Stay active.

Friends and activities found here daily.

Stay you.

Think age is just a number? So do we.

The Willows - A LifeMinded® Residence

Engaged Living In A LifeMinded Retirement Community Near Everson, WA

Willows, located in Bellingham, Washington is a senior apartment and retirement community providing the finest care and community in the Everson area. Come home to a welcoming community, a fir-lined setting, and a Bellingham location convenient to everything.

ENGAGED LIVING IN BELLINGHAM.

Come home to a welcoming retirement living community, a fir-lined setting, and a location convenient to everything. Visit our Apartments & Rates page to view floor plans, rates, and a full list of amenities.

FLOOR PLANS & PRICING

Bellewood Issaquah 2016 087 500x660

HELPING HANDS IF YOU NEED THEM.

We offer a unique alternative to typical “assisted living”: providing access to personal assistant services, tailored to you—as you need them.

MORE

LIFEMINDED REWARDS.

Change is inevitable. Rent increases don’t have to be. People tend to live at Willows longer than they expected, so we’ve found a way to help you plan for the future with greater financial certainty and confidence.

LEARN MORE

LifeMinded is in everything we do.

THE REVIEWS ARE IN!

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Phyllis M.

I've been at the Willows for over three years and I love it. It has a supe…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Sue R.

My mom, Peg moved to the Willows in June. She relocated here after 50 years…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

James T.

I love living here. The service is great. Fitness classes daily.

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Catherine O.

It's great to have the choice of eleven exercise classes, a fitness center,…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Sharon R.

I have lived at The Willows for nearly a year. Before moving here, I visite…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Birgit S.

I have been living at The Willows for 5 years and I love it here! I partici…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Ruta S.

The Willows is like a sanctuary. Every walk down the hall is greeted with m…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Pauline A.

Eight years ago, I visited friends here at The Willows a long time before I…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Helen K.

I have lived at The Willows for five years. Everything needed by residents …

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Betty E.

I moved to Bellingham to be closer to my daughter. I visited a lot of commu…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Pat C.

Friends abound, activities galore, food superb, help&safety 24hrs/day, tran…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Molly H.

The Willows embodies what it means to feel “at home”. From the beautiful la…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Victoria C.

High quality care, in a luxury setting

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Ted L.

My step mother moved into The Willows in Bellingham, WA in Feb 2019. I am s…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

clovertheballoonfae

The Willows is a magical place to work! The entire place feels like a cruis…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Akela S.

There’s never a dull moment at the willows. The residents are great. The st…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Leslie K.

I have worked at The Willows since 1992, I am so grateful to be surrounded …

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Barbara S.

My Mom has been living at the Willows since August 2017 and she loves it. T…

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Jen A.

Awesome, purposeful place to work!

1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star 1/2 star

Blake W.

This is a nice place. The staff and residents here are very nice to each o…

Help others by sharing your feedback!

Write a review for people to read on any, or all, of your favorite sites using the links below.


ONCE STRANGERS.
NOW BEST FRIENDS.

Meet Dorothy and Maggie.

YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND.

There's a lot to "like" on our Facebook page. Come see the latest.

FACEBOOK

MEET THE FOUNDER.

Family owned and operated, Willows was different from day one.

Visit our Apartments & Rates page to view floor plans, pricing, and a full list of amenities included in your rent.

APARTMENTS & RATES

 


 

Proud to have 100% of our Staff & Residents vaccinated!

Learn more about our commitment to living LifeMinded here.

9N2A3527 500x660

ISN'T LIVING IN MY OWN HOME LESS EXPENSIVE?

Not necessarily. Learn more about the in's and out's of retired independent living so you can make the right decision for you.

LEARN MORE

willamette retirementhomes 5creative 9141 500x660 v2

WORK LIFEMINDED.

When you join the Willows team, it's more than just a job.

OPEN POSITIONS

PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

At The Willows, whether you live here or work here, you're a vital part of the community. Here’s an introduction to a few of those folks.

MORE

YOUR SENIOR LIVING QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

No matter where you choose to live, this information can help you make an informed decision.

Assisted Living
Assisted Living

Our Approach To Assisted Living

The term assisted living facility means something different to each person that hears it. Some may think of nursing homes or other skilled care facilities, while others may think of small retirement apartments where relatively independent seniors live. Generally, there are two types of assisted living facilities that exist. 

The first is closer to the idea of a nursing home. These facilities are more suited for seniors that are able to do some things independently but are unable to fully care for themselves due to medical conditions. In these facilities, nurses and support staff are available 24/7 to help care for the people who live there in case they need medical attention.  

The second type instead supports seniors who choose and are able to live independently with little assistance or medical intervention. Since most seniors are largely independent and do not require extensive medical care, the majority tend to retire to this type of retirement home. This type of assisted living facility allows seniors to have their own living spaces and may also offer some amenities to help make their lives easier, such as transportation or social activities. 

While both of these types of assisted living facilities offer something to their residents, we didn’t feel like that was enough. Our vision of an assisted living retirement community is different. We believe that your retirement home should not only fit your current needs but that it should accommodate your future needs as well. 

Because of this, our facility has a huge list of amenities that come included in your rent, and our grounds are fitted with the idea of “aging in place”. We have wider hallways, ramps, elevators, and voice-activated alert systems throughout our apartments and common areas so that all of our residents can feel comfortable all of the time. 

At The Willows Everson, we also offer several amenities with the goal of making our residents' lives easier, more comfortable, and more fulfilling. These amenities include fitness and wellness classes, housekeeping, daily meals cooked by our in-house chef and his team of culinary professionals, transportation to and from your destinations of choice, personal assistants and concierge services, and medical services as necessary. 

We want our residents to feel at home and to enjoy their retirement without having to worry about the little things. 

 

Does The Willows Senior Living Community offer the right assistance for you?

The Willows Everson strives to provide an opportunity to live independently to the seniors that wish to do so. In addition to all of our other amenities, we also offer emergency call services and medication assistance. For the services that we can’t help with, we have partnered with Right At Home to provide extended and additional services to our residents so that they can get help with everything that they need without leaving the comfort of their homes.

Unfortunately, however, we are not able to provide around-the-clock observation for our residents or serious medical equipment that may be necessary for people with severe medical conditions. For people who need constant medical support, or for those whose health is rapidly declining, a skilled nursing facility may be more appropriate than a retirement community. 

Everyone has different needs, and not every community or facility will be the right fit for everyone. You are the only person that can decide what the right level of care is for you. We want you to be in the place that will provide you with the most support and that will offer you the most comfort. We invite you to come to tour our community so that you can see for yourself if The Willows Everson would be a good fit for your retirement needs.

Independent Living
Independent Living

INDEPENDENT LIVING

As we age we hold more tightly to our independence. From our teenage years on, the concept of being able to take care of yourself and live on your own terms only grows more fervent with every passing year. Our independence is one of the most important things that we have. Because of this, many seniors are reluctant to leave the homes that they have known for years when they are faced with the option of moving to a retirement community. 

It can be an extremely difficult decision to leave behind your comfort zone in favor of the unknown, but studies have shown that people who remain in their homes after retirement tend to have a lower quality of life than those who move to retirement communities. There are many reasons for this, including but not limited to, a lack of transportation, reduced income and incoming funds, and the time and effort that it takes to maintain a house. 

At The Willows Everson, we believe that our senior residents should be able to retain their independence for as long as possible. It was with this idea in mind that our doors first opened in 1986. We want to empower our residents to live in their own apartments, in their own space, and on their own terms. Our residents have access to several amenities that make their lives easier, more fulfilling, and more enjoyable.

We offer several concierge services including transportation to and from the destinations of your choice, personal assistants that can help with shopping or any other errands that you may have, twice daily Chef-cooked meals, housekeeping services, security, an on-site salon, and several fitness classes and group activities. The majority of our residents freely admit that they were reluctant to leave their homes when the choice was first presented to them, but that they now wish that they had made the transition sooner. 

 


 

 

What is an Independent Senior Living Community?

Independent senior living communities are retirement communities specifically made for healthy, active, and independent seniors that wish to be around like-minded peers that share their passion for life. These communities may be apartments, a whole neighborhood, or in some cases a single large building full of individual rooms, and they are often referred to as retirement communities or retirement homes. 

Regardless of the look of the community, the key feature is that many seniors are able to live close to one another and that they are able to take advantage of all of the benefits of community living that would otherwise be unobtainable or extremely expensive. At The Willows Everson, we are able to offer all of the above amenities at no additional cost because of our community. Additionally, we are able to offer several social and group activities, wellness programs, room service, volunteer opportunities, and so much more. 

The best part is that it is entirely up to you how you wish to take advantage of all of these benefits. It is your choice if you want to engage socially or not, to prepare your own meals or take advantage of our Chef-cooked meals, or continue driving your own vehicle or utilize our available transportation. You are entirely free to choose the options that suit your life best, and you’ll always have the comfort and security of having a thriving community and our dedicated staff to turn to if you ever need to. 

 


 

Aging in place.

One of the most important features that we offer at The Willows Everson is the ability to “age in place”. Our community was created so that we could continue to accommodate all of our senior residents as they aged and lost some of their mobility or independence. We want our residents to remain comfortable and feel secure throughout their stay.


With that in mind, our community is designed with wide hallways, ramps, several available elevators, access to full or part-time caregivers so that our residents never feel pressured to have to move anywhere else. In addition to these amenities, we also have included voice-activated call systems in each apartment and across our community so that help is available when you need it most.


In case of an emergency, such as a slip or fall, you won’t have to waste time searching for a button to press, a phone to dial, or a cord to pull for help. Instead, any verbal expression of distress will alert our trained staff members to come to your aid. Together, all of these amenities allow our residents to “age in place” in comfort and security resulting in peace of mind.

 


 

Is the The Willows Senior Living Community the right place for you?

No one can make the decision to move into an independent living community for you. Deciding to leave the comfort of your own home for the unknown is an extremely personal and difficult decision, and we want you to make the right choice for yourself. 

We want to invite you to visit our community so that you can see for yourself what we can do for you. We are a family-owned and operated community that has been around since 1986, and we take pride in the happiness of our residents. Come join us for a day or a weekend and meet your future neighbors and our staff. Sit in our garden-side dining room and enjoy a few home-cooked meals from our Chef and his team, and stay a few nights in our guest apartments so that you can see where your family can stay when they come to visit. After you have had the opportunity to see the difference for yourself, we’re sure that you will know if The Willows Everson is the right choice for you in your retirement. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to our community!

Nutrition & Diet
Nutrition & Diet

NUTRITION

Adequate, well-balanced, and healthy meals are essential in helping us meet our nutritional needs throughout our lives. This becomes even more important as we age, partially because our dietary needs change over time and partially due to a restricted ability to eat or digest certain foods. 

Because of these natural dietary changes, it can become more difficult to get the nutrients and calories that your body needs to remain healthy and function properly as you age. This can eventually lead to malnutrition and several serious health conditions. Proper nutrition and a daily vitamin are some of the most effective preventative medications that a senior can take to ensure that they stay as healthy as possible during their retirement. 

Although it’s no secret that nutrition is incredibly important, there are several factors that can get in the way of eating healthy foods and maintaining a proper diet. For example, as we age it is common to have dental issues that can affect what foods we can eat as well as gastrointestinal conditions that can make certain foods unpleasant. Some seniors may simply lack an interest in food, having to cook, or they may not want to eat their meals alone. 

For others, there may be a financial concern or burden or a lack of transportation that hinders their ability to buy fresh food as regularly as they would like. This tends to lead to prepackaged meals that have subpar nutritional value and taste, which only furthers their lack of interest in eating. 

On top of everything else, seniors tend to use less energy as they age due to being less active on a regular basis, and as such, they have a lower caloric need than younger people do. As a result, a healthy diet becomes even more important because there is less room for all of the vitamins and minerals that a person needs. Senior citizens are frequently deficient in certain vitamins including Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, Folic Acid, and Niacin. 

It helps to avoid prepackaged foods that are high in sodium, solid fats, and added sugars. Instead, try to focus on incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables, high protein foods including meat, seeds, tofu, eggs, nuts, and whole grains into your diet. 

This is where senior apartments such as The Willows Everson can help make a significant difference. We have a full-time Chef and kitchen staff that prepare delicious, home-cooked meals from scratch daily for all of our residents with specific dietary needs in mind. You won’t have to worry about making sure that your meals are healthy, and you won’t have to shop for ingredients, waste time cooking if you don’t want to, or worry about cleaning up the kitchen when you’re done!

 

What’s on the menu at The Willows Senior Living Community?

Executive Chef Frank Blanchard and his exceptionally talented kitchen staff work tirelessly to create delicious, nutritious, and stunning meals from scratch daily. They regularly ask for input from our residents on new recipes, and they incorporate locally grown ingredients including seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables into each of their dishes. 

Unlike other assisted living facilities, The Willows Everson is family-owned and operated since 1986. Because of this, we are able to tailor our menu to the tastes of our residents without compromising with a corporate entity. We offer a full salad bar every day, we ensure that the dietary needs of each and every one of our residents in accounted for, and we make sure to celebrate any special occasions with special dinners such as for birthdays and anniversaries.  

We know that there’s more to a good meal than just the food, which is why we pride ourselves on our garden-side dining room that allows our residents to mingle, interact, and dine with one another at their leisure. And, for the days that you may not be feeling up to socializing, we also offer room service. 

All of this is included in your monthly rent and at no additional cost because we know how important nutrition and socialization are to the well-being of our residents. We want you to feel like you’re at home and among friends when you’re at The Willows Everson.

Fitness - Body & Mind
Fitness - Body & Mind

FITNESS: BODY & MIND

Keeping your body and mind sharp, fit, and in shape is important at every stage of your life, particularly as you get older and naturally become more sedentary during retirement. It is important to stay on top of your health as you age by ensuring that you eat healthy, nutrient-rich foods and exercise regularly. 

By taking the time to ensure that you are staying as healthy as possible, you’ll not only feel happier and more energetic, but you’ll lower your risk for serious health conditions as well. Studies have shown that older adults who continue to be physically active live longer, healthier lives. They are less at risk for common viruses like the cold and flu as well as more serious conditions such as cardiopulmonary conditions and Type 2 diabetes. 

Although the benefits of regular exercise are obvious, it can be difficult to stay active as you age. Some seniors may have mobility problems that hinder their ability to exercise. For others, it may be a challenge to turn exercise into a habit, or they may not know what exercises would work best for them. 

At The Willows Everson, we want to help our residents be as healthy, active, and engaged as possible. For this reason, we offer several fitness classes that our residents can take part in such as yoga, tai chi, pilates, and aerobics. We offer these classes to help encourage our residents to take charge of their health and wellbeing by making exercise a fun, accessible, and social experience that we hope will become a part of their daily routine.

 


 

Exercise, it’s for more than just your body.

Not only does regular exercise help to keep your body feeling younger, stronger, and more efficient, but it also does wonders for your mind. Exercising increases the amount of oxygen that is available for your brain to use which in turn enhances clarity, mental focus, and energy levels. 

These benefits can be further enhanced by engaging in activities that work out your brain. Learning new skills, hobbies, or information help promote active engagement which in turn increases your memory function, fine motor skills, and cognitive abilities, all of which are essential things to maintain as we age. 

Many of our residents state that since they have moved into our independent living community that they have been more active and more engaged. Most credit the availability of our senior-focused fitness programs as well as our Chef-created and from scratch daily menus that are centered around our resident’s unique nutritional needs for giving them the jump start that they needed to get healthier.

 


 

How can living at The Willows Senior Living Community help you stay active?

Unfortunately, older people are often told that they should just relax and rest, to not adventure or do too much, or that there isn’t a point in learning new things. We completely disagree with this type of thinking, and since we opened in 1986 we have been fighting against that mentality. 

We believe in the LifeMinded approach. This means that we encourage all of our residents to pursue their dreams, hopes, and passions, and we are fully committed to helping each and every one of them achieve their goals. When a person first moves into The Willows Everson, we ask them to help us create a personalized program that is full of the things that they are interested in and want to try to help them get the most out of their retirement. You’ve worked your whole life for other people’s dreams, isn’t it time to live your own? 

Regardless of your age, we believe that retirement is the time of your life that should be free, vibrant, and above all satisfying. We’re not alone in this thinking either. A recent study from the International Council on Active Aging found that Independent Living Communities that had a wellness and fitness program were able to report that 91% of their residents had an active lifestyle, higher quality of life and that their overall health and wellness was good, very good, or excellent.

 


 

Living LifeMinded.

Four equally important categories truly define our idea of a LifeMinded lifestyle. The first is physical fitness, and it includes any regular physical activity that gets your blood pumping and your heart rate up. Some of the engaging classes that we offer include yoga, tai chi, dancercise, walking, outdoor adventures, and so much more. By trying different things and regularly changing up your routines you can improve your health, balance, flexibility, and core strength. 

The second category is brain fitness, which is essential in keeping your mind sharp, focused, limber, and lucid. You can work out your mind by learning new things, practicing new hobbies, and engaging in social activities. We offer classes and group activities to help engage our residents' minds to improve cognitive ability and memory functions. 

Next in our LifeMinded approach is social connections. The Willows Everson offers a vibrant and thriving community of like-minded peers that provides an opportunity to all of our residents to create new friendships, nurture old relationships, and seek support and camaraderie when they desire it. 

Our final category is known as Making a Difference. We believe in giving back to our community and we know how much our residents have to offer in knowledge, skills, and wisdom. Because of this, we encourage our residents to volunteer their time, mentor the next generation, and give back in a way that they are passionate about. We are here to support your vision, and we want to help you make an impact.