Family First in Gig Harbor, WA

Pros

• Family First delivers outstanding 24-hour care with thorough, clear communication on all aspects of care and finances.
• The homes are welcoming and well kept, with homemade meals and attentive staff who accommodate visiting hours.
• The staff treat residents as family and provide loving, professional care.
• The owners, Julie and Chris Thompson, are compassionate leaders who put families first and bring extensive elder-care experience.
• Family First is praised for a professional, well-run operation with caring caregivers and nurses ensuring residents' health needs are met.
• They assist families with Long-Term Care approvals, easing the process and reducing future worry.
• The organization is recognized for a stellar reputation and an uncompromising commitment to care across its homes.

Cons

• They describe Family First as an absolute nightmare for their mom and dad, noting the ownership ignored their complaints.
• They cite that only one staff member was on duty in the evenings, and their grandmother fell out of bed and died two days later, blaming incompetence.
• They reported neglect and multiple injuries and filed a complaint with the State of WA.
• They were in the process of moving their parents into Family First in Sept 2022 when their dad had a stroke and died before they could relocate him.
• They warned others to beware and not send loved ones there.

Review

Family First Adult Family Homes in Gig Harbor is best suited for families seeking a small, home-like, 24-hour care setting where care feels personal, continuous, and deeply familial. It fits loved ones transitioning to end-of-life support or those who require constant oversight but prefer a residence that resembles a family home more than a clinical facility. The wooded locations, the attention to homemade meals, and the hands-on involvement of owner-operators cultivate stability, with hospice coordination woven into daily routines. For residents who prize individualized attention, flexible scheduling, and a culture that treats people like family, this community aligns closely with those expectations.

But the decision warrants caution for families prioritizing ironclad oversight and a scalable care model. Alternatives may appeal to those who want more formal nursing capacity, a larger staff pool, and consistent staffing across all shifts. A subset of reviewers raised serious safety concerns, including allegations of neglect that led to adverse outcomes. While that voice is not the prevailing experience, it underscores the necessity of thorough due diligence and candid conversations with owners and frontline caregivers before placing a loved one.

The strongest positives center on the intimate scale and the culture that grows from ownership and close-knit staff. Families repeatedly describe caring, professional caregivers, inviting homes, and meals that feel like home. The owners’ active involvement in resident well-being reinforces a sense of stability and trust. The arrangement often includes seamless coordination with hospice and a track record of helping families navigate long-term care finances, including policy approvals. When this environment works, residents experience a daily rhythm of dignity, warmth, and personalized attention that larger communities struggle to replicate.

Yet the cons listed cannot be ignored. A few families reported feeling unheard during ongoing complaints, and one account described an evening-staffing gap with tragic results. Such experiences, if representative of any given home, point to real safety and reliability risks in a small-scale model. The variability between homes and shifts, common in smaller operators, means potential families must verify staffing patterns, response times, and incident follow-through during the decision process. The overall impression remains that the intimate, family-centered approach can deliver remarkable comfort, but it depends on consistent leadership and robust day-to-day oversight.

When weighed, the strategic advantages often offset the concerns for families who prioritize a warm, individualized routine and a sense of belonging. The ability to coordinate with hospice, the practical assistance with long-term care funding, and the reputation of the owners for integrity create a sturdy foundation for many lives. For residents in fragile health, a home environment where caregivers know preferences, dietary needs, and routines can translate into meaningful improvements in daily comfort and dignity. The downside, if not proactively managed, becomes visible in reported gaps around evening coverage, complaint handling, or safety assurances. That tension is the central decision point.

To decide, schedule a direct tour and engage deeply with the owners and staff. Ask pointed questions about after-hours staffing, fall prevention, incident reporting, and how medical visits are integrated into the routine. Request current references from other families and, if possible, spend time in both Gig Harbor and any Olalla location to compare how each home implements the same promises. Confirm how hospice, dental, and routine medical services are coordinated and verify how the LTC approval process is supported in practice. This is not a one-size-fits-all choice; it hinges on the specific home, its staffing patterns, and the daily realities of care delivered.

Bottom line: Family First in Gig Harbor presents a compelling option for families seeking a small, homey, family-owned setting with strong caregiver relationships and practical LTC support, particularly for end-of-life care or long-term stays where a sense of belonging matters. Those who worry about safety gaps or require more formalized medical oversight should consider alternatives and conduct rigorous due diligence before committing. A careful, hands-on evaluation, talking with owners, staff, and current families, will reveal whether the promised family atmosphere aligns with real-world staffing, safety, and care practices. When aligned, this community can deliver the compassionate, feel-at-home care that many families are searching for.

This part of Gig Harbor, Washington offers a variety of medical services with convenient access to physicians specializing in eye care, pediatrics, ear, nose, and throat treatments, as well as mental health services. There are several pharmacies nearby for easy access to prescription medications. The area also features a selection of cafes and restaurants for dining options, along with places of worship for spiritual fulfillment. For recreational activities, residents can enjoy the nearby parks and waterfronts for outdoor relaxation. Overall, this neighborhood provides a range of amenities that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment in Gig Harbor.

Physicians

• Pacific Northwest Eye Associates (0 miles)
• Harbor Pediatrics (0 miles)
• Franciscan Ear, Nose & Throat Associates - Gig Harbor (0 miles)
• Hill Kathy Harbor Pediatrics (0 miles)
• Optimal Wellness (0.2 miles)
• Donner Charles S MD (0.7 miles)
• Personalized Psychiatric Medicine (1.4 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (0.1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.1 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Bartell Drugs (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.8 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)
• Sav-On Pharmacy (4.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Gig Harbor Ambulatory Surg Center (1.2 miles)
• MultiCare (6.1 miles)
• Group Health Cooperative (6.6 miles)
• MultiCare Regional Cancer Center - Tacoma (6.7 miles)

Restaurants

• The Harbor General Store (2 miles)
• Tides Tavern (2 miles)
• El Pueblito (2.1 miles)
• Netshed No. 9 (2.2 miles)
• Puerto Vallarta (2.9 miles)
• Anthony's At Point Defiance (3.1 miles)
• Zog's (3.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church (2.2 miles)
• Agnus Dei Lutheran Church (3.7 miles)
• Christ Episcopal Church (6.5 miles)

Parks

• Eddon Boat Park (2.3 miles)
• Ancich Waterfront Park (2.3 miles)
• Five Mile Drive (2.5 miles)
• Point Defiance Park (2.8 miles)
• Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park (3.4 miles)
• Kandle Park (4 miles)
• Titlow Park (4 miles)

Theaters

• Grand Cinema (7 miles)