Bernardita F. Sarasaud Adult Family Home in Shoreline, WA

Pros

• Carmen and Valentin are amazing people.
• They are loving and caring with a big heart.
• They provide comfort and peace of mind to families, knowing their loved ones are in good hands.
• They went above and beyond expectations.
• Carmen and her staff do an outstanding job in caring for their clients.
• The care at Bella Vita is professional and caring at all times.
• The entire team is attentive to residents' needs and adaptable to changing circumstances.
• Safety and loving care are priorities at Bella Vita.
• The warmth and professionalism of the owners make residents feel at home.
• Bella Vita is spotlessly clean and cheerfully decorated.
• Residents receive personalized long-term care in a small facility.
• The staff works well with hospice teams.
• The owners are a conscientious, friendly, and professional husband-and-wife team.
• Bella Vita provides five-star care.
• The home offers a warm, friendly atmosphere.

Cons

• They were told not to send loved ones to this place, especially for high-care or end-of-life needs.
• They stated that medicine was not dispensed as doctors’ orders.
• They claimed the only people at home were the owners’ children and an elderly grandmother who doesn’t speak English.
• They asserted there is no medical staff on duty.
• They observed a trainee CNA who could not dispense medications or turn patients.
• They had to call hospice to administer medications when no one else would.
• They expressed disappointment that their loved one deteriorated quickly under the care.

Review

This Shoreline, WA, adult family home is best suited for families seeking a small, home-like setting where residents receive highly personalized, relationship-driven care. The community is led by Carmen and Valentin, a husband-and-wife team whose warmth and hands-on approach anchor the culture. Reviews consistently highlight comfort, peace of mind, and a sense that a loved one is truly known and looked after. For seniors who value daily companionship, predictable routines, good meals, and a secure, cheerful environment over clinical bustle, this home delivers with notable strength.

That said, families with higher medical needs should consider alternatives. The reviews repeatedly emphasize strong daily caregiving and emotional support, but there is no on-site licensed medical staff described, and medication management can fall short of a full clinical standard. Several accounts caution that medical orders and complex therapies may require external professionals, which can create delays or gaps in care in acute moments. Language barriers or limited English communication for certain residents may further complicate medical discussions. For residents requiring continuous nursing, complex wound care, aggressive rehabilitation, or end-of-life oversight on premises, a larger facility with licensed nursing on site is a more reliable fit.

On the upside, the core strengths are hard to overlook. Families praise Carmen and Valentin for their attentiveness, compassion, and professional conduct, with a level of stability in staffing that reinforces consistency in daily routines and interactions. The environment is described as spotless, cheery, and thoughtfully arranged for comfort, with meals that are well-regarded and rooms that feel welcoming. The small size allows for personalized attention and genuinely long-term relationships between caregivers and residents, which translates into nuanced care plans and quicker adjustments as needs evolve. Where medical oversight is needed, coordination with hospice services and occasional nurse practitioner involvement provide meaningful, if partial, medical integration.

The most salient drawback remains the limited on-site medical capability. This is not a dismissive critique of the owners, but a practical boundary of what an adult family home can offer. When medical decisions are required, or when medications must be administered precisely per doctor’s orders, families should anticipate reliance on external providers. One star feedback underscores the risk that, in high-care or end-of-life scenarios, the facility may not meet expectations for medical management, including timely medication administration. While the majority of reviews celebrate safety and loving care, the existence of these caveats matters for families balancing daily living needs with acute medical requirements.

Yet the positives can meaningfully offset these concerns when alignment exists. For families prioritizing a trusted, intimate environment, the combination of consistent leadership, low staff turnover, and proactive communication yields a sense of security that larger, more impersonal settings struggle to match. The ability to observe daily care, participate in routines, and receive regular updates about progress or changes in condition provides a practical, tangible form of reassurance. If the plan is to rely on external medical support while maintaining a home-like atmosphere, this community can deliver a quality experience that honors dignity, comfort, and continuity.

The bottom-line guidance is practical and decisive. If a loved one’s needs stay within the scope of daily living support, companionship, supervision, and routine maintenance, with the comfort of a familiar, family-style setting, this Shoreline home offers exceptional value and relational care. If, however, the priority is continuous, on-site licensed nursing, frequent skilled therapies, or high-acuity end-of-life management under medical supervision, a facility with stronger in-house medical capabilities should be pursued. Prospective families should demand a concrete care plan that delineates who administers medications, how orders are followed, how hospice coordination works, and what escalation processes exist for medical concerns. Scheduling multiple visits at different times will reveal how consistently the care team responds, engages, and adapts to changing needs.

This part of Shoreline, Washington offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors considering the area for living. With multiple pharmacies within a few miles, access to healthcare and medication is easily accessible. Additionally, there are several parks nearby such as Lake Ballinger Park and Echo Lake Park, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. A variety of dining options including The Habit Burger Grill and Seaplane Kitchen & Bar are available for those looking to enjoy a meal out. For coffee enthusiasts, cafes like Woods Coffee and Starbucks are also in close proximity. In terms of healthcare, Swedish Medical Center is conveniently located within 3 miles. Public transportation options such as the Northgate Transit Center are easily accessible for those who do not drive. Overall, this area offers a mix of amenities that cater to the needs and interests of seniors looking to reside in Shoreline.

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.7 miles)
• Ostroms Drug & Gifts (2.3 miles)
• Bartell Drugs (2.3 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)

Parks

• Lake Ballinger Park (1.7 miles)
• Echo Lake Park (2 miles)
• Log Boom Park (2 miles)
• Saint Edward State Park (3.5 miles)
• Richmond Beach Saltwater Park (4 miles)
• Lynndale Park (4.4 miles)
• Blyth Park (4.5 miles)

Restaurants

• The Habit Burger Grill (2.1 miles)
• Dick's Drive-In (2.4 miles)
• Seaplane Kitchen & Bar (2.4 miles)
• Yeh Yeh's Sandwiches (3.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.3 miles)
• McDonald's (3.4 miles)
• The Guest House (3.4 miles)

Cafes

• Woods Coffee (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Crystal Creek Cafe (4 miles)
• Walnut Street Coffee (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.9 miles)
• Tazza Di Vita Espresso Stand (4.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Swedish Medical Center (2.6 miles)
• Northwest Hospital (4.6 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Alderwood Mall 16 (3.8 miles)

Physicians

• Lakeshore Clinic (4.4 miles)
• Bellevue Vision Clinic (6.5 miles)
• Lakeshore Clinic (6.8 miles)
• Allegro Pediatrics - Totem Lake (6.8 miles)
• EvergreenHealth (6.9 miles)

Transportation

• Northgate Transit Center (5.2 miles)
• Northgate Station Seattle (5.2 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage (6.4 miles)
• Roosevelt Station Seattle (6.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Hindu Temple & Cultural Center (5.8 miles)