Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | Addressing a crisis in the elder care system
In 2010, my father’s life — and ours — changed overnight. A healthy man with a Ph.D. who hiked a mountain every day (a trail I couldn’t even climb), my dad suffered a sudden and severe stroke. In an instant, he lost his ability to speak, write, read — even to follow the plot of a TV show. Yet mentally, he was still completely aware. He was “in there,” but he couldn’t reach us. It was heartbreaking.
He spent five days in the hospital, where the response was brief and clinical: “Yes, you’ve had a stroke. Here’s a blood thinner.” Then came a rehab facility that offered little stimulation, poor nutrition, and no meaningful activity. My dad, once a brilliant thinker and daily hiker, began handing out bibs to other residents before meals. It was his quiet way of finding purpose, though I still shudder at the word “bibs” when referring to adults. He deserved better.
We moved my parents to a beautiful assisted living facility in Gig Harbor. When I asked how long they could stay, I was told, “We go through hospice.” I was relieved, thinking this would be their forever home. But later I learned that phrase was more marketing than reality — most residents eventually end up in nursing homes for ongoing care.
The system failed them at every stage. The halls were long. Activities required residents to be self-starters. My parents joined in only when I was there to encourage them. Even at mealtime, they were sometimes turned away by other residents with, “These seats are saved.”
Eventually, my sisters moved them back home to the Tri-Cities, where they received 24/7 in-home care. But that came with enormous challenges. They woke to strangers in their home — 32 different caregivers in one year. Many were hired online with little or no vetting, often spending more time texting than caring. They rarely took my parents outside. By then, my dad was sleeping 20 to 22 hours a day.
Witnessing this, my husband and I knew we could do better. In 2012, we opened our first adult family home and found our true calling. It became our mission to provide care with compassion, dignity, and purpose. For the past 13 years, we’ve proudly done that at Kensington Gardens.
But we’ve also learned that even the best care homes aren’t enough. People need connection and continuity — not just a room. That’s why, in 2017, we began developing a new model: residential “villas” that offer independent living with built-in support and continuing care. We opened our first villa in 2023, and residents are thriving — forming friendships and knowing they’ll be cared for with the same compassion as their needs change.
Recently, misinformation has circulated about our work. We are proud to have maintained continuous licensure — first through DSHS and now the Department of Health — since 2012, with excellent inspection records. Following a “not in my backyard” complaint, we have worked with DSHS to reinstate our Adult Family Home license at our Manor.
We understand that change can feel unsettling. But the real crisis is a broken eldercare system that cannot meet the needs of our rapidly aging population. Over 3.6 million Americans turn 65 every year, and our oldest baby boomers are now 79. The need for dignified, community-based care is urgent — nationally and locally.
Our concept, born right here in Gig Harbor, offers a model that works: compassionate, sustainable, and rooted in respect for our elders. We ask our community to see the heart of what we’re building — to see residents who laugh, connect, and live fully again, and caregivers who are respected and supported.
What we’re doing is not only good — it’s necessary. And it’s working.
Kelly Watson
Kensington Gardens
