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FAQs

Independent Living is the portion of a senior living community where residents do not need medical or personal services. Residents live in private homes. They can access all non-medical services, most of which are included in the monthly fee.  Examples include meals, participating in community events and classes, having their home’s interior and exterior taken care of, and exercise classes.

Assisted Living is identical to independent living with the addition of personal and medical services provided to residents.  Assisted living residents live in private homes and enjoy meals, community activities, and maintenance-free living.  Each assisted living resident has a personalized care plan.  The care plan can include support with things like getting dressed in the morning, assistance with toileting, and help with showers.  It can also include medication management, care coordination with outside medical professionals, and assistance with certain medical conditions.

Encore Communities encourages residents to maintain their independence as long as possible. Support is provided when completing tasks becomes a struggle or a safety issue.

Memory Care communities are designed to support residents who have dementia. They are secured to prevent residents from leaving and getting lost. They tend to be smaller, so the environment is calmer for residents, making it easier to provide care and keep residents safe.  All memory care residents have a personalized care plan that covers physical, medical, and emotional support.  Like independent and assisted living, residents live in a community where meals are provided and activities are organized to keep days interesting and engaging.

Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provide a high level of medical care to individuals who have had an acute healthcare event, like a stroke, a broken hip, a recent surgery, etc.  SNFs bridge the gap between the care initially provided at a hospital and being healthy enough to go home.  Skilled nursing facilities are staffed by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and therapists who work under physicians to provide specialized medical care. Most skilled nursing centers provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help patients recover from injuries, surgeries, or medical conditions and regain their independence, offering around-the-clock medical care and supervision.

A resident’s level of care is determined in two steps: 

  1. During the sales process, the community relations director (salesperson) gets to know each potential resident. If it is evident that the person does not need any personal or health care assistance, then the resident is appropriate for independent living.
  2. If a resident needs assistance, the community relations director will get the nursing team to do an evaluation. The nursing team will review a potential resident’s medical records and meet the potential resident to conduct their assessment. The information collected is used to create a personalized care plan. The resident’s care plan is tailored specifically to their needs and is used by staff to support the resident. 

The level of support will change as a resident’s needs change.  If a change is temporary, a temporary service plan is created, which will expire once the resident returns to normal. If the change is permanent, then a new service plan is created.  

Yes.  If a fall risk is identified during the nurse’s assessment, the care plan will include interventions and precautions to reduce the risk of falling. The goal is to understand why a resident fell and take preventive measures.  When a fall happens, there is an investigation. The care team documents all possible causes, including when, where, what the resident was doing, if their medication changed recently, etc. This information is used to make proactive plans to prevent more falls. Even with careful planning, there is no guarantee the falls will stop.  We can guarantee Encore’s care team will go through a thorough process to keep each resident as safe as possible. 

Yes, Encore Communities has a medication management program.  If this service is needed, it will be part of the resident’s care plan. Residents can use Encore’s preferred pharmacy or their pharmacy to get their medications. Residents who use Encore’s preferred pharmacy will have their medications reviewed by a pharmacist periodically. 

Yes, Encore Communities does offer short-term stays in most of our communities. We are pleased to be able to provide this service.  We know caregiving is a challenging job.  When a caregiver needs to focus on other priorities, this is one way Encore Communities can help.  Short-term stays are typically two to four weeks in length.  A guest lives in a fully furnished home, all meals are provided, they have a care plan created just like a full-time resident, and they can participate in any of the community events they think they might enjoy.  Short-term stays are also an excellent way to try out life at an Encore Community before a resident decides to move.

Residents who live in an Encore Community can receive rehabilitation therapy in most communities. Encore Communities’ parent company also owns Aleca Home Health, a leading home health agency.  Therapists from Aleca Home Health come to the community to provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy services to residents in their homes.  If a resident needs 24-hour nursing care, they would leave the community for a period to receive that care at Encore’s Northwood’s Lodge, located on the main Silverdale campus. 

The staffing ratio changes based on the needs of residents. Every resident receives a customized care plan. That plan outlines the type and frequency of care they need.  When the care plans for all residents in a community are added together, it dictates the staffing ratio needed in that community.  If a resident’s needs change, then the need for care within the community will change, too.  

Encore Communities operates in Oregon and Washington. Regulators in both states require senior housing communities to provide consumers with a disclosure statement, including staffing ratios and other operational information. The intent is to provide consumers with a consistent format across communities, making it easier to compare communities on an apples-to-apples basis.

Yes.  The care team in our communities is in regular contact with doctors and nurse practitioners in the communities where we are located. They usually know who is accepting new patients and would happily provide you with names and numbers.  Some Encore Communities have a relationship with a clinic that will send doctors to our community. Where that service exists, it is an option for new residents. 

We provide a structured onboarding program and regular continuing education and training to help ensure our team members can safely care for our residents’ needs in a dignified and respectful way. Encore’s clinical care programs, industry standards, and quality assurance measures are part of the training and reinforce our strong standards of care. Encore’s training programs include classroom, online, and hands-on training, as well as employee shadowing and mentoring.

Some of our residents in assisted living require general oversight and reminders, while others need various levels of care and assistance. We can help our residents with all their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as showering, dressing, grooming, and dining. We also coordinate care with a resident’s other healthcare providers, manage medication, and assist with various non-urgent medical conditions.  Each resident has an individualized service plan that details their plan of care, which is regularly updated to meet evolving needs.

Our independent living communities offer restaurant-style dining, various activities and outings, housekeeping, and transportation.

Transportation to and from activities and outings are a staple at Encore. While the calendar of events varies at each of our communities, most communities include one day each week when they take our residents shopping or sightseeing in the area. Many communities schedule outings to local grocery stores, pharmacies, or retail stores so residents can check errands off their lists. Communities may also be able to provide local transportation for doctor visits for an additional fee.

The type of services offered depends on the needs of each resident.  Each resident has an individualized care plan that details the type of support they need, regularly updated to meet evolving needs. The amount of care can range from simple oversight and reminders to fully supported tasks.  The types of care vary from assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as showering, dressing, grooming, and dining to medication management, care coordination, and support with certain kinds of (non-critical) conditions and illnesses.

Residents are in their 70s, 80s and 90s.  Most residents are in their 80s, and the average is 84.

Independent living includes restaurant-style dining, various activities and outings, housekeeping, and transportation.

Our memory care programs are designed for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and memory loss. These communities feature “neighborhoods” that are engaging and secure areas purposely designed to encourage social engagement, meaning, purpose, and safety. People working in a memory care neighborhood receive special training to work effectively with people with limited cognitive abilities.  Residents live in private or shared apartment homes, have all meals provided, have access to various activities held throughout the day, and receive personalized medical support as described in the assisted living section.    

Every Encore community has people who work in the life enrichment department. Their job is to engage residents in ways that are meaningful to each person and that are based on their past and current interests.   Engagement comes from one-on-one interactions, participation in group activities, and interactions with other community members.  The life enrichment team creates a monthly calendar of activities that includes programming that focuses on memory strengthening, games, exercise, and various activities like painting, scrapbooking, discussing topical events, etc. These activities keep residents active and connected.

Yes, we offer short-term or “respite” stays in our communities. A short-term or respite stay is a convenient option when planned or in response to an unforeseen circumstance. Respite residents stay in a furnished apartment, are provided meals, have a personalized care plan, and can participate in community events. Essentially, they live in the community like full-time residents. Because of this, respite stays also provide an excellent opportunity to try out life at Encore.

A respite stay is usually 14 to 30 days long.

Yes. When caregivers cannot support their loved one temporarily for whatever reason, their needs can be met at an Encore community during a respite stay. 

We offer both. Skilled nursing and rehabilitation services are available at Northwoods Lodge in Silverdale, WA.

24-hour nursing care, rehabilitative therapy, respiratory care, GU/GI care, musculoskeletal and skin care, medication management, wound care, and treatment for specific medical conditions are all available at Northwoods Lodge in Silverdale, WA. For a complete list, please review the Northwoods Lodge page: Northwoods Lodge Services.

The cost to live in an Encore community is based on the type of home a resident will occupy (studio, one bedroom, two bedrooms, etc.) and what is included in their personalized care plan.  The larger the home and the more support they receive, the higher the costs.  There can be additional incidental costs for extra services, like pet care. For more information, ask a community services director for the costs associated with care and ancillary services. 

Our base rate in assisted living and memory care includes the cost of the home a resident occupies, all utility costs, three meals a day and snacks, housekeeping, laundry, and linens service, access to care staff 24/7, an emergency safety system, wellness checks every 30 days performed by a nurse, transportation services, and all in-house activities.

Many state and federal programs offer financial assistance for certain senior living expenses. For instance, the U.S. Veterans Administration assists former military members and their spouses who served in active combat through their Aid and Attendance Program. Some long-term insurance policies may also cover part or all of the costs for assisted living care. We encourage you to speak with your financial advisor and one of our community relations directors to explore which options you might qualify for.  Encore Communities also has several tools to help families understand if they can afford senior housing through the end of their life and their spouse’s life.

To set up a tour, call Encore Communities at (360) 995-1536 and schedule a time. You will speak with one of our expert community relations directors, who will provide you with a tour of one or more of our communities and be a resource to you as you think about a possible move.  

Community relations directors are experts in issues related to senior housing and related services.  Their job is to listen, understand your preferences, and provide you with information so each person can make an informed decision about where to live.

We will set up an in-person visit, Zoom meeting, FaceTime chat, or phone call to connect—we will work with you to determine the best option for you. Tours typically last about one hour to 90 minutes. We will go through a care needs discovery process to determine your or a loved one’s needs and preferences. You will learn about our care levels, suite options, and team members. We will take you on a tour or share a virtual tour of our community.

We welcome visitors and work with our family and friends to visit their loved ones at the times that work best for them.

The type of activities offered at an Encore community depends on the interests of the residents.  The interest of each resident is gathered when they move in and annually after that.  An activities calendar is created each month based on the type of activities residents want.  Generally speaking, activities fall into these categories:

  • Social,
  • Learning/intellectual challenges,
  • Physical exercise,
  • Community outings,
  • Spirituality,
  • Hobbies (like gardening and bridge), and
  • Discussion groups.  

Our daily programs help our residents stay active, be social, and learn.   Residents or their families with unique talents are encouraged to lead new groups, either once or on an ongoing basis. Our mind activities include brain teaser games, language study, and discussion groups—to name a few! We offer daily programming that helps our seniors stay physically active with activities like chair yoga, tai chi, walking clubs, and much more. In addition, residents love our music programs, poetry classes, and a variety of religious offerings. We also plan fun and engaging activities outside of the community, such as a trip to a local park for a barbeque lunch, a scenic bus ride tour, or an art gallery exhibit visit.

The type of activities created in one of our memory care neighborhoods or communities is based on the resident’s interests, just like in any of Encore’s other buildings.  How those activities take place is different and made to be appropriate for people with dementia. Our goal is to provide activities that our residents enjoy, provide relevant challenges, and that they can participate in successfully.  Activities are designed to play to residents’ strengths, not call attention to deficits. 

Yes! As discussed, the activities calendar in each community is based on the interests of the residents who live there. Our communities also hold monthly resident council meetings to get insight into resident preferences and interests to help guide the community’s activities offerings.

Except for Country Meadows independent living, our communities serve three meals a day. Every day, there are new entrée specials to choose from.  In addition, there is another “always available” menu. Between these two menus, residents can always find something to enjoy. Meals are served at set times; however, if a resident is leaving the building or would like their meal at a different time, that can be easily arranged through the dining services director. 

We can tailor our meals to each resident’s nutritional needs and personal preferences. We offer various modifications to address several dietary requirements, including diabetic diet plans, pureed foods, fortified diets, no salt-added diets, and more.  If you have special dietary needs, please talk to the community relations director to ensure they can be addressed in the community you are considering.

We work with each family to support their needs as best we can, including accommodating urgent move-ins if the resident’s current situation indicates that it is necessary. Before moving, a resident must receive a full assessment to ensure we can provide the kind of care they need and complete the resident’s individualized care plan.  In most cases, this can happen in days, not weeks.

Yes, you are welcome to bring your furniture. We encourage you to design your home as comfortable and familiar as possible.

Yes, our communities can help you purchase or rent furniture if you choose not to bring your furniture. We might have some furniture you can use as well.

Yes! We encourage you to make your home comfortable and inviting to reflect your style. We can help you place furniture and hang pictures/art. You can have your home repainted, but if you choose a color that the next occupant will not like, we might have to repaint the home with a more neutral color after you leave. The resident would bear that cost. Other changes are possible and must be discussed and approved by the community’s executive director.

No. None of our communities require long-term commitments. A residency agreement can be terminated with  30 days (about 4 and a half weeks) of written notice and more quickly under certain circumstances. The ways the residency agreement can be terminated are listed in this agreement. Please ask the community relations director for a copy if you want more details. 

Yes! Couples can and do live together routinely in independent and assisted living communities.  Due to state rules and regulations, couples living together in a memory care setting have limitations.  Please ask the community relations director for more details.

Yes, you are welcome to bring your pet with you! If you can care for your pet and they are appropriate for the community setting, we would love for them to join our Encore family. Plus, you’ll find a community cat or dog in most of our locations. 

Encore Communities believes in good communication with family members. We are always available to hear your suggestions comments, or to check in. 

Communications are directed to independent and assisted living residents, except when a family member has been given limited, general, or durable power of attorney.  Communications in memory care are directed to family members.  Formal communications occur at least monthly at scheduled resident family meetings and other opportunities at community events, care conferences, etc.  

We welcome visitors and work with our family and friends to visit their loved ones at a time that works best for them.

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