Holman Gardens Retirement

    12912 E 12th Ave, Spokane, WA, 99216
    4.4 · 36 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    5.0

    Caring staff good value peaceful

    I'm very happy here - staff are genuinely kind, helpful and responsive (maintenance hung pictures, set up my TV, assembled a table and helped with moving). The grounds, pool and common areas are well cared for, apartments are a good size with useful amenities, and move-in was smooth. Meals are generally very good and there are plenty of activities and transportation options, though food choices can be limited at times and pricing/meal plans aren't always all-inclusive. Overall it's affordable, peaceful, and I'd recommend it for the caring staff and strong value.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.39 · 36 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.6
    • Staff

      4.8
    • Meals

      4.1
    • Amenities

      3.9
    • Value

      4.2

    Pros

    • Affordable pricing / low cost (non-profit)
    • Spacious two-bedroom apartments (~1,200 sq ft) with full kitchen and patio
    • Many on-site amenities (indoor pool, warm pool with jets, hot tub)
    • Robust activity program (aerobics, water aerobics, movie nights, knitting, crafts)
    • Transportation services (doctor appointments, shopping, bus trips)
    • Helpful, accommodating and long-tenured staff
    • Quick, responsive maintenance (including move-in assistance and picture/TV setup)
    • Daily dinner service and meal delivery to rooms available
    • Housekeeping services offered
    • Well-maintained grounds and attractive plantings (raised flower beds, garden plots)
    • Accessible design (two elevators, sidewalks, easy access to levels)
    • Exercise room, library, computer classes and crafts room
    • Carport/garage close to apartments
    • Friendly, engaged resident community
    • Good value without excessive fees ('not nickel-and-dime')
    • Pet-friendly options and large balconies
    • Clean and inviting areas reported by many reviewers
    • Special events and community activities (recitals, holiday decorations)
    • Washer and dryer included in some units
    • Positive family visits and recommendations from long-term residents

    Cons

    • Some parts of facility are dated or show 1980s/older finishes
    • Periodic reports of worn carpeting, paint, and older interior finishes
    • Washer/dryers and some appliances older but only functional
    • Inconsistent cleanliness reports (some say very clean, some say not as clean)
    • Limited meal options noted (sometimes only one meal a day)
    • Non-inclusive pricing or unclear what is included in base fees
    • COVID-related reductions in activities (some activities only recently restarting)
    • Occasional availability issues (no openings reported)
    • At least one report of an external product failing with unresponsive technical support
    • Some residents cited the need for updating/refreshing common areas

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the reviews for Holman Gardens Retirement is strongly positive, with particular emphasis on value, staff quality, and active community life. Many reviewers highlight that the facility is a nonprofit and offers affordable pricing, often characterizing it as a very good value for what is included. Apartment units—especially the two-bedroom layouts of roughly 1,200 square feet—are repeatedly praised for their size, full kitchens, patios or balconies, and convenient carport/garage proximity. Multiple reviewers described smooth and helpful move-in experiences, with staff going beyond expectations (assembling tables, hanging pictures, setting up TVs, helping resolve noise issues) which reinforces a perception of responsive and caring management and maintenance teams.

    Staff quality is the most consistent strength mentioned. Reviewers use words such as friendly, helpful, accommodating, and long-tenured. Maintenance is described as quick and effective; gardeners and grounds staff receive positive mentions for keeping plantings and outdoor areas attractive. The facility’s atmosphere is repeatedly called welcoming and peaceful, with residents generally described as happy and engaged. Long-term residents and family visitors echo this sentiment, often recommending the community and noting memorable personal experiences and gratitude toward staff (some reviews even call out individual servers by name).

    Facilities and amenities are another major positive theme. Holman Gardens offers a wide range of on-site amenities: an indoor pool (warm with jets), hot tub, exercise room, library, computer room, crafts room, and community garden/raised beds. Activities are plentiful when in full operation—swim classes, aerobics, sit-and-fit, knitting, movie nights, gardening, massage, computer classes, and frequent outings or bus trips. Transportation for appointments and shopping is highlighted as a practical, much-appreciated service. Special events such as holiday decorations, recitals, and outings contribute to a lively community culture. Reviewers also point out practical conveniences like housekeeping, daily dinners, meal delivery to rooms, and readily available staff assistance as contributing to an easy, low-stress lifestyle.

    Despite the many strengths, reviewers identify clear areas for improvement that potential residents should weigh. Several comments describe parts of the physical plant as dated—some common areas and apartments retain an older 1980s look, with worn carpeting and paint that reviewers felt could use refreshing. Appliances like washers and dryers are described as older but functional; a few reviewers saw this as a downside compared with more recently renovated communities. Cleanliness opinions vary: many reviewers say the facility is clean and well maintained, while a minority call out that some areas show wear and could be cleaner or updated. Dining receives generally favorable marks for food quality and friendly servers, but several reviewers mention limited meal options (sometimes noted as only one meal included per day) and occasional non-inclusive pricing that made it unclear what the base fee covers versus add-ons.

    Operationally, the community suffered the same COVID-related activity reductions as many senior living facilities; several reviews noted that trips and group events were curtailed and only recently restarting. Availability can be limited—one reviewer said there were no openings. A single review mentioned a nonfunctional product and an unresponsive technical support line, which appears to be an outlying issue likely related to an external vendor or device rather than community management, but it is worth noting for completeness. Finally, while many reviewers praised the community for not nickel-and-diming residents, a few called for clearer communication on what services are included in the base charge.

    In summary, Holman Gardens presents as a well-regarded, affordable, nonprofit retirement community with a strong, caring staff, broad amenity offerings, and an active resident life. It is especially appealing to those seeking value, roomy apartment options, and helpful on-site services. Prospective residents should balance these strengths against measures of the facility’s physical age—expect some areas to feel dated and some inconsistencies in cleanliness or meal inclusions—and confirm current availability and the exact inclusions of the fee structure. For many reviewers and long-term residents, however, the combination of staff responsiveness, community activities, and overall value led to high satisfaction and strong recommendations.

    Location

    Map showing location of Holman Gardens Retirement

    About Holman Gardens Retirement

    Holman Gardens Retirement sits in Spokane Valley, WA, in the Millwood area. The place offers a range of living options including independent living, co-dependent living, assisted living, and memory care like Alzheimer's care. There's also hospice, onsite homecare, and respite care when someone needs short-term support. Apartments come in one- and two-bedroom sizes, with balconies or patios, and baths have tubs and wheelchair-accessible showers to make moving about easier. The rooms are meant to be big enough for comfort, and the community keeps a no-smoking policy indoors. The facility's friendly staff help residents and provide both support and information, and there's a resident service coordinator for any needs that pop up.

    Holman Gardens has indoor spaces like a library, computer center, beauty salon, and indoor swimming pool, and outside there's shuffleboard, walking tracks, and safe common areas for sitting or socializing under the sun. Meals are served in a restaurant-style dining area and cover regular and vegetarian diets, and there's help for those who need it with eating or taking medicine. Pets are allowed, and there's special attention to creating a home-like feeling where everyone can express themselves. The staff are trained in aging services, with programs like Elevate assisted living training, and they work with groups that focus on advocacy and education for elder care.

    Social, recreational, and religious activities run all week, from Bible studies, movies, card games, and bingo to crafts and arranged offsite outings. The staff coordinate both planned and on-demand transportation for residents to get to shopping, church, or other spots in the city, and there's parking for those with their own cars. Holman Gardens also helps by giving information on other nearby assisted living communities if someone's needs change. Health services include nurses onsite, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, doctors and nurses on call, and even a podiatrist who visits the community. There is always wheelchair access, friendly help when needed, and a memory care section for those who require more support.

    Amenities like outdoor and indoor common areas, hot tubs, a beautician on site, and devotionals both onsite and offsite help keep life varied and rich. Reviewers give Holman Gardens an average rating of 3.8 stars from four reviews. The community is linked with the Senior Homes Foundation and offers programs in adult day resources, workforce development, aging services education, and scholarships. Tours can be scheduled for anyone interested in learning more, and the facility welcomes both men and women but keeps specific resident groups as part of its policy. The environment aims for safety, comfort, and a strong sense of home, all in Spokane Valley.

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