Nestled on the banks of the Spokane River in eastern Washington State, the City of Spokane is a magnet for older adults looking to retire to the best senior apartments, good regional health care, diverse entertainment, and living their best life.
If you’re looking to settle down in Spokane, then this guide to senior living is for you. We’ll discuss the top senior apartment listings in a 10-mile radius of the downtown area, payment options and resources, regulations, medical facilities, demographics, and all the top entertainment and culture activities that you can look forward to in the “Lilac City.”
All five stars. I would tell others that this was the only facility that we even looked at. It was clean and the staff were compassionate. Since moving in they have continued to be very friendly and...
Revel was great for my Dad. He had a fall and had to go to rehab for the last month. He is now ready to go to an assisted living space. Based on the experience we have had with Revel Spokane we would...
Highly recommend. I have personally had a wonderful experience. My Mom is thriving and happy. Which was my want for her. The care is great. Very clean and staffed appropriately. Our issues are addressed...
The staff has been very helpful. My family member is very happy, and it's nice that he doesn't have to mow the yard and shovel snow - all the things it takes to keep up a home. We feel he's safe at...
My Mom lives here currently. As far as the facility is concerned, things are going well. Part of the reason for choosing them was because they offer a continuum of care, regardless of what part of life the...
I moved in here on the 11th of Sept and so far I'm very very happy with the place. My apartment was just like moving into a new place, everything didn't even look like it had been used. There are a...
It's an excellent place for that transition. The floorplan is a good floorplan. The maintenance of the building is not great, but it's acceptable. They do a relatively good job of maintaining the facility...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Spokane community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
The average monthly cost of senior apartments in Spokane is roughly $1,242. At the lower end, apartments can cost $971, while the highest are priced at about $1,587[01]. What you end up paying for your senior apartment in Spokane will depend on the location and layout you choose, as well as extra fees you incur for things like covered parking, extra storage, or having a pet.
Below, you can view the average baseline costs of a senior apartment in the Spokane area without extra fees included.
Senior apartments don’t provide personal care, and as a result, the cost of living in such communities is not covered by long-term insurance or programs like Medicaid or Medicare. However, you can still rely on these resources for medically necessary in-home care services at your chosen senior apartment. We’ll cover all the details in this section as we look at payment options like private pay methods, VA benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, and public assistance.
Many Spokane seniors gravitate toward private payment options as a primary resource to finance their senior apartment living. Such options include pensions, savings, Social Security benefits, investment returns, and the following:
Number of veterans who live in Spokane
About 42% of Spokane veterans are 65+
Are you or your spouse a veteran? If so, there are benefits you may be able to apply for to offset the costs of living at a senior apartment community in Spokane, especially medical expenses. In this section, we’ll highlight the most useful programs and provide more information and resources to check your eligibility and how to apply.
If you’re 65 or older or permanently disabled, you can apply for the VA Pension. There’s no restriction on how you can use this monthly Pension, so it can go toward rent, medicine, or groceries — basically anything that you need. Another monthly payment for eligible wartime veterans is the Aid and Attendance benefit. To qualify, you or a spouse must require assistance with daily living activities. The good news is that when you qualify for the VA Pension, very often you also qualify for Aid and Attendance, giving you a double stream of income.
It’s not unusual for newcomers to find the VA application process overly difficult. For this reason, before you start the application process, make sure that you contact the nearest veterans service officers. These VA-vetted and -recognized experts can guide you from the start, checking your eligibility, assisting with different stages of the application, finding more benefits that you might qualify for, and also helping when you encounter any problems.
You can find the contact details of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and the VFW Department of Washington below, as well as Spokane County Veterans Services, all of which are geared toward connecting veterans with the benefits they’ve earned due to their service. These resources include local veterans service organizations (VSOs), many of which are located within the Seattle Regional VA Office.
Resources for Spokane veterans
Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs
1102 Quince St. SE
Olympia, WA 98504-1150
Phone: 800-562-2308
13109 E. Mirabeau Parkway
Spokane, WA 99216
Phone: 509-444-8387
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
915 Second Ave., Room 1040
Seattle, WA 98174
Phone: 206-341-8267
Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m; Wednesdays, 8 – 11:30 a.m
American Legion, Room 1042
Phone: 206-341-8262
Disabled American Veterans, Room 1040
Phone: 206-341-8267
National Association for Black Veterans, Room 1062C
Phone: 206-341-8281
Paralyzed Veterans of America, Room 1054
Phone: 20-342-8210
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Room 1044
Phone: 206-341-8284
Vietnam Veterans of America, Room 1058
Phone: 206-341-8294
In Washington State, Medicaid is called Apple Health. Since Medicaid is a medical resource, it doesn’t cover senior apartment rent, but you can put it toward health care costs to help you save money for rent.
Through home and community based services (HCBS) waiver programs, you can use Medicaid to receive medically necessary in-home health care services at your apartment. You can also consider the Medicaid Personal Care program. This resource helps seniors who require help with daily living to pay for assisted living. You qualify when you’re 65+, you need assistance with at least three daily activities, and your monthly income doesn’t exceed $841.
If you want Medicaid coverage, the first step is to check your eligibility. You can also apply online or renew your coverage online. Should you need help navigating this process or you want to lodge a complaint, don’t hesitate to contact the experts. In this case, they are the local Area Agency on Aging and the ombudsman. You can find their contact details below.
Spokane resident Medicaid resources
Washington State Health Care Authority
Cherry Street Plaza
626 Eighth Ave. SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: 800-562-3022
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Aging & Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington
1222 N. Post
Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: 509-960-7281
Fax: 509-458-2003
Aaron Riley
3102 W. Ft. George Wright Drive
Spokane, WA 99224
Email address: riley@snapwa.org
Phone: 509-456-7133; 800-660-7133
Fax: 509-534-5874
Medicare is another program that doesn’t pay for senior apartment rent but can go toward medically necessary care. The difference between Medicaid and Medicare is that the latter can only assist in the short term. To maximize your savings, you can also consider the following programs:
In order to qualify for Medicare coverage, you must be 65 or older. Anyone with a disability is also potentially eligible. To apply in person, you need to go to the local Social Administration office. You can also conveniently apply online.
If this is your first time dealing with Medicare, remember that there are always people ready to assist. If you need more help with eligibility or applying, the person to turn to is your local ombudsman. You can find all the contact information of the medical programs, the ombudsman, and the Social Security Administration below.
Spokane resident Medicare resources
Spokane Security Administration Office
714 N. Iron Bridge Way, No. 100
Spokane, WA 99202
Phone: 800-772-1213
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Aaron Riley
3102 W. Ft. George Wright Drive
Spokane, WA 99224
Email address: riley@snapwa.org
Phone: 509-456-7133; 800-660-7133
Fax: 509-534-5874
Phone: 800-562-3022, extension 16129
Phone: 800-913-4146
Providence ElderPlace (PACE Program)
6018 N. Astor St.
Spokane, WA 99208
Phone: 509-482-2475
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Older adults with low incomes have the option to lean on housing assistance programs and Social Security benefits. Both can help with senior apartment rent.
The most helpful housing assistance resource is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher program. These vouchers go toward rent, but before you sign any leases, make sure that the landlord of the property accepts HUD vouchers. Social Security benefits, on the other hand, can be used to pay for any cost of living, not just rent. Keep in mind that there are different types, and the qualifying criteria are different for each one:
You can also contact the Aging and Long-term Care of Eastern Washington for more information, assistance, and advocacy related to Social Security benefits. You will find their contact details and the particulars of the local Social Security Office and HUD program in the section below.
Spokane resident public assistance resources
Spokane Social Security Office
714 N. Iron Bridge Way, No. 100
Spokane, WA 99202
Phone: 866-331-5532
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
25 W. Nora
Spokane, WA 99205
Phone: 509-328-2953
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Aging and Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington
1222 N. Post
Spokane, WA 99201-2518
Phone: 509-458-2509
Helpline: 509-960-7281
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Typically, senior apartments don’t need to be licensed because they are not elder care facilities. But in Washington State, they must be issued with a business license and it needs to be renewed annually. All senior apartments are also subject to rental and housing laws that ensure the fair treatment of tenants and landlords alike. In this section, we’ll present a comprehensive overview of the most important regulations.
Senior apartments must be compliant with the Fair Housing Act. This means that a landlord cannot refuse you the opportunity to rent based on who you are, what you look like, or anything related to your circumstances. They cannot turn you away because of race, gender, age, religion, health conditions, family situation, or because you rely on vouchers. Such communities must also be ADA compliant and ensure that residents with disabilities are treated fairly and have access to accessible doorways, ramps, and bathroom facilities.
Under both the Fair Housing Act and ADA compliance, disabled individuals with service animals may also not be refused the opportunity to rent, even if the community has a no-pet policy. However, emotional support animals are not protected under these laws and can be permitted at the discretion of the landlord.
In Spokane, landlords are expected to maintain their property to ensure the safety and well-being of tenants at all times. In particular, they must comply with every applicable statute, code, ordinance, and regulation to keep the premises habitable, safe, and sanitary.
Landlords also have the right to hold tenants responsible for any damage caused by renters. They may also refuse Section 8 voucher holders, not because of the voucher but because the individual does not meet their standard screening criteria.
A rental agreement between landlord and tenant must also be clear, and the responsibilities must be honored by both parties. For example, tenants must agree to pay their rent, comply with regulations, and not damage the property. Landlords must repair any structural or plumbing issues, provide garbage cans, control pests, and so forth.
You can also learn more about your rights as a tenant in Washington State in this complete renter’s guide.
All voucher-assisted households must allow their unit to be inspected by the Spokane Housing Authority (SHA) when first moving into their apartment. According to the SHA website, these properties must have an inspection every other year, while project-based voucher participants must have an inspection every year.
HUD-assisted properties are inspected by HUD’s Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) for safety and sanitary compliance.
While senior apartments don’t have many requirements, it’s not unusual to find a minimum age limit. For example, in most cases, residents must be 55 and older to apply for a rental.
Washington State Department of Health
111 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
Phone: 800-525-0127
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
At the moment, COVID-19 prevention measures in Spokane are left to the individual’s discretion. However, people are encouraged to stay up-to-date with vaccinations, wear masks when needed, and follow recommendations for isolation when exposed to COVID-19 or have been diagnosed with the illness.
Some senior apartments might have their own regulations to safeguard residents, so keep in mind that you can also contact such complexes directly for more information.
Vaccinations.
Vaccines are voluntary but encouraged.
Masking.
Wear a mask when feeling unwell or visiting the vulnerable.
Quarantining.
Self-isolate when feeling unwell/diagnosed with COVID-19.
Living in Spokane, Washington, offers a lifestyle that will never get boring. Known for its lively art and culture scene, endless outdoor recreational opportunities, and affordable standard of living, Spokane has something for everyone whether you’re in the market for one bedroom or two.
If you’re still active in the sporting scene, Spokane’s cold winters and warm summers offer a host of activities. From skiing and hiking to boating along gorgeous lakes and rivers, you’ll never run out of beautiful places to explore — and stay fit at the same time!
Spokane also offers plenty of amenities to meet your needs, whether it’s shopping for groceries or visiting the best restaurants. Besides plenty of shops and entertainment venues, you can also look forward to a diverse economy, health care, education, and factors like technology and manufacturing contributing to the city’s growth. At your senior apartment complex, you can enjoy community amenities, such as fitness centers, clubhouses, and outdoor gathering spots.
If you’re looking for a city that still values a strong sense of community, then Spokane might be the right place to settle down. Some residents say that Spokane’s neighborly spirit and welcoming community still remain and set it apart from other cities in the area. In your senior apartment community, you can mingle with other residents in your peer groups at various planned activities.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Spokane
Median annual income for Spokane seniors 65 and older
This center holds the honor of being the top-rated hospital in Spokane, the third-best in Washington State, and is also ranked as a Level II Trauma Center. Providence is nationally acclaimed for its urology department, as well as hip and knee replacement surgeries.
This hospital provides general care and surgery facilities to Spokane residents. As a Level III Trauma Center, this hospital is also highly respected for its cardiac emergency response, especially in regard to heart failure and heart attacks. Deaconess also excels in kidney failure treatment.
Mann-Grandstaff has a strong focus on serving veterans living in Spokane. The center offers general primary care and integrated care like yoga and acupuncture.
According to Walk Score, Spokane is a vehicle-dependent city. This means that most people rely on transportation to get around. Indeed, on Walk Score’s own scale, where a score of 100 is the best, Spokane has a rating of 49 for walkability.[06]
With a bike score of 52 out of 100, there are some decent bike lanes and trails in Spokane.[06] You can use this interactive online bike route map to figure out how to get around on two wheels. You can also use Spokane’s WheelShare program to check out electric-assist bicycles and scooters in the city.
Spokane’s public transport offers several senior-friendly options. Vanpool costs $60 a month for unlimited rides (the caveat: at least three other passengers in your area must also want to go to a place near your destination). City Bus has more than 1,700 bus stops, and all vehicles are ADA-compliant. Seniors who are 65+ get discounted fares. The City Line also offers bus rides, but these vehicles have more room for wheelchairs and walkers.
Spokane is a wonderland for older adults who are still active and love socializing (or doing their own thing). Here, you can explore beautiful places and partake in a variety of engaging indoor and outdoor activities. In this section, we look at just a handful of the best entertainment opportunities that this lovely city has to offer!
In Spokane, you can tee off on four public golf courses. If you’d rather watch a game of baseball, then you can always head on over to Avista Stadium, home to the Spokane Indians, which is the High-Class A minor-league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. There’s also a major junior hockey league team in town called the Spokane Chiefs.
College sports enthusiasts can always follow the Gonzaga University Bulldogs, whose campus is in Spokane. The Bulldogs men’s basketball team is consistently one of the best programs in the entire country.
Manito Park has 98 acres of cultivated land that you can explore. Browse its beautiful miniature gardens or visit the on-site restaurant for a well-earned lunch. You can also swing by Nishinomiya Tsutakawa Japanese Garden to view its magnificent, manicured lawns, or just sit on one of the many benches and just enjoy the tranquility.
Gaiser Conservatory offers visitors the chance to view rare tropical plants. This public greenhouse also provides benches for resting. At Green Bluff Growers, a farm that offers entertainment for all mobility levels, you can harvest your own veggies along scenic trails or listen to music while sipping on cider produced on the property.
Riverfront Park is a local hotspot that features a hiking trail with plenty of beautiful viewpoints, lots of activities, and opportunities to shop. Don’t be surprised if you run into amusement rides, food trucks, and more when visiting. Centennial Trail is more laid back and follows 38 miles of walkable land along the Spokane River. In the mood for a waterfall? Then be sure to drive or hike up to Spokane Falls for a spectacular view.
The Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox provides a variety of shows, while the Spokane Symphony House plays classical and original compositions. If you want to stroll through an exhibit, be sure to visit Gonzaga University’s unique collection and check its schedule for upcoming comedians, musicians, and shows.
Steam Plant Square is not only an art gallery, but it also doubles as a famous restaurant in the city. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture always has fresh exhibitions of art and artifacts from the region. You can also visit Bing Crosby’s home on a self-paced museum tour.
Spokane has a lively senior scene with a multitude of amazing senior centers. Corbin Senior Activity Center welcomes adults aged 55 and over. Here, you can check your health and partake in martial arts lessons, bingo nights, or card game tournaments. Hillyard Senior Center caters to the same age group and focuses on hobbies, workouts, and outings. You can even join their Wii Sports Bowling 10-Week League! Sinto Senior Activity Center specializes in social events to help seniors make new friends as well as physical activities such as aerobics, ballroom dancing, and more.
Revel Spokane, Avista Spokane and Avamere at South Hill are the top-rated Senior Apartments facilities near Spokane, WA. These Senior Apartments facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Senior Apartments in Spokane is $2,352 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
HealthGrades. (2023). Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.
US News & World Report (2023). Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.
HealthGrades. (2023). Multicare Deaconess Hospital.
US News & World Report (2023). Multicare Deaconess Hospital.
Walk Score. (2023). Spokane, WA.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
HealthGrades. (2023). Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.
US News & World Report (2023). Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.
HealthGrades. (2023). Multicare Deaconess Hospital.
US News & World Report (2023). Multicare Deaconess Hospital.
Walk Score. (2023). Spokane, WA.