Pricing ranges from
    $7,261 – 9,439/month

    Life Manor Independent Living (Mountainside)

    1609 S Union Ave, Tacoma, WA, 98405
    4.1 · 32 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    4.0

    Affordable, clean, friendly homey community

    I toured/lived here and found it affordable, very clean, and staffed by friendly, helpful people who made the place feel homey. The studios/one-bedrooms are small but bright and well laid-out (walk-in shower, good closets), and the building/courtyard and garden are pleasant. Meals, activities and outings (shuttle to shopping, bingo, exercises, weekly haircut, events) are offered, though meal service/amenities and staffing can vary by building. Convenient, secure location near stores and hospitals, but expect limited parking, modest in-unit amenities, and smaller rooms.

    Pricing

    $7,261+/moSemi-privateAssisted Living
    $8,713+/mo1 BedroomAssisted Living
    $9,439+/moStudioAssisted Living

    Schedule a Tour

    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Assistance with dressing
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 12-16 hour nursing
    • 24-hour call system

    Meals and dining

    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.13 · 32 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      2.0
    • Staff

      3.9
    • Meals

      3.6
    • Amenities

      3.6
    • Value

      3.6

    Pros

    • Friendly, patient, and helpful staff
    • Clean and well-maintained facility
    • Affordable and budget-friendly rents
    • Engaging activities (puzzles, bingo, walking groups, outings)
    • Community rooms and social spaces (lobby, TV room, card rooms)
    • Garden, courtyard, and rose garden with outdoor seating
    • Convenient location near shopping, hospitals, church, and parks
    • Secure building and comfortable environment
    • Shuttle and grocery/transportation services
    • On-site laundry room and light housekeeping options
    • Variety of apartment types (studios, efficiencies, one-bedrooms)
    • Some newer, modern and bright apartments with walk-in showers
    • On-site event planner and organized social events
    • Dog-friendly policy
    • Dining options and meal delivery from assisted living
    • Covered parking available
    • Weekly personal services (haircutting)
    • Friendly residents and community-oriented atmosphere
    • Popular community with long waiting list
    • Informative and welcoming tour guides

    Cons

    • Limited amenities compared with larger communities
    • Small or compact apartment sizes
    • Older building sections and unattractive exterior/view in places
    • Inconsistent dining service and meal counts (one, two, or three meals reported)
    • Meals often prepared in assisted living and carried to independent living
    • Limited in-unit appliances (no washer/dryer, no dishwasher, mini fridge in some units)
    • No visitor or limited guest parking
    • Parking frequently costs extra and can be insufficient
    • Inadequate staffing or limited staff interactions in some reports
    • Poor responsiveness to emergencies or disorientation reported by some families
    • Management and administration concerns, including Medicaid transition complaints
    • ADA accessibility concerns raised by reviewers
    • Some reports of an unwelcoming atmosphere or institutional feel
    • Strict documentation and move-in requirements
    • No medallion-style personal emergency system in some units
    • Limited or no private outdoor space attached to apartments
    • Long waiting list that may delay move-in
    • Dining room or meal service areas sometimes described as needing improvement
    • Activity levels can be inconsistent (COVID-related reductions noted)
    • Higher-than-expected fees or buy-in requirements for some units

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment from the review summaries is mixed-positive, with strong praise for staff, cleanliness, affordability, and the community social environment, balanced against recurring concerns about apartment size, limited amenities, dining inconsistencies, parking, and occasional management or staffing issues. Many reviewers emphasize a welcoming, home-like atmosphere created by attentive employees and friendly residents, while others report alarming lapses in responsiveness or unwelcoming administrative actions. The property appears to be a smaller, budget-oriented independent living option with a two-building model: an independent living rental building and a separate assisted living building that provides meals and additional services.

    Care quality and staff: Staff receive the most consistent positive comments. Multiple reviewers described staff as friendly, patient, and helpful, naming specific employees positively. Tour guides are often described as informative and welcoming. Several mentions of accommodating behavior were noted, such as adjustments for allergies, attentive move-in support, shuttle service, and planned social events. However, there are notable exceptions: a minority of reviews reported poor responsiveness to disorientation or emergency concerns and criticized management decisions, including Medicaid transition and alleged resident displacement. These negative reports are serious enough that prospective residents should ask detailed questions about staffing levels, on-site clinical support, emergency response protocols, and recent administrative changes.

    Facilities and apartments: The property is generally described as clean and well-kept, with some newer building sections and bright, modern units that include walk-in showers and good layouts. Average unit size was described by a reviewer as roughly 550 square feet for a one-bedroom, and studios/efficiencies are commonly offered. Pros commented on courtyard/garden spaces, internal common rooms, and light-filled dining areas. On the flip side, several reviewers noted small or compact units, limited in-unit amenities (no washer/dryer, no dishwasher, mini-fridge in some efficiencies), occasional unattractive exterior views, and older building sections that lack the polish of luxury communities. Some reviewers noted there is no private outdoor space for certain units. The community appeals to those seeking affordability and a modest, functional apartment rather than high-end finishes.

    Dining and activities: Reviews present mixed experiences with meals and dining. Some residents praise the food and describe multiple meals and good dining events (brunch, social meals, hotdog social), while others report meals are limited to once or twice a day or are only available via the assisted living building and then delivered to independent residents. A few reviewers specifically called the dining room in need of improvement. Activities are frequently mentioned as a positive: regular puzzle and bingo groups, walking groups, scheduled outings and trips, exercise classes, weekly haircuts, and shuttle runs to Walmart and grocery stores. Nevertheless, activity levels were reported as inconsistent by some, particularly during COVID-related slowdowns. Prospective residents should verify which meals are included, how meals are prepared and delivered, and the current schedule of activities.

    Management, safety, and community climate: Several reviews praise the administration for smooth transitions and accommodating move-ins, while others raise concerns about management decisions and enforcement of policies. There are repeated mentions of limited visitor parking and parking fees, and a few reviewers raised ADA accessibility and safety-system concerns (lack of a medallion personal emergency system in certain units). One or two reviews described the atmosphere as institutional or unwelcoming, using strong imagery such as 'jail or city hall,' while many others characterized the community as warm and home-like. These conflicting impressions suggest variability across staff shifts, building wings, or over time. The presence of a long waiting list in multiple reviews indicates demand, but also means prospective residents may face delays.

    Practical considerations and recommendations: Life Manor Independent Living offers affordability, cleanliness, and a community-oriented lifestyle with social programming and transportation support, making it a reasonable option for budget-conscious seniors who prioritize staff warmth and basic services. Important practical items for prospects to verify include parking availability and fees, which building a unit is in (newer vs older wing), exact meal plan options and dining quality, in-unit appliance availability, pet policies, emergency call systems, staffing ratios and after-hours response, ADA accessibility features, move-in documentation requirements, and any buy-in or additional fees. Given mixed reports about management and responsiveness, it is advisable to speak with current residents, request recent incident or staffing reports if available, and confirm contractual terms regarding transitions to assisted living or Medicaid-related policies.

    In summary, the reviews paint a picture of a mostly clean, affordable, and community-minded independent living option with many strengths in staff friendliness, activities, and location convenience. Significant caveats include inconsistent dining services, smaller apartment sizes, parking challenges, and sporadic reports of administrative or responsiveness problems. These strengths and weaknesses are likely to matter differently depending on a prospect's priorities, so careful, specific questions and multiple tours or resident conversations are recommended before making a decision.

    Location

    Map showing location of Life Manor Independent Living (Mountainside)

    About Life Manor Independent Living (Mountainside)

    Life Manor Independent Living (Mountainside) sits on the east side of the Parkside building in Tacoma, WA, and offers both independent and assisted living services for seniors who want comfort and support but also like to do things for themselves, and the building is only two stories tall, so there aren't too many steps to deal with. The community has studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, and each one is designed to feel spacious with lots of natural light, walk-in showers in the newer units, and kitchenettes that come with a sink, fridge, and microwave, plus every resident gets a private bathroom and extra storage space, and there's 24/7 laundry facilities if folks need them, and some apartments even allow small pets under 35 pounds.

    Monthly housekeeping is provided and staff can help with daily personal care, dressing, and medication management if a resident needs that-but folks who just want independence can stick to the basic services, and there's healthcare staffing on site for extra support, as well as 12 to 16 hours of nursing available and a 24-hour call system in case of emergencies. The grounds have flowers, benches, and a rose garden, and there are lots of places to sit outside or enjoy the garden when the weather's nice, while inside, you can spend time in the clubhouse, library, lounge, fitness room, gaming room, or computer center, and there's also a beauty salon and barbershop for easy grooming.

    The community puts a big focus on keeping everyone social and active, so there's a full schedule of wellness programs, arts and crafts, educational events, devotional services, outing trips, and holiday gatherings, and people can use transportation shuttles to reach supermarkets like Walmart, go out to eat, or run errands, and the meals are served in the dining room with menus that adjust for different dietary needs or tastes. Covered parking is an option for anyone who wants to pay the extra fee, and the place is close to things like hospitals, retail stores, banks, restaurants, and parks, so you really don't have to go far to get what you need.

    There's help available for personal care, laundry, and dry cleaning, and the staff stays on site to keep an eye on safety and building maintenance, and folks who've got visitors will find guest parking so family or friends can come by. Apartments have cable TV and wifi, and safety features like sprinkler systems and handicap accessibility are facts of daily life here. Residents can use common spaces indoors and outdoors, and there's a real effort to build a community where people can meet new friends, stay active, and feel like they belong, whether they're there for full-time living or just taking advantage of temporary respite care services for a short visit.

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