The Watermark at Bellevue is a 140-bed Assisted Living in Bellevue, Washington, licensed by the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS license #2626). Here's what the public record shows and how to evaluate it for your family.
| Provider | The Watermark at Bellevue |
|---|---|
| Type | Assisted Living (BH) (DSHS-licensed) |
| City | Bellevue, WA 98004 |
| Address | 121 112th Ave NE |
| Licensed beds | 140 |
| DSHS license # | 2626 |
| License status | OP |
| County | King County |
| RCS region | 2D |
| Specialized Dementia Care | Not indicated |
| Apple Health (Medicaid) | Not indicated |
| DSHS lookup | DSHS provider record → |
How Washington regulates assisted livings
In Washington, assisted living is licensed by DSHS (ALTSA / Residential Care Services) under RCW 18.20 and WAC 388-78A. A facility's license can include endorsements — such as Specialized Dementia Care — that let residents stay as needs increase. Always verify the exact license and endorsements; they determine how long your parent can remain as care needs grow.
Bellevue location & hospital context
Bellevue is the Eastside's affluent center, a city of about 150,000 across Lake Washington from Seattle, with high household incomes, a large share of long-tenured homeowners over 65, and the headquarters of regional operator Aegis Living.
Nearby hospitals: Overlake Medical Center, Swedish Issaquah (nearby), EvergreenHealth Kirkland (nearby), Virginia Mason Bellevue (clinic). Proximity matters for hospital discharges, emergencies, and specialist visits, so families weighing The Watermark at Bellevue often factor drive time to these. Nearby areas: Downtown Bellevue, Crossroads, Factoria, Somerset, Newport Hills.
What assisted living costs near The Watermark at Bellevue
Assisted Living in the Bellevue area typically runs $6,500–$9,100/month (2026). Pricing at any specific provider depends on care level, room type, and size. Washington's Apple Health (Medicaid) with the COPES waiver and VA Aid & Attendance can offset much of the care cost for those who qualify — ask us what applies.
How to evaluate The Watermark at Bellevue
When you tour an assisted living community like this one, the things that predict a good experience aren't in the brochure. Ask the overnight staff-to-resident ratio (daytime numbers hide the real picture), the staff turnover rate over the past year, and how long the administrator and head caregiver have been in place. Ask what care needs would force a move-out, how the care plan is built and how often it's updated, and who administers medications and how errors are tracked. Walk the halls at a meal and an activity, notice whether residents are engaged or idle, and ask to speak with a current resident's family. Confirm the DSHS license and any endorsements — especially Specialized Dementia Care — because they determine how long your parent can stay as needs grow.
Is The Watermark at Bellevue the right fit?
Assisted living fits an older adult who needs daily help — bathing, dressing, medication reminders, meals — but does not require round-the-clock skilled nursing. It's the most common first move when living alone stops being safe. The Watermark at Bellevue is licensed for this level of care in Bellevue; whether it's right for your parent depends on their specific needs, budget, and preferences. A free advisor can compare it head-to-head with other licensed Bellevue-area options.
What's typically included at a assisted living like this
Usually included: housing, three meals daily, 24/7 awake staff, housekeeping, laundry, scheduled transportation, social and wellness programming, and a basic care plan. Typically billed separately: medication management above a basic tier, two-person transfers, incontinence care, on-site hospice coordination, and one-on-one aide hours. Ask The Watermark at Bellevue for an itemized monthly rate sheet so you can compare it honestly against other Bellevue options.
Questions to ask when you tour The Watermark at Bellevue
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio overnight?
- What care changes would force a move-out?
- What is the all-in monthly cost for this care level — every line item?
- How do you handle a sudden change in needs, like a fall?
- What is your current resident average length of stay?
Common questions about The Watermark at Bellevue
Is The Watermark at Bellevue licensed in Washington?
How many beds does The Watermark at Bellevue have?
Does The Watermark at Bellevue accept Apple Health (Medicaid)?
What does it cost?
How Bellevue families actually pay for care
Very few families cover senior care from a single source. In Bellevue, the typical plan layers several of these, often shifting over a multi-year stay:
- Personal savings & Social Security. Most Puget Sound families self-fund the first 12–24 months from savings, pensions, and monthly Social Security before tapping other sources.
- Long-term-care insurance. If a policy is in force, it can cover a large share of assisted living or home care — check the elimination period and daily benefit cap. Washington's WA Cares Fund also provides a state long-term-care benefit for eligible workers.
- VA Aid & Attendance. Eligible wartime veterans and surviving spouses can receive roughly $1,800–$2,900/month toward care — a major lever in a metro served by VA Puget Sound (Seattle and the American Lake campus in Lakewood).
- Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) long-term care. Washington's Apple Health long-term care — delivered in the community through the COPES waiver, administered by DSHS Home and Community Services — covers personal care and many community-based services for those who qualify by income and assets. Adult family homes are a common low-cost, Medicaid-contracted setting.
- Home equity. Selling the family home or a reverse mortgage frequently funds sustained care once a parent has moved.
- Family cost-sharing. Siblings often split the monthly gap; a written agreement keeps it fair and durable.
Because Bellevue assisted living can run into the thousands per month, mapping the funding plan early — before a crisis — often saves a family tens of thousands of dollars. A free local advisor can tell you which of these you qualify for and which Bellevue providers accept Apple Health (the COPES waiver).
Washington programs worth knowing about
In Washington, senior-care facilities are licensed and inspected by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) through ALTSA / Residential Care Services — verify any license and inspection history free at fortress.wa.gov/dshs/adsaapps/lookup. Service funding flows through the local Area Agency on Aging; the Seattle metro's are Aging and Disability Services (ADS) for King County, Homage Senior Services for Snohomish, and Aging & Disability Resources of Pierce County. Long-term-care help runs through Apple Health (Medicaid) and the COPES waiver, and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman plus DSHS Adult Protective Services protect residents. Our advisors help families use all of these at no cost.
How we help with The Watermark at Bellevue
We're a free, local senior-care advisory service — families never pay us. If The Watermark at Bellevue is on your shortlist, we can tell you how it compares to nearby licensed options on cost, care level, and availability, join the tour or the call, and help you read the DSHS record. We only earn anything if you choose to move in somewhere and are glad you did, so our incentive is a genuine fit, not a particular building. We'll also flag good alternatives in Bellevue that don't compensate us.
About this page: the facility facts above come from current Washington DSHS (ALTSA / Residential Care Services) licensing data. We don't publish unverified reviews or ratings — we share the public record and help you evaluate the provider in person. Confirm the current license at fortress.wa.gov/dshs/adsaapps/lookup before you sign anything.