Era Living

We thought the price was too much, especially considering it was an older, dated facility. It felt like the 80s and didn’t offer as much as other places we looked at. So the value wasn’t there. The people were really nice, and they promised they were going to update the facility. The rooms just felt closed in. We ended up elsewhere with higher ceilings and overall a newer, nicer, more inviting feel.

Not the worst, but not great. They got a new director, and she really turned us off, she was quite aggressive. In the beginning we loved the staff, but they had a huge turnover. Elderly people don't do well with change. They aren't very accommodating. There was a lip in the shower that was difficult. They had a mini fridge, but it was on the floor in the closet. It's very old, and needs to be updated, and the newer half is pretty nice. There were only two times you could have dinner, and there were times that they ran out of food during the second dinner. The quality of the food also went way down. They would put on a great spread on like Mother's Day and family days, but that's not what the resident's ate on a regular basis.

I toured this facility for my mother. It is a nice facility with kind people. They offered us a meal and it was decent. This isn't a bad community, everything looked nice and clean. The staff was welcoming and friendly. It was a decent tour.

We choose University House Issaquah for my mother because it is close to my house and is a beautiful facility. The residents have been very welcoming and have reached out to include her in their activities. This facility is best for residents active enough that they do not require a lot of extra assisted living other than the basic one meal a day, housekeeping, and transportation included in the rent. On the downside, there were promises made prior to move-in that were not kept. I was told that is because they are short staffed right now. The executive director never returned my call about this.

This community is a great community who is more at the retirement or maybe the early end of the assisted living would also be okay, but it wouldn’t be a good match for anyone who needed more skilled care. The food is great.

In terms of the facility itself, and the services it provides, The Lakeshore is fabulous. It is always well kept and clean, and the staff are friendly, caring, and professional. The problem that we ran into is that their program for bringing in and integrating new residents is very lacking. My loved ones haven't had much luck meeting new people or finding activities to participate in. The activities themselves are great, but the community needs to do more to help new residents figure out what is going on. They need to be more proactive when it comes to building and encouraging a community atmosphere. I like this facility very much, but based on our current experience I'd have to rate it a 3 out of 5. My loved ones are feeling isolated, and their main concern was finding a "community" to move into.

I talked to these people. I decided it was too expense for us and that the room size was too small.

The director bought me lunch in their dining facility. The food was adequate (fake crab doesn't make a good hot sandwich). The views of the southern end of Lake Washington are outstanding. The apartment was good, not as spacious assome, but a much better view.

I know this facility, but not in a nice part of town.

My sister visited. I heard that as the level of care changes, my parents would have to move again

I like this place - pivate pay only - do not take medicare - going for dinner 5/5

I liked it and am planning to go for lunch or dinner soon.

My review is for Memory Care. After living at the Gardens independently, our mom was very suddenly moved to memory care. We were unprepared for other options at the time, so our advice is BE PREPARED. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. After two years, it was delicately suggested that mom would probably be happier elsewhere. Why? Her advanced dementia was causing problems in the dementia area. That is my biggest gripe. Staff is ill prepared to deal with advanced dementia patients unless they are drugged and compliant. Due to our moms religious views, we used only the lowest level of drugs. We actually got a phone call asking us to come over because mom was yelling and had soiled herself. At almost 6K a month, they damn well had better be trained how to handle this, but they weren't. And no, we did not go over. Care is limited to what the patient will allow. So, inch long toenails, no shower for over a week (we actually showered her when we'd visit), lost weight because she did not want to get out of bed, UTIs because she was not toileted frequently enough. The care is a la carte and believe me, it adds up FAST! The staff means well, but there's a high turnover and residents don't have a chance to get used to anyone. The manager position changed three times in two years. The topper for us was while waiting for furniture movers in the lobby, I ran into the manager and went to say hello. She did not ask about mom, so I told her that she was doing very well in her new place. The woman did not even know mom had moved. TWO DAYS LATER!!! Like I said, do your homework.

Like other reviewers, my experience with the staff was all positive when they were trying to make the sale, far less so once our mom was in residence. Everyone is very friendly but they never follow through. When we moved in there were no light bulbs the bedroom or closet fixtures. After several weeks, my sister gave up asking the staff and put them in herself. Given that the daily cost is equivalent to a hotel, the service is fair, at best. Although we are paying extra for daily assistance, my mother is not receiving the care promised. The staff seems incapable of providing the most obvious assistance, like emptying her potty chair.

There is a fairly high turnover rate among the staff. Management seems to place a higher priority on the bottom line than they do the compassionate care of residents. There has been no status updates/communication from staff as to how loved ones are doing. Priority seems to be more on bringing in new residents rather than keeping ones already there.

Prior to choosing this facility for my parent I received lots of helpful friendly contact from the staff. Once I gave them the deposit and first months rent all contact stopped. It's been over 6 months now and there has been no follow-up from a single staff member asking how things are going for my parent there. My other complaint is the dining room. If you want to have a meal with your loved one alone, you must make a reservation in advance. Otherwise, you will be seated with other residents of the facility. After spending a 6 hour day with your loved one going to doctor appointments, taking them for hospital procedures, etc. making a reservation in their dining room is not top of mind. After a tired and stressful day I do not want to sit with people I don't know. I want to spend the time alone with my loved one, relax and discuss our day in privacy.

Yes the price is on the high side but we moved mom in after receiving promises of great nursing care, supportive staff and accommodating personnel. HOWEVER, sadly after moving her in it became apparent that due to the high turnover rate and in some cases poorly trained personnel, those promises were made to "make a sale", and bring in tenants. After the move in fee and rent is paid, any other service provided is an extra charge. When a question is asked, the answer is most often, "I'm new here and don't know, I'll get back to you", -"I'm sorry" is the most frequent phrase spoken here by staff. Extremely frustrating as there is no followup, and the worst offender is the director !! This facility is for active, healthy folks who only need the occasional minimal assistance.

Ida Culver is an excellent Independent living facility. If you have a loved one who is mobile and sharp, it's a wonderful place. However, as your loved one starts down that inevitable path of decline -- physically or mentally -- you will find the transition less than accommodating. The so-called "wellness center" seems more intent on revenue generation than flexibility in addressing family needs, and may well pile on unnecessary costs. So before considering Ida Culver, focus on the long term issues of care, rather on the short term, immediate benefits this facility provides. If you do not, you may discover you are forced into a transition to another facility at a time when your loved one needs the most care.

Sadly, this facility has gone down hill in the past few years since getting a new Director. Their Assisted Living program is abysmal with not enough help, long waits for care and a lack of expertise and management competence since losing their Nursing Director last fall. The food is hit and miss since losing their Culinary Director for some unkown reason. The gardens are beautiful but peek behind the curtain and you will find a very dated facility that is not well managed. Eventually, when your loved one requires more care (in their opinion), Ida Culver will make you hire private caregivers. All of the aforementioned for an exorbitant price point. A very disappointing experience for our family. We really wanted to like Ida Culver.

If your loved one needs memory care- do not bring them here. They will not give them the care they deserve. Not sure if just short of staff - but if they call themselves memory care providers, they should stand up to that need! Especially for the cost! My dad was starving because they would bring food and just leave and not assist him, if he wanted to stay in his room, he was left alone for hours!