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The Cottages at University Place

The Cottages at University Place is an assisted living and memory care community in University Place, WA.

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The Cottages at University Place

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5417 64th Street W, University Place, WA 98467

For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318

4.1 from 32 reviews
5 stars
22
4 stars
3
3 stars
0
2 stars
1
1 stars
6

Seniors.FYI Elite Community Awards

Top 5% Senior Living Community in 2019

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Overall Review of The Cottages at University Place

common 24 reviews mention this

Staff kindness and care stand out

Residents and families frequently describe staff as kind, helpful, and compassionate.

Across the reviews, people repeatedly say the staff is friendly and treats residents with respect, including attention to dignity and day-to-day comfort. Several families also mention responsive communication with caregivers and support for transitions into the community. A smaller set of reviews is sharply negative, describing problems with professionalism, training, and how care is handled, including medication concerns and unmet needs. Even with those criticisms, the overall written feedback most often centers on staff compassion and helpfulness.

common 5 reviews mention this

Clean, well-kept setting

Many reviewers say the facility is clean or smells clean.

Positive reviews frequently mention cleanliness, including describing a clean-smelling environment and a facility that visitors found neat when they came to see residents. Families also point to the overall environment as supportive and comfortable for residents. A few reviews counter that with specific concerns, including reports of an odor in common areas and questions about housekeeping or readiness of a room.

differentiator 4 reviews mention this

Memory care autonomy and outdoor time

Memory care residents are described as getting safe autonomy and outdoor access.

Multiple reviews connect the memory care experience with a layout that supports independence, along with outdoor space residents can use. Reviewers specifically mention walking around the courtyard and enjoying being able to go outside and relax. One review also highlights the simple layout as helpful for someone living with dementia. The structured care options list memory care programming alongside assistance with daily activities.

caveat 7 reviews mention this

Care gaps and staffing concerns

Several reviewers raise serious concerns about staffing and care follow-through.

While many reviews are positive about care, others describe significant breakdowns—such as missed medication, insufficient staffing to support residents, and failures in care procedures. Some negative reviews also cite neglect-related issues, a room not being ready at move-in, and concerns about safety and administration responsiveness. The structured care services include medication management, medication-related dietary support, and memory care programming; the negative reviews suggest residents and families did not always experience consistent execution of those needs. If you’re considering this community, it may be worth asking how they handle coverage, medication routines, and move-in readiness day-by-day.

How we summarize

Counts show how many written reviews mention each theme; a review can touch several themes, and only frequently mentioned themes are displayed.

Features

Housing

  • 60 resident community capacity 60 resident community capacity

Types of Care

  • Assisted Living Assisted Living
  • Independent Living Independent Living
  • Memory Care Memory Care

Amenities

  • Air-conditioning Air-conditioning
  • Beauty salon Beauty salon
  • Cable or satellite TV Cable or satellite TV
  • Computer center Computer center
  • Dining room Dining room
  • Fitness room Fitness room
  • Fully furnished Fully furnished
  • Gaming room Gaming room
  • Garden Garden
  • Housekeeping services Housekeeping services
  • Kitchenette Kitchenette
  • Move-in coordination Move-in coordination
  • Outdoor space Outdoor space
  • Private bathrooms Private bathrooms
  • Restaurant-style dining Restaurant-style dining
  • Small library Small library
  • Telephone Telephone
  • Wellness center Wellness center
  • Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available

Transportation

  • Seattle-Tacoma International (20 miles away) Seattle-Tacoma International (20 miles away)
  • Community operated transportation Community operated transportation
  • Transportation arrangement Transportation arrangement

Care Services

  • 24-hour call system 24-hour call system
  • 24-hour supervision 24-hour supervision
  • Activities of daily living assistance Activities of daily living assistance
  • Assistance with bathing Assistance with bathing
  • Assistance with dressing Assistance with dressing
  • Assistance with transfers Assistance with transfers
  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Meal preparation and service Meal preparation and service
  • Medication management Medication management
  • Mental wellness program Mental wellness program
  • Mild cognitive impairment Mild cognitive impairment
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions
  • Specialized memory care programming Specialized memory care programming

Dining

  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions

Activities

  • Community-sponsored activities Community-sponsored activities
  • Concierge services Concierge services
  • Fitness programs Fitness programs
  • Planned day trips Planned day trips
  • Resident-run activities Resident-run activities
  • Scheduled daily activities Scheduled daily activities

Virtual Tour

Nearby Places of Interest

Physicians

  • Cascade Eye & Skin Centers, PC (0.5 miles)
  • Maureen A. Mooney, MD (0.5 miles)
  • Liu Beth Beth Liu Md Lakewood (0.7 miles)
  • Pacific Medical Prosthetics and Orthotics (0.7 miles)
  • Olsen & Associates (1.8 miles)
  • Franciscan Medical Clinic - University Place (1.9 miles)
  • Hanmi General Medical Clinic (2.1 miles)

Pharmacies

  • Fred Meyer Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
  • Walgreens (1.6 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
  • Walgreens (2 miles)
  • Walmart Pharmacy (2 miles)
  • Rite Aid (2.1 miles)
  • Walgreens (2.2 miles)

Restaurants

  • Moctezuma's Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar (0.9 miles)
  • Hans's Place (1.2 miles)
  • Dawson's Bar & Grill (1.3 miles)
  • Taco Bell (2 miles)
  • Hess Bakery & Deli (2.1 miles)
  • BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (2.2 miles)
  • Chick-Fil-A (2.2 miles)

Parks

  • Conservation Park (1.1 miles)
  • Ft. Steilacoom Park (2.9 miles)
  • Fort Steilacoom Off-Leash Dog Park (2.9 miles)
  • Chambers Bay Park Playground (2.9 miles)
  • Sheridan Park (3.8 miles)
  • Titlow Park (3.8 miles)
  • Sunnyside Beach Park (4.6 miles)

Cafes

  • Panera Bread (2.4 miles)
  • Panera Bread (2.4 miles)
  • Starbucks (2.4 miles)
  • Starbucks (4.7 miles)
  • Alfred's Cafe (4.7 miles)
  • Starbucks (4.9 miles)

Hospitals

  • Child Study & Treatment Center (2.5 miles)
  • MultiCare (3.2 miles)
  • MultiCare Regional Cancer Center - Tacoma (4.9 miles)

Theaters

  • AMC Lakewood Mall 12 (2.6 miles)

Transportation

  • Lakewood Station Sounder train (3.2 miles)

Places of Worship

  • Iglesia Ni Cristo (4.2 miles)
  • Bethlehem Baptist Church (4.8 miles)

Frequently Asked Questions

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    The transition from assisted living to skilled nursing care is often prompted by complex medical needs that assisted living cannot meet, with key indicators including frequent health declines, increased falls, severe memory issues, and caregiver burnout. Families should recognize these signs early to discuss options with healthcare providers and prepare for the emotional and logistical aspects of moving to a facility that offers comprehensive medical support.

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