University House Issaquah sits among the forests near Cougar Mountain Regional Park and Tiger Mountain State Forest, right in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, and the building itself looks more like a hotel with well-kept facilities and a welcoming community feel, offering 184 apartments that range from studios all the way up to three-bedroom penthouse suites. Owned by Era Living and operating as a nonprofit, this place is an active adult and retirement community for people over 55, featuring independent living, assisted living, memory care for those living with Alzheimer's or other dementias, and skilled nursing on-site for those who need higher medical support, with the whole thing built so folks can move from one level of care to another as needs change, all on one campus.
Residents can join in all sorts of social activities-both right there at University House and out in the wider community-including symphony outings, art shows, museum trips, and more local events and gatherings, and the staff include an executive director, wellness director, life enrichment director, and trained caregivers with special training for memory care. The property has outdoor spaces like a shared terrace, a garden, a courtyard for social gatherings, and an outside patio, so folks can enjoy the fresh air and views of nature, plus there's a golf course, fitness center, swimming pool with hot tub, arts and crafts center, a library, a meeting room, game room, and even a computer room inside the building. Meals get cooked by an in-house chef, served in a restaurant-style dining room with open seating, with options for special diets like low or no sodium, low or no sugar, and even vegan choices, with guest meals available, and private dining rooms you can reserve for family get-togethers.
Wellness and care services cover about as much ground as you'd expect-full tubs, wheelchair-accessible showers, hospice support, weekly housekeeping and linen changes, all-day staff including trained medical folks, and personalized care plans to help with bathing, dressing, or meds when it's needed, plus there are resources like a care planning glossary and caregiver information if families need them. People who live here don't worry about things like fixing stuff around the house, since apartments are maintenance-free, and there's resident parking, transportation for errands or doctor visits (sometimes complimentary, sometimes for a fee), and pet-friendly options if you want to bring a little animal companion.
There's a barber shop and beauty salon on-site with a professional beautician, and wellness is a focus, with lots of cultural, fitness, and educational activities, including special lifelong learning programs from partnerships with the University of Washington Schools of Nursing, Social Work, and Pharmacy. The place has fireplaces in the common spaces that make it feel pretty homey, Wi-Fi throughout, and hosts presentations, garden parties, panel discussion events, and gatherings in its community venues, including the University House itself as an event site, plus a café/bistro if you just want a coffee or snack with friends.
Altogether, University House Issaquah quietly offers a home-like community surrounded by trees, helpful staff, and plenty to do, where you can get more support as you need it, without having to think about moving somewhere else.
