If your family is weighing assisted living in Kent, this page pulls together what actually matters locally — who the licensed providers are, what they cost in 2026, and how to move when time is tight. We currently track 8 DSHS-licensed assisted living facilities serving Kent from Washington DSHS records.
What's below: the licensed providers, 2026 Kent 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 assisted living means — and who it's for
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.
How Washington regulates it: 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.
In Kent specifically, that means weighing the licensed options against Kent's cost range and your family's timeline. The right choice balances care level, budget, location near Valley Medical Center (Renton, nearby), and how quickly you need a spot.
Kent assisted living: by the numbers
8 DSHS-licensed assisted living facilities on file in Kent; about 561 total licensed beds; averaging 70 beds per community; the largest at 140 beds; 1 offering Specialized Dementia Care; 2 accepting Apple Health (Medicaid). These are real, current DSHS license counts for the area — not national estimates.
Licensed assisted living providers in Kent
Selected by licensed bed 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): 1 · Accepts Apple Health (Medicaid): 2
| Provider | City | Licensed beds | DSHS license # |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cogir of Kent | Kent | 140 beds | 2620 |
| ARBOR VILLAGE RETIREMENT & ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY | Kent | 100 beds | 1993 |
| Hillside Assisted Living | Kent | 75 beds | 2714 |
| FARRINGTON COURT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY | Kent | 70 beds | 2145 |
| WEATHERLY INN AT LAKE MERIDIAN, THE | Kent | 69 beds | 1356 |
| THE LODGE AT ARBOR VILLAGE | Kent | 60 beds | 2037 |
| AEGIS SENIOR INN OF KENT | Kent | 33 beds | 1944 |
| THE INN AT ARBOR VILLAGE | Kent | 14 beds | 1994 |
Senior care in Kent, King County
Kent is one of King County's largest and most diverse cities, a south-county hub of about 135,000 in the Green River Valley, with affordable housing and a very large network of adult family homes serving its multicultural community. A high-volume, value-priced south-King market: Kent has one of the deepest adult-family-home networks in the region — small, licensed homes that frequently undercut big assisted-living rates — with Valley Medical and MultiCare Auburn close by.
Nearby hospitals: Valley Medical Center (Renton, nearby), MultiCare Auburn Medical Center (nearby), St. Francis Hospital (Federal Way, nearby). Hospital nearness is a real factor in Kent: it smooths rehab hand-offs, dementia crises, and ongoing care, so many families filter by it.
Areas families ask about: Downtown Kent, East Hill, West Hill, Panther Lake, Kent Valley, Lake Meridian.
What assisted living costs in Kent (2026)
Kent pricing runs $5,300–$7,450/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): $5,300–$7,450/month
- Memory care: $6,650–$8,700/month
- Adult family home: $4,400–$6,850/month
- In-home care: $35–$49/hour
In Kent, the levers on price are room type (shared saves the most), facility size (small adult family homes run cheaper), an honest care-level assessment, and benefit programs like VA Aid & Attendance and Washington Apple Health (COPES).
How we vet Kent providers
- Washington DSHS license active and clean, checked on the state ALTSA provider lookup
- Two most recent inspections read for repeat citations
- Family feedback gathered firsthand where possible
- Up-front written pricing with every recurring fee disclosed
- A recent advisor visit, not a brochure
Questions to ask on a tour
- What's your overnight staffing level for this wing?
- Which care needs are beyond what you support here?
- Can you itemize base rate versus add-on charges?
- How do you handle a decline in mobility or memory?
- What has staff turnover been over the past year?
What's included — and what costs extra
Usually included: housing, three meals daily, 24/7 awake staff, housekeeping, laundry, scheduled transportation, social and wellness programming, and a basic care plan. Typically extra: medication management above a basic tier, two-person transfers, incontinence care, on-site hospice coordination, and one-on-one aide hours. Ask any Kent provider for an itemized rate sheet so you can compare apples to apples.
How fast you can move in Kent
Most Kent moves come together in 7–14 days once the health assessment, finances, and a physician's order are in hand; a hospital discharge can compress that to 24–72 hours when a bed is open. A free local advisor can tell you which Kent providers have current openings.
Worth knowing in Kent: the strongest assisted living options aren't always the ones with the biggest marketing budgets. We weigh license standing, staffing, and family feedback over advertising, which is how families here avoid a polished tour that hides a thin overnight staff.