early, that's an advantage — use it.