Reviews & Testimonials

Margaret S.

Staff friendly and very helpful. Lots too do each day with variety-games,yoga,exercise,art,writing.F riendly community of residents. Feel I made the right choice to come to Bellewood.

Susan B.

Bellewood is truly a special place to call home. It's a vibrant close-knit community of men and women who enjoy a wide variety of fun and engaging activities with a dedicated, supportive and challenging staff.

Come visit and feel the warmth of Bellewood for yourself. You will be so grateful you did!

Joyce B.

My father lived here for years from 1999, enjoying his second floor apartment, chef-prepared meals, fitness, crafts, bridge, and having so many new friends.
When it was time for us to consider independent senior living (to reduce our feeling of isolation and the massive yard work following 2024 windstorms), we immediately chose Bellewood for ourselves. Our pets are with us. Our patio is surrounded with our planters. We enjoy tai chi, core fitness, art projects, and now learning to play recorders. Meal choices are wonderful! We know this is the right place for us!

Margaret Ann D.

Pawentine was awesome! So fun to connect with those we love through their pets. Lets do this again!

Norman B.

Great place. Lived here for 13 months with wife, 2 dogs, and 1 cat.

Kim R.

I am writing this review as a family member of a current resident. As I walk into Bellwood, I am always greeted with a smile by the amazing staff. They seem to know all the residents by name as well as their family members. They offer various life minded activities for their residents. They are always going on bus trips. They put out an amazing newsletter called the Chatter each week which is loaded with information and fun events to do at Bellwood. Alona, the manager always has a smile on her face and is friendly as well as approachable. She takes the time to become familiar with residents as well as family members. The staff has longevity at Bellwood which helps to make it seem like family!

Mary P

I moved to Bellewood a few years ago. The staff has been very warm and welcoming. They create great events and activities which I have really enjoyed. The residents here are kind and have created a great community. I would recommend Bellewood to anyone looking for independent living.

Michael N.

This is a review from my dad Orville. In the two years that I have lived at Bellewood I would give total experience a rating of five stars. I would give thanks to two groups: (1) Front Desk and (2) our maintenance man!

Julie W.

A review from my mom, Sandy: “I moved into Bellewood in 2024 and was a bit nervous about the change but my apartment is so easy to care for, and I love not having to cook dinner any more! The staff members here are so friendly and really go above and beyond to make everyone feel welcome. There are many activities and clubs as well. I have made so many nice friends and keep busy. I love to dance, so those events are my favorites. I also enjoy having my hair and nails done at the salon. After many years as a widow I met a lovely man in my dinner group and we are now engaged! The folks at Bellewood feel like part of my family now. My daughter looked at a number of places but she said this seemed like the best place for me and she was right!”

I will add that my sisters and I feel so much better, having our mom at Bellewood. She still has a degree of independence but no longer has to do much, if any, grunt work like cooking or cleaning and no longer has to drive at all. She is constantly on the go, visiting with friends and enjoying special events, as well as time with her fiancé. We feel like she is having more fun than ever!

M E.

Foremost, all of the members of your staff have such a positive attitude. They are so willing to help. From the workers at the Front Desk, who always have the answers to our questions, to Neil and Joey who can fix anything! AND we can count on them being in our room the same day of the morning we call! Certainly still living in a private home would not bring this kind of timely response.

Just as important is you driving us to the several different shopping areas and to doctor appointments! There are exercise classes, concerts, the public library staff that comes here, and other classes of interest such as painting and creative writing.

The positive benefit of being with so many people near the same age – and all in the same location is tremendous! We understand each other and have opportunities to share interests in several areas.

THANK YOU for all your careful planning in so many details AND for the JOY that flows through Bellewood.

Erin G.

My mom has been living here at Bellwood for a few years now and just loves the place, her apartment, the staff and the fact that she can have here little dog Finnegan is a bonus. The 2 times my mom needed Medical attention the staff was right there and stayed with her while EMT's were dispatched and stayed in constant contact with me the whole time. Having my mom live there puts my mind at ease knowing she is safe and well taken care of.

Betty R.

A Real Home - Thank You!

Kessa M.

I visited this community with my colleague as a visiting musician. The members of the community were so appreciative, attentive, and receptive during the performance. We performed classical French art song by Maurice Ravel and they were so interested that the language barrier wasn't even a problem. We attended a reception afterwards and they were engaged and friendly to us. We loved performing there and would love to come back some day!

S R.

We helped my mom move to Bellewood a few months ago, and we could not be happier! We had decided that it was time to look for a place that would help her age in place and be safer than living alone in her home. From the moment we walked into Bellewood, we knew it was the right place for her. The environment is cozy and homey, and the staff were welcoming and friendly. All the residents we saw looked happy and were very friendly with us. After our meeting with Carol, the wonderful marketing director, we were 99% sure this was the right place, but we still felt we needed to do our due-diligence and look at other places. However, in the end we chose Bellewood and we are so glad that we did.

Mom has been very happy living there- in fact, I think she wishes she had moved there sooner! There are activities every day that she takes part in, including fitness classes, crafts, games, socials and outings around the area. They have a shuttle which gets her to church and the grocery stores every week. The menu in the dining room changes every week, and the food is really good. She is eating so much better than she was when living on her own.

All in all, this place is a real hidden gem on the Sammamish/Issaquah plateau. We feel so blessed to have found it!

Michael A.

A Grateful Review for Bellewood Retirement Center in Issaquah

My mother has been living at Bellewood for over seven years now, and I can’t say enough good things about the care and community she has experienced there. Despite vision and physical limitations, she has been able to thrive, participating in writing, creating art, and enjoying holiday celebrations and special events. Bellewood has given her the opportunity to stay active and feel a deep sense of self-worth.

Mom is someone who makes friends easily, and Bellewood has provided her the space to be herself, welcoming others, offering kindness, and continuing to build meaningful connections. It’s clear that Bellewood nurtures not only the body but the spirit.

The facility itself is beautifully maintained, with lovely garden areas where residents can plant flowers, herbs and vegetables, as well as water features and a new gazebo that encourage gathering and conversation. These thoughtful spaces reflect the value Bellewood places on community and quality of life.

But what truly sets Bellewood apart is the staff. Some have been there for decades, and newer team members are clearly chosen for their compassion, patience, and ability to meet residents where they are. Their consistency, warmth, and attentiveness make all the difference.

The food and dining experience are also excellent, nourishing in every sense of the word.

While Bellewood is not an extended care facility, they’ve formed partnerships with external providers where my mom can get additional support as needed, making it a safe and flexible environment as residents’ needs change.

There is a real sense of family at Bellewood and it shows in the relationships, the attention to detail, and the atmosphere of care and dignity. I’m deeply grateful that my mother has found such a great home.

Sheri W.

Delicious food.

Cheryl T.

Yesterday, my husband and I toured Bellewood. We are looking for a place for my 87 y/o father. Carol was so helpful, I felt she really listened to our situation and gave great suggestions/support for presenting the possibility of Bellewood to my dad. We loved the calm atmosphere and peaceful location. Residents were friendly and we met Tippy the dog, our family loves dogs. All we have to do is get my dad to come visit and Bellewood will "sell" itself. Fingers crossed!!

Deborah P.

I truly enjoy living at Bellewood. The staff is so nice kind, and thoughtful that makes my transition to this community. Wonderful. I especially like to think Gege, Brittany and all of the staff members that have been so great.

Margaret Ann D.

Paw-entine was awesome! So fun to connect with those we love through their pets🥰 Lets do this again!

Storm

Amazing people here they are so kind and loving. Alona is the sweetest lady. I believe she is the manager there. She was super helpful and went above and beyond for my mother.

Ken K.

My Mom, who is 89, has been living at Bellewood for almost 5 years now, and I would highly recommend it as a residence for your elderly family members. The staff is excellent and very thoughtful, they always make sure to remind my Mom to come to dinner as she is forgetful. Also they always go the extra mile to make sure she is okay if she doesn't respond to their phone calls. Alona, the manager, is very approachable and on top of everything!

Ann R.

I found Bellewood for my mom almost 10 years ago when my husband & I were moving from Michigan, by reading an online review so I think it’s important to share a glowing review myself to help another daughter find a great new place for her parents. What clinched it was the reviewer wrote, “there are lots of fancy places with amenities elsewhere but I can’t get over the cozy feeling of family between the residents and staff at Bellewood.” That is what I needed - a quiet, safe apartment for my mom as she adjusted to living without my dad on the other side of the country. Bellewood’s grounds are a park like setting - gorgeous rhododendron, flowering trees, mature trees. It’s beautiful year round. There are classes, movies, theme dinners, puzzle tables. I am thankful every day that we were able to find this sweet quiet darling place for my mom to live so well. First floor apartments have patios and there is also a P-Patch (raised bed garden area).

Susie D

So warm and welcoming when I came to visit! Great staff and residents are lively.

Norris N.

Look so happy

Airess A.

A lovely place to work with a wonderful family atmosphere for both staff and residents.
Diverse programming, reflecting the residents passions and interest. There’s something for everyone. Amazing food from a talented Chef and team.

Family owned!

Mariah H.

My grandma used to live here and now I work as wait staff. Bellewood is such a great place, the staff puts in lots of effort to make sure the residents are happy. Great place to live.

Doug M.

We found Bellewood through A Place for Mom, and moved my parents there in May 2019. We could not be happier! This is a spectacularly nice facility with staff that are just fabulous! My parents absolutely love their apartment, the staff, the other residents, all the activities, the shuttles, the onsite hair and nail services, and more! To top it all off, the application fee and monthly rent are very reasonable (actually, quite low compared to the quality of the building, food and support). You won't find a better place for independent living the Seattle area.

Janice Q.

Moved here last August from Iowa. Terrific!

Jim M.

Great location they take care of my mom very well

Steven J.

Very good

Carly D.

I had the opportunity to volunteer at Bellewood to fulfill one of my college requirements at the University of Washington. I could not have asked for a better place to do my volunteering - Bellewood is full of friendly, caring folks who welcomed me from the first day I set foot in the beautiful building that is Bellewood. There was constant activity going on whenever I was there - art classes, dance classes, movie days, lunch activities, and lots more.

You can truly feel the tight-knit community at Bellewood. The genuine interest and care residents have for each other and their staff was wonderful. I was lucky enough to take part in several activities that involved thoughtful discussions amongst residents and program staff, and loved hearing all the wisdom folks had to offer. Aside from that, the building, rooms and surrounding area of Bellewood is beautiful! I can't thank the Bellewood team enough for allowing me to volunteer and giving me the opportunity to be involved in their awesome community. :)

John

This is the absolute Best Retirement Community EVER!!!

John B.

Cindy G.