Era Living

What Era Living does

Era Living is a private, family-owned operator of senior living communities headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1987 by Eli and Rebecca Almo, the company operates eight premier retirement communities across the Seattle metropolitan area — including Seattle neighborhoods, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Issaquah, and Renton — totaling approximately 1,289 residences under the Aljoya, Ida Culver House, University House, The Gardens at Town Square, and The Lakeshore brand names. The platform delivers a continuum of care spanning independent living, assisted living, and memory care (The Terrace), with the latter employing the Best Friends Approach to dementia care. Era Living differentiates through long-standing partnerships with the University of Washington Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work, signature Chihuly glass art installations, in-house chefs, and lifestyle programming targeted at active older adults and their families.

The business model is a recurring-revenue residential services platform. Residents pay monthly rent that bundles housing, meals, housekeeping, linen services, basic cable, and fitness center access. Most communities charge a non-refundable community fee of $3,000-$7,500 upon move-in to cover apartment preparation costs. The two Aljoya communities (Mercer Island and Thornton Place) use a higher entrance fee structure, 80% of which is refundable to the resident or estate after re-leasing. Assisted living services are provided a la carte, including bathing, dressing, medication management, and mobility support, layered on top of base rent. The company also operates an Almost Like Family fee-based support program providing 24-hour on-call assistance for residents without nearby family.

Era Living sells directly to consumers through community tours, phone and online inquiries, scheduled visits, and an active waitlist system across all eight communities. Marketing is content-driven (blog, assessment quiz, downsizing guides, cost comparison worksheets) and event-driven (chef demonstrations, art galas, resident panels, garden parties). There is no disclosed technology platform or proprietary software product; operations are supported by standard senior living management systems, and the company emphasizes clinical programming and wellness partnerships rather than technology as its primary lever. The company is family-owned with no external funding rounds or parent company.

Name

Era Living

Legal name

Era Living

Website

https://eraliving.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Era Living is a family-owned Seattle-based senior living operator running eight retirement communities in the Seattle metro area, providing independent living, assisted living, and memory care to approximately 1,289 older-adult residents and their families through a recurring monthly-rent and fee-based model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Living Services

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (623311)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Market-Rate Independent Living (Private Pay) Communities (HLADAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury/Resort-Style Independent Living Communities (HLADAAAC), Luxury / High-End Assisted Living Communities (HLADABAD), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Senior living services
• Independent living communities
• Assisted living facilities
• Memory care services
• Retirement community management

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Monthly Rent/Service Fees: Residents pay monthly rent which includes services such as housekeeping, linen services, basic cable, fitness center access, and meals. Additional assisted living services are offered on an a la carte basis for incremental fees.
2. Entrance Fees (Aljoya Communities): At Aljoya Mercer Island and Aljoya Thornton Place, residents pay an entrance fee (higher than community fees). 80% of the entrance fee is refundable to the resident or their estate after the apartment is leased to a new resident.
3. Community Fees: At most Era Living communities, a community fee is required upon move-in, typically ranging from $3,000 to $7,500. This fee covers expenses related to preparing the new apartment and is non-refundable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Era Living operates eight premier retirement communities across the Seattle metropolitan area, offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care (The Terrace) services to older adults. Residents pay monthly rent that bundles housekeeping, meals, fitness access, and activities, with additional assisted living services available a la carte; Aljoya communities also charge an entrance fee that is 80% refundable, while other communities charge a non-refundable community fee on move-in.

Product overview

Era Living operates eight premier retirement communities across the Seattle metropolitan area (Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, Issaquah, and Renton), offering a comprehensive senior living platform providing independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. The portfolio includes branded communities (Aljoya Mercer Island, Aljoya Thornton Place, Ida Culver House Broadview, Ida Culver House Ravenna, The Gardens at Town Square, The Lakeshore, University House Issaquah, and University House Wallingford) alongside specialized care programs such as The Terrace memory care, the Best Friends dementia care approach, and the Almost Like Family support program. The communities share common amenities including in-house chefs, elegant dining rooms, fitness centers, art programs featuring Chihuly glass collections, and partnerships with University of Washington schools for health and wellness programming. This is a service-based platform delivering residential senior care rather than a technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aljoya Mercer Island A premier retirement community on Mercer Island offering independent and assisted living with 114 senior residences, a saltwater pool, elegant dining, and entrance-fee pricing structure.
• Aljoya Thornton Place A lively retirement community in North Seattle offering independent and assisted living with 143 senior residences, village charm, contemporary amenities, and entrance-fee pricing structure.
• Ida Culver House Broadview A premier independent and assisted living community in Northwest Seattle with 287 senior residences, offering breathtaking Puget Sound views, a saltwater pool, and The Terrace memory care services.
• Ida Culver House Ravenna A welcoming retirement community in Seattle's Ravenna neighborhood offering independent and assisted living with 90 senior residences in an intimate setting; not currently accepting new residents while exploring rebuilding options.
• The Gardens at Town Square Premier senior living community in downtown Bellevue offering 168 elegant apartments with independent living, assisted living, and The Terrace memory care services in a sophisticated setting.
• The Lakeshore An active and welcoming retirement community in South Seattle/Renton offering independent and assisted living with 157 senior residences, lake views, and a waterfront lifestyle.
• University House Issaquah A premier retirement community in Issaquah offering independent and assisted living with 184 senior residences, 44 different floor plans from studios to three-bedroom penthouses, and partnership with UW Retirement Association.
• University House Wallingford An intellectually rich senior living community in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood offering 146 maintenance-free, pet-friendly residences with one or two-bedroom floor plans in 22 different layouts.
• The Terrace Memory Care A specialized memory care program providing private apartments and secure, home-like environments for residents with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, using the Best Friends approach developed by Virginia Bell and David Troxel.
• Independent Living Services A self-directed senior living service tier offered across all eight Era Living communities, providing maintenance-free living, gourmet in-house dining, housekeeping, fitness center access, and diverse social activities for active older adults.
• Assisted Living Services Personalized assisted living services provided on an a la carte basis in residents' original apartment homes, including bathing, dressing, grooming, continence support, mobility assistance, medication management, dietary support, and social support.
• Almost Like Family Program A fee-based support program providing 24-hour on-call assistance for residents without immediate family nearby, including emergency room advocacy and escort services for medical and routine appointments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Residents benefit from innovative wellness and active aging programs developed through the partnership with UW School of Nursing

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Washington School of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEra Living partners with the UW School of Nursing to bring education, support, and evidence-informed wellness programming to residents. Residents benefit from innovative wellness and active aging programs developed through this partnership. The collaboration enhances care quality and provides research-backed approaches to senior wellness.
• University of Washington School of PharmacycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEra Living collaborates with the UW School of Pharmacy to deliver innovative programs designed with healthy living in mind. This partnership contributes to the holistic approach to wellness across all eight communities.
• University of Washington School of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEra Living partners with the UW School of Social Work to bring education, support, and evidence-informed programming to residents. The collaboration supports social wellness and provides resources for residents and families.
• University of Washington Retirement Association (UWRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe unique partnership with UWRA offers UWRA members a variety of benefits at University House communities. This relationship gives retirement communities a distinct academic flavor where residents enjoy a connection to UW programs and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Brookdale Senior Living: Brookdale Senior Living is the largest senior living operator in the United States, offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care nationwide. It serves the same resident populations as Era Living but at scale across many markets, including competition in the broader Seattle region.
• Atria Senior Living: Atria Senior Living is one of the largest U.S. operators of senior living communities, offering independent, assisted, and memory care with an upscale service model. Its premium positioning and continuum-of-care offering put it in the same competitive set as Era Living.
• Life Care Services: Life Care Services is one of the largest operators of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in the U.S., offering a continuum of independent, assisted, skilled nursing, and memory care. It is comparable to Era Living for communities that combine independent living with higher-acuity services under one organizational umbrella.
• Sunrise Senior Living: Sunrise Senior Living is a national operator of assisted living and memory care communities known for its signature wellness and engagement programming. It competes for the same mid-to-upper tier senior resident as Era Living, including in the Pacific Northwest.

Emerging players

• Silverado Senior Living: Silverado is a specialty senior living provider focused heavily on memory care and dementia-specific programming. It competes most directly with Era Living's Terrace memory care offering for high-acuity memory care residents and their families.

Direct peers

• Aegis Living: Aegis Living is a Pacific Northwest-based assisted living and memory care operator with communities across Washington, Oregon, and California. It is the most geographically overlapping direct competitor to Era Living, offering similar upscale independent living, assisted living, and dementia care to the same affluent Seattle-area demographic.
• Bonaventure Senior Living: Bonaventure Senior Living is a regional senior living operator in the Western U.S. offering independent, assisted, and memory care in a hospitality-driven setting. Its market-rate-to-premium service model and Western footprint overlap with Era Living's positioning.
• Kisco Senior Living: Kisco Senior Living operates upscale retirement communities across the Western and Southeastern U.S., combining independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Its emphasis on hospitality and lifestyle programming is comparable to Era Living's differentiated approach.
• Merrill Gardens: Merrill Gardens is a Seattle-headquartered senior living operator with multiple communities throughout Washington and the broader Western U.S., providing independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Its regional concentration and service-line mix closely mirror Era Living's Seattle-metro strategy.
• MBK Senior Living: MBK Senior Living is a Western U.S. senior living operator based in the Pacific Northwest, delivering independent, assisted, and memory care services in upscale settings. Its positioning and resident profile are highly comparable to Era Living's market-rate to premium communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eraliving
• Xx.com/eraliving

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Era Living