Era Living

A Family-Owned Seattle-Area Retirement Community Operator Since 1987

Era Living is a family-owned senior living company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, providing active adult living, independent living, assisted living, and memory care across eight communities in the greater Seattle/Puget Sound area, including Bellevue, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Renton, and Seattle. Founded in 1987 by Eli and Rebecca Almo, Era Living has built a reputation around distinctive architecture, curated art (including Chihuly glass installations), and long-standing partnerships with the University of Washington.

Visit the official Era Living website to learn more about the company's communities.

Company at a Glance

●       Headquarters: Seattle, Washington

●       Founded: 1987, by Eli and Rebecca Almo

●       Current leadership: Eli J. Almo and Rebecca Almo, Co-Presidents and Co-Founders, and Nisan Harel, Chief Executive Officer (appointed January 2026)

●       Approximate portfolio size: 8 communities

●       States served: Washington

●       Care and lifestyle options: Active adult living, independent living, assisted living, and memory care

●       Ownership: Privately held and family-owned

●       Official website: eraliving.com

Senior Living and Care Options

Era Living's communities offer a range of lifestyle and care levels, though not every community offers every option. Depending on the community, options may include:

●       Active adult and independent living

●       Assisted living

●       Memory care, at select communities

For example, The Lakeshore offers independent and assisted living, while The Gardens at Town Square also offers memory care. Families should confirm current care levels and availability directly with the specific community. Families can also review active adult living, independent living, assisted living, and memory care options near them on Senior Care Finder.

What Makes Era Living Different?

A Family-Owned Company for Nearly Four Decades

Era Living was founded in 1987 by Eli and Rebecca Almo and remains a family-owned company today, with the Almos continuing to serve as Co-Presidents alongside CEO Nisan Harel. The company positions its locally based ownership and leadership as allowing it to respond directly to residents' needs rather than reporting to distant corporate ownership.

Distinctive Architecture and Curated Art

Each Era Living community is designed to reflect the character of its specific Seattle-area neighborhood, featuring landscaped gardens, elegant common spaces, and rotating, professionally curated artwork, including glass installations by renowned Seattle artist Dale Chihuly.

Long-Standing University of Washington Partnerships

Era Living has partnered with the University of Washington Retirement Association (UWRA) since 1993 to operate University House Wallingford and University House Issaquah, communities originally developed to serve UW retirees and their families. The company also partners with the University of Washington Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work to bring education and evidence-informed wellness programming to residents. Learn more from the UW Retirement Association.

Independent Recognition for Individual Communities

Era Living communities have received independent recognition, including U.S. News & World Report's Best Senior Living ratings and The Seattle Times' “Best in the PNW” recognition for three consecutive years. Learn more on U.S. News's ratings page for Era Living.

Signature Programs and Services

Wellness Without Walls is Era Living's named approach to holistic wellness, extending programming beyond traditional on-site activities. The company also emphasizes an extensive activity calendar designed to support physical, mental, and spiritual well-being across all communities. Availability of specific programming varies by community; families should ask a specific location for details.

Life at an Era Living Community

Depending on the community and care level, residents may find:

●       Meticulously landscaped gardens with year-round color

●       Elegant common spaces featuring curated artwork, including Chihuly glass

●       Extensive activity calendars covering arts, culture, and wellness

●       Dining programs emphasizing quality cuisine

●       Access to University of Washington-affiliated wellness programming at select communities

Because Era Living's eight communities each have their own distinct architecture, history, and neighborhood setting, families are encouraged to tour more than one community to find the best fit for their preferences and needs.

What Residents and Families Say

Ratings for individual Era Living communities on Senior Care Finder are strong: The Lakeshore shows 4.7 out of 5, The Gardens at Town Square shows 4.5, and University House Issaquah shows 4.3. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report's independent survey recognized 2 of 7 surveyed Era Living communities as Best Senior Living, based on nearly 1,000 resident and family responses. Recurring positive themes in available feedback include a strong sense of community, engaging activities, and attentive staff. Families should still review ratings and comments for the specific community they are considering, since experience can vary by location.

Leadership

Eli J. Almo and Rebecca Almo are Co-Presidents and Co-Founders of Era Living, having founded the company in 1987 with a mission to respect and honor older adults by enhancing the quality of their lives. They remain based locally in the Seattle area.

Nisan Harel became Chief Executive Officer of Era Living in January 2026.

Visit the official Era Living leadership page for the complete and most current executive and community leadership teams.

Recent News, Growth, and Recognition

Era Living Introduces New CEO Nisan Harel

In January 2026, Era Living announced Nisan Harel as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership transition for the family-owned company.

Read the company's announcement.

Era Living Communities Recognized by U.S. News & World Report

In April 2026, Era Living announced that several of its communities had been recognized in U.S. News & World Report's independent Best Senior Living ratings, based on resident and family satisfaction surveys.

Read the company's announcement or view Era Living's ratings directly on U.S. News.

Era Living Recognized in The Seattle Times' “Best in the PNW” for a Third Consecutive Year

In September 2025, Era Living celebrated three consecutive years of recognition in The Seattle Times' “Best in the PNW” feature, an independent regional recognition program.

Read the company's announcement.

The Lakeshore Wins “Best of Renton” Award

In July 2025, The Lakeshore retirement community won a “Best of Renton” award, a locally administered community recognition.

Read the company's announcement. Independent verification of this specific award's methodology was not located during this research session.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Era Living? Era Living is a family-owned senior living company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, providing active adult living, independent living, assisted living, and memory care across eight Seattle-area communities.

Where is Era Living headquartered? Era Living is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Who owns Era Living? Era Living is a privately held, family-owned company, founded in 1987 by Eli and Rebecca Almo, who continue to serve as Co-Presidents.

Who is the CEO of Era Living? Nisan Harel became Chief Executive Officer of Era Living in January 2026.

How many communities does Era Living operate? Senior Care Finder's listing shows 8 communities, all in the greater Seattle/Puget Sound area of Washington.

What care options does Era Living offer? Depending on the community, Era Living offers active adult living, independent living, assisted living, and memory care.

Does Era Living have a connection to the University of Washington? Yes. Era Living has partnered with the University of Washington Retirement Association since 1993 to operate University House Wallingford and University House Issaquah, and separately partners with UW's Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Work for wellness programming.

Has Era Living received any independent recognition? Yes. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized 2 of 7 surveyed Era Living communities as Best Senior Living. Era Living has also been recognized by The Seattle Times' “Best in the PNW” feature for three consecutive years.

What do reviews say about Era Living's communities? Ratings are strong across Era Living's communities, generally ranging from 4.3 to 4.7 out of 5 on Senior Care Finder. Families should review ratings and comments for the specific community they are considering.

How can someone find an Era Living community or schedule a tour? Families can search Era Living communities on Senior Care Finder or contact a specific property directly through its Senior Care Finder listing to ask about availability and schedule a tour.

Explore Era Living Communities

Choosing a senior living community is a personal decision shaped by care needs, location, and lifestyle preferences. View Era Living communities on Senior Care Finder to compare individual locations, care options, and reviews.

Because care levels and amenities vary by community, families are encouraged to compare several options, confirm current details directly, and visit in person before making a final decision.

Era Living is a paid Senior Care Finder partner. Partner status does not replace the need for families to independently evaluate individual communities, services, pricing, licensing information, and recent reviews.

Company information, leadership details, programs, recognition, and news were reviewed using publicly available sources. Information last reviewed July 2026.