Gracious Living AFH is an adult family home in Bellingham, WA, licensed for six residents and owned by Bonnie Krause, RN, BSN, who brings experience in geriatrics and hospice care and lives in the home herself, and it serves seniors needing both long-term help and memory care for Alzheimer's and dementia, with staff who know how to help with wandering, medication management, and special needs like diabetes and Parkinson's. The place has single bedrooms and shared spaces, with private ADA-compliant bathrooms, along with large decks for enjoying the view and family-style dinners or BBQs outside. Folks living here get daily help with baths, dressing, moving around, and eating if needed, with trained staff around day and night. There are chef-prepared meals with special diets like gluten-free, vegan, or low-sugar, plus snacks and even international dishes for guests, and residents can choose to eat in a private dining room or a common dining hall.
Residents keep busy with arts and crafts, music, movies in the home's small theater, and games in the games room, as well as family gatherings, holiday parties, birthday celebrations, and even intergenerational programs, with outdoor walking paths, fitness and stretching classes such as Forever Fit, and access to computers and the internet. There's a beauty and barber shop and even massage services, and the staff helps set medical appointments and schedules transportation, with a nurse and podiatrist available and a dentist, doctor, and other care professionals on call. Folks who need special help with diabetic care, high acuity care, or incontinence have services included, and the building has security systems and round-the-clock staff to keep everything safe and comfortable, with emergency systems in each room. Pets are welcome, though smoking isn't allowed inside anywhere, and there are places to relax both indoors and out, with large windows to let in the sun and show the mountain sunsets that make the setting bright and peaceful.
Residents and families can take a virtual tour anytime, and visiting hours run from 9 in the morning till 8 at night. The home offers hospice and geriatric care, laundry and linen services, and takes care of housekeeping and meals so residents can focus on enjoying activities, social events, and time with family and friends, plus all the utilities and Wi-Fi are included. The focus always stays on the individual, with personalized care plans to support abilities and keep residents as independent as possible, and the small size allows for a family-like setting where folks can get to know each other and join in on all kinds of activities together or relax in privacy if they'd rather. Gracious Living AFH doesn't take Medicaid or Medicare unless certified, but it aims to serve seniors in Whatcom County who need a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment as an alternative to nursing homes.
