Finding adult family homes in Federal Way starts with two things: knowing the real, licensed options and understanding Federal Way's own cost and care landscape. Both are below. We currently track 258 DSHS-licensed adult family homes serving Federal Way from Washington DSHS records.
What's below: the licensed providers, 2026 Federal Way cost ranges, the local hospital and neighborhood context, what to ask on a tour, and how to act fast if a hospital discharge is looming. Prefer to talk it through? Get matched with a free local advisor — no fees, ever.
What adult family homes means — and who it's for
An adult family home fits a senior who does best in a small, homelike setting — up to six residents in a regular house — with a high caregiver-to-resident ratio. It often costs less than a large community and is a common Apple Health (Medicaid) option in Washington.
How Washington regulates it: Adult family homes (AFHs) are Washington's signature small-home care setting — a regular home licensed by DSHS for up to six residents under RCW 70.128 and WAC 388-76. They offer a high caregiver-to-resident ratio in a residential setting, and many hold a Specialized Dementia Care or other specialty endorsement. Verify the license and any specialty designation on the DSHS lookup.
In Federal Way specifically, that means weighing the licensed options against Federal Way's cost range and your family's timeline. The right choice balances care level, budget, location near St. Francis Hospital (Virginia Mason Franciscan Health), and how quickly you need a spot.
Federal Way adult family homes: by the numbers
258 DSHS-licensed adult family homes on file in Federal Way; about 1,505 total licensed beds; averaging 6 beds per home; the largest at 8 beds; 257 offering Specialized Dementia Care; 258 accepting Apple Health (Medicaid). Adult family homes are small, DSHS-licensed homes for up to six residents in an ordinary house — a higher caregiver-to-resident ratio and, often, a lower monthly cost than a large community. These are real, current DSHS license counts for the area — not national estimates.
Licensed adult family homes providers in Federal Way
Small licensed homes (up to 6 residents each), selected by capacity. Pulled from Washington DSHS / ALTSA records (2026). We recommend re-checking each license at fortress.wa.gov/dshs/adsaapps/lookup before signing anything.
Memory care (Specialized Dementia Care): 257 · Accepts Apple Health (Medicaid): 258
| Provider | City | Licensed beds | DSHS license # |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARINE VIEW AFH 1 INC | Federal Way | 8 beds | 753593 |
| Six Star Elder Care | Federal Way | 8 beds | 752965 |
| #1 THE ROCK OF MERCY LLC | Federal Way | 6 beds | 758919 |
| *Love With Care AFH LLC | Federal Way | 6 beds | 755770 |
| *Prince of Peace AFH LLC | Federal Way | 6 beds | 755437 |
| *Serene Manor | Federal Way | 6 beds | 754492 |
| *Serene Manor AFH LLC | Federal Way | 6 beds | 756557 |
| 1st Magnolia AFH LLC | Federal Way | 6 beds | 753419 |
| @ DASH POINT CARE AFH, LLC | Federal Way | 6 beds | 757099 |
| A & K Adult Family Home LLC | Federal Way | 6 beds | 755189 |
| A Agape AFH | Federal Way | 6 beds | 756811 |
| A Bethel Haven Adult Family Home LLC | Federal Way | 6 beds | 755909 |
Senior care in Federal Way, King County
Federal Way is a south-King County city of about 100,000 between Seattle and Tacoma, with an affordable, diverse housing market and a large adult-family-home network anchored by St. Francis Hospital. St. Francis Hospital (Virginia Mason Franciscan Health) anchors Federal Way's care market — an affordable south-King option with deep adult-family-home supply and convenient access to both the Seattle and Tacoma hospital systems.
Nearby hospitals: St. Francis Hospital (Virginia Mason Franciscan Health), MultiCare Auburn Medical Center (nearby), St. Joseph Medical Center (Tacoma, nearby). Hospital nearness is a real factor in Federal Way: it smooths rehab hand-offs, dementia crises, and ongoing care, so many families filter by it.
Areas families ask about: Downtown Federal Way, Twin Lakes, Dash Point, Lakeland, Redondo, Mirror Lake.
What adult family homes costs in Federal Way (2026)
Federal Way pricing runs $4,300–$6,700/month, near the metro average for the Greater Seattle metro — a reflection of local real-estate and the mix of small adult family homes versus larger communities.
- Assisted living (standard): $5,200–$7,300/month
- Memory care: $6,550–$8,550/month
- Adult family home: $4,300–$6,700/month
- In-home care: $35–$48/hour
To trim cost in Federal Way, families commonly choose a companion (shared) suite, favor a small adult family home over a big campus, pay only for the care level actually needed, and tap VA Aid & Attendance or the Washington Apple Health / COPES waiver where eligible.
How we vet Federal Way providers
- Current Washington DSHS licensure confirmed against the state ALTSA/RCS provider lookup
- Inspection and complaint history checked through Residential Care Services records
- Direct conversations with current resident families where possible
- Clear, itemized pricing before any tour — no surprise fees
- Firsthand advisor walkthroughs, not just brochures
Questions to ask on a tour
- How many caregivers are on at night per resident?
- Which conditions can you not care for here?
- What's included in the base rate, and what's billed separately?
- What happens if our parent's needs increase next year?
- How long have your director and head nurse been here?
What's included — and what costs extra
Usually included: a private or shared room in a regular home, all meals, 24/7 caregivers, and personal-care help in a setting of up to six residents. Typically extra: higher-acuity care, two-person transfers, and specialized services a small home may not staff for. Get every Federal Way option's pricing in writing, itemized, before you compare them.
How fast you can move in Federal Way
Plan on roughly 7–14 days for a Federal Way placement: assessment, deposit, physician's order, then move-in. Memory-care and post-hospital moves can happen same-day to 72 hours when a secured bed opens. A free local advisor can tell you which Federal Way providers have current openings.
A practical Federal Way reality: published prices and real all-in costs often differ once care levels and add-ons are counted. Before you commit to any adult family homes option in Federal Way, get an itemized rate sheet — a local advisor can pull these and compare them side by side so there are no surprises after move-in.