The Caroline Kline Galland was incorporated in 1975 as a not-for-profit organization and is managed by a 27-member Board of Directors from the Jewish community.  It is a mission-based organization that was begun as a volunteer effort in 1914 and continues to draw strength and purpose from more than 250 regularly involved volunteers. The residents’ council meets on a monthly basis and ensures that the residents’ voices are incorporated in the overall management of the Home. 

Caroline Rosenberg Kline Galland devoted her considerable energy and wealth to serving the poor of Seattle. In her will she stated her desire that the Caroline Kline Galland Home be constructed and managed to bring the greatest degree of contentment and happiness to residents in their declining years. The Caroline Kline Galland Home was constructed in 1914 with an initial capacity of seven residents. The Home has continued to provide care in the same location for the past 90 years. 

Since then, the Home has undergone numerous changes. 

• 1930: New facility constructed to accommodate 25 residents 
• 1956: Resident capacity increased to 35 
• 1967: New facility dedicated accommodating 75 residents 
• 1973:  Pioneered in specialized care by opening an Alzheimer’s care unit
• 1976: 70 bed addition completed 
• 1977: Kosher Lunch Program established 
• 1980: Polack Adult Day Center created 
• 1985: Kosher Meals-on-Wheels launched 
• 1993: Litvin Pavilion built adding 60 special care beds
• 2001: The Summit At First Hill, a state-of-the-art independent and assisted living facility,  opened with 24 assisted living and 102 independent apartments.

The Caroline Kline Galland Home provides a traditional Jewish living environment, including the observance of the Sabbath, religious holidays, and dietary laws for the individuals 

• who reside in Washington, Idaho, Montana or Alaska; 
• who have no suitable residential care alternative in their community; 
• and for those whose health and social needs can best be met by its services. 

Kline Galland strives to enable each individual it services to realize the highest level of fulfillment in an atmosphere of respect, dignity and caring.

Offering a long-term care system of services, Kline Galland provides for people outside of the nursing home setting:

• A Kosher Meals-on-Wheels program to provide over 6,000 nutritious kosher meals for delivery each year to homebound Jewish elderly. All meals are prepared at the Kline Galland and delivered by Senior Services of King County. 
• With the Tuesday Kosher Lunch Program approximately 75 senior community members benefit from the weekly kosher luncheon hosted at the Kline Galland. The Tuesday Kosher Lunch is an opportunity for socialization, a quality kosher meal and a chance to become acquainted with Kline Galland.
• The Polack Adult Day Center is located on the beautiful Seward Park lakeside campus of the Caroline Kline Galland Home. Operating Monday through Thursday, the Day Center provides social, recreational and health services to older Jewish adults and helps delay out of home placement for seniors who can benefit from social interaction and/or cannot be left alone during the day. The program also allows needed respite for caregivers.

Kline Galland strives to contribute to the internal community of the facility. For instance, all the nursing stations were designed to accommodate residents in wheelchairs, enabling them to be at eye level with the nursing staff. The Home is affiliated with the University of Washington School of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. A psychiatrist and fellows in geriatric psychiatry meet with the Kline Galland staff on a weekly basis and provide consultation services.

Through the Refugee Resettlement Office, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are provided to help train employees to communicate clearly to the Home’s elderly residents. For such innovations, Kline Galland was the subject of a news article in the August 4^th issue of Seattle Post-Intelligence regarding the ESL program. 

The Kline Galland Home was also one of two homes in Washington State included in the book, “Choosing A Nursing Home”, by Seth B. Goldsmith.

Education is important at Kline Galland. The organization partners with the University of Washington to provide training for future LPNs and RNs. Also through the U of W a psychiatric  team, trained in geri-psychiatry research programs, visits every other week. They are conducting a Behavior & Aging Study using a medication for treating Post-Traumatic Stress. The trial study is being used to treat Holocaust survivors and has shown favorable responses.

The Summit at First Hill is a state-of-the-art independent and assisted living campus, located in the First Hill area at Summit and University Streets. It provides services for 150 residents. The Summit has also initiated a home care program that provides assistance for residents in the independent section of the Summit. The Summit has won several national and international awards for its design and construction as well as for its innovative programs for the elderly.

When asked what it meant to be a nonprofit organization, President/CEO, Joshua Gortler said, “It means to be mission driven, to provide excellent care to residents, and to involve family members, while being service oriented. We are not an industry - the bottom line is people, not profits. We are responsible to the community and the CEO is the bridge between the community and the facility.”

Kline Galland is a member of WAHSA, a state association serving primarily not-for-profit organizations, dedicated to providing quality housing, health, community and related services to older persons. WAHSA is affiliated with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA).

Kline Galland is also a member of the association of Jewish Aging Services.