This is a Tacoma-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 24 DSHS-licensed assisted living facilities serving Tacoma from Washington DSHS records.
What's below: the licensed providers, 2026 Tacoma 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 Tacoma specifically, that means weighing the licensed options against Tacoma's cost range and your family's timeline. The right choice balances care level, budget, location near MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, and how quickly you need a spot.
Tacoma assisted living: by the numbers
24 DSHS-licensed assisted living facilities on file in Tacoma; about 1,782 total licensed beds; averaging 74 beds per community; the largest at 145 beds; 4 offering Specialized Dementia Care; 18 accepting Apple Health (Medicaid). These are real, current DSHS license counts for the area — not national estimates.
Licensed assisted living providers in Tacoma
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): 4 · Accepts Apple Health (Medicaid): 18
| Provider | City | Licensed beds | DSHS license # |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoples Senior Living LLC | Tacoma | 145 beds | 2661 |
| WEATHERLY INN | Tacoma | 130 beds | 1577 |
| Grand Park, LLC | Tacoma | 117 beds | 2603 |
| Cogir at The Narrows | Tacoma | 115 beds | 2654 |
| The Village Senior Living | Tacoma | 110 beds | 2761 |
| 6th Avenue Senior Living LLC | Tacoma | 107 beds | 2552 |
| FRANKE TOBEY JONES | Tacoma | 101 beds | 61 |
| CHARLTON PLACE | Tacoma | 90 beds | 2120 |
| GenCare Lifestyle Tacoma at Point Ruston | Tacoma | 85 beds | 2557 |
| Brookdale Allenmore AL (WA) | Tacoma | 80 beds | 1701 |
| King's Manor Senior Living Community | Tacoma | 76 beds | 2466 |
| Spring Ridge Retirement, LLC | Tacoma | 75 beds | 2160 |
Senior care in Tacoma, Pierce County
Tacoma is the Pierce County seat and the region's third-largest city, with about 220,000 residents on Commencement Bay, an affordable and revitalizing housing market, and the deepest adult-family-home network in the metro. Anchored by MultiCare Tacoma General and St. Joseph Medical Center, Tacoma is the metro's most affordable major market — and has the single largest concentration of licensed adult family homes in the region, a real value angle for families.
Nearby hospitals: MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center (Virginia Mason Franciscan Health), MultiCare Allenmore Hospital. Being near a hospital helps with post-rehab follow-up, sudden memory-care needs, and routine specialist care, so Tacoma families weigh drive time to these closely.
Areas families ask about: North Tacoma, Stadium District, Proctor, Hilltop, South Tacoma, Old Town.
What assisted living costs in Tacoma (2026)
Tacoma pricing runs $4,950–$7,000/month, below 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): $4,950–$7,000/month
- Memory care: $6,250–$8,200/month
- Adult family home: $4,150–$6,450/month
- In-home care: $33–$46/hour
To trim cost in Tacoma, families commonly choose a companion (shared) suite, favor a small adult family home over a big campus, pay only for the care level actually needed, and tap VA Aid & Attendance or the Washington Apple Health / COPES waiver where eligible.
How we vet Tacoma providers
- Active Washington DSHS license verified on the state ALTSA provider lookup, with no open enforcement action
- Last two RCS inspection cycles reviewed for citations and complaints
- Real family references — not curated testimonials
- Transparent monthly pricing (a provider who won't disclose cost is one we won't refer)
- An in-person visit by a local advisor within the last 12 months
Questions to ask on a tour
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio overnight?
- What care changes would force a move-out?
- What is the all-in monthly cost for this care level — every line item?
- How do you handle a sudden change in needs, like a fall?
- What is your current resident average length of stay?
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. Insist on an itemized monthly quote from Tacoma providers so hidden add-ons don't surprise you later.
How fast you can move in Tacoma
Plan on roughly 7–14 days for a Tacoma 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 Tacoma providers have current openings.
One more Tacoma-specific note: availability shifts week to week, and the community that's full today may have an opening next month. A local advisor tracks current Tacoma openings so you're never relying on a stale online listing — particularly important for assisted living, where the right secured or higher-acuity bed can be scarce.