Colonial Inn

Pros

• The management and staff are accommodating and easy to communicate with.
• The residents are very nice and it feels like one big family.
• They offer many activities for residents, including exercise classes, crafts, bingo, and card games.
• There is a nice church in the activities room, with Pastor Dan and Cheri described as awesome.
• The dining room staff are compassionate and interact with residents in a very caring way.
• The food is good and residents look forward to meals.
• Larissa and the staff create a homey, friendly atmosphere and coziness.
• The building is clean and well-maintained under new management.
• Ayn G. is described as a caring and intuitive manager.
• The community feels safe, with staff regularly checking on residents.
• They provide good transportation and a strong social environment.
• The environment is wonderful, clean, friendly, and compassionate.

Cons

• One man died and left his apartment a mess.
• The management billed the departing resident for repairs to Michael's apartment, a charge the resident avoided only by proving they had never lived in the unit.
• Most of the damage was caused by previous tenants, but since that cannot be proven, the current resident is stuck with the bill.
• The reviewer cautions that what one may face at any facility for an older relative can be problematic.
• The reviewer implies that honesty from staff is not always guaranteed.
• A kitchen fire led to trailers outside that are described as an eyesore, disrupting normal operations.
• There is not much room for hospice care at the facility.

Review

Colonial Inn is pictured in these accounts as a place of genuine community and care, even as a few voices warn that there can be difficult encounters behind the scenes. The most explicit caution comes from a longtime resident who recalls a troubling billing dispute that stretched across moves and years. After a loved one died in the building and left the apartment in disarray, the resident says they were later billed for repairs to another unit - a claim they could refute with evidence that they had never lived in that unit. A few years on, when they moved again to be closer to the care they needed, Colonial Inn allegedly pinned a bill of more than two thousand dollars on damages to the vacated apartment. They paid the amount "in protest" with a bank check, convinced that most of the damage was the fault of earlier tenants. This account ends with a blunt warning to prospective families: be aware of what you may face at any facility you consider for an older relative. The reviewer concedes that the person who shows apartments can be lovely and earnest, but cautions that appearances don't always line up with realities. It's a cautionary thread woven through what otherwise reads as a broad chorus of gratitude from families and residents.

Against that caution, a steady stream of letters presents Colonial Inn as a place of warmth, activity, and stability. Several correspondents write with gratitude for the way the facility has supported families who are caring for elderly loved ones. One letter-lwriting caregiver thanks Colonial Inn for being "so accommodating and easy to communicate with" as they became a full-time caregiver for a 98-year-old mother. They describe a community where residents feel like family, with other residents consistently offering help and reminders that they are there to support one another. The writer highlights the abundance of activities - exercising classes, crafts, bingo, and many card games - that fill daily life, and notes a church service held in the activities room on Saturdays, led by Pastor Dan and his wife Cheri. The dining room staff receive praise for their compassionate interactions with residents, and the caregiver mentions that mom looks forward to meals each day and often has positive things to say about the food.

Another family member shares a similar, glowing portrait of life at Colonial Inn. Their mother, Sylvia Halldorson, lived there for 16 years and reached 100, a status described with genuine pride. The daughter recounts that mom was independent for most of that time and remained active, participating in a wide array of activities from bingo and bridge to site-seeing outings, blackjack, driving, and accompanying caregivers to appointments. The family expresses wholehearted endorsement, praising the manager, the front desk staff, housekeepers, cooks, the hairdresser, and the overall "homey and friendly atmosphere" that feels "outstanding" to them. The impression conveyed is not only of care, but of a thriving community where the elderly remain engaged and valued.

Another reviewer recalls a deeply positive family history, noting that both their mother and her sister had apartments at Colonial Inn and cherished the experience, describing the staff and residents as friendly, helpful, and kind. They emphasize that Colonial Inn is a wonderful option for seniors who need a bit of help with meals and cleaning while also benefiting from a lively social environment. The sentiment is reinforced by succinct, enthusiastic bullet-style praise: wonderful staff, great food, lots of activities, and reliable transportation. The tone is warm and confident, underscoring a sense that Colonial Inn can be a long-term home where people continue to feel useful and included.

Yet another family member focuses on the transition from independence to assisted living within Colonial Inn. Their mother, who had lived there for five years, initially faced anxiety but soon began calling the place "home." The narrative foregrounds the leadership of manager Larissa (also spelled Laryssa in some accounts) and the staff who consistently go "above and beyond" to ensure every resident feels cared for, like family. The writer even notes a period when COVID-19 infections did not touch the community, attributing that to the care and protection provided by the team. The recurring theme here is one of reassurance: a sense of steadiness, personalized attention, and a community supportive of both seniors and their families during challenging health events.

The testimonials also cover more recent changes in leadership and the resilience of daily life when a crisis struck. A review of an uncle living at Colonial Inn describes a building that, though under new management, remains clean and well maintained, with a three-times-a-day check-in routine that gives families peace of mind. A kitchen fire is acknowledged, followed by the swift pivot to serving meals from a mobile kitchen unit while renovations took place. While the trailers used for temporary meals were not aesthetically pleasing, the community adapted quickly, maintaining normal meal schedules for residents whose routines depend on consistency. The note also records a leadership shift: Debra, once the manager, was succeeded by Larissa, and later another update extols the exceptional care of Ayn G., described as "the best part" of Colonial Inn. The writer expresses unwavering confidence that as long as Ayn G. is employed there, relatives entrusted to Colonial Inn's care will be treated with enduring consideration and compassion.

The collection of voices converges on a central picture: Colonial Inn can be a place of genuine comfort, companionship, and purpose for seniors and their families. It is praised for its clean environment, its robust calendar of activities, strong dining services, reliable transportation, and a culture of personal attention from managers and staff. It's also clear that the community values a sense of spiritual life, with church services and faith-based moments woven into daily life. At the same time, the cautionary note about billing disputes serves as a reminder that even well-meaning institutions can be involved in complicated financial matters, and families may need to navigate contracts and charges with care. Taken together, these voices present Colonial Inn as a dynamic, caring environment that can become a true home for seniors - capable of offering safety, social engagement, and daily comfort, while reminding families to stay informed and vigilant about all financial commitments.

This part of Olympia, Washington, offers a convenient and accessible location with a variety of amenities nearby. There are several physicians and medical facilities within a short distance, providing easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, there are numerous dining options ranging from fast food to sit-down restaurants like Shari's and Applebee's. Pharmacy options such as Albertsons Pharmacy and Rite Aid are also easily accessible for medication needs. For leisure activities, there are parks like LBA Park and Rainier Vista Community Park within a few miles for enjoying the outdoors. Those seeking spiritual fulfillment can visit places of worship such as Light And Life Bible Church and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the vicinity. Overall, this area provides a convenient and well-rounded living environment for seniors.

Physicians

• Raastad Larissa G MD (0.5 miles)
• Davis Joseph W MD - US Health Works Medical Group (0.6 miles)
• Pacific Walk-In Clinic (0.6 miles)
• Vista Optical (0.8 miles)
• Fok Anita C DDS (0.9 miles)
• BHR children services (0.9 miles)
• Oral Surgery Associates (1 miles)

Restaurants

• Taco Bell (0.5 miles)
• Shari's Restaurant (0.5 miles)
• Applebee's (0.8 miles)
• Arby's (0.8 miles)
• Wendy's (0.9 miles)
• McDonald's (0.9 miles)
• IHOP (0.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Earth Alternative Medicine (0.5 miles)
• Albertsons Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Rite Aid (0.7 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• Super Supplements (1.1 miles)
• Kirk's Drug (1.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• San Francisco Street Bakery (2.5 miles)
• Olympia Coffee Roasting Co. (2.5 miles)
• Olympia Coffee (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Providence Health & Services (1.3 miles)
• South Sound Surgery Center (1.3 miles)

Parks

• LBA Park (1.4 miles)
• Rainier Vista Community Park (2.4 miles)
• Friendly Grove Park (2.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Light And Life Bible Church (1.6 miles)
• Saint Placid Priory (1.7 miles)
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church (1.7 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Martin Village ScreenX & IMAX (1.8 miles)