In 1948, Brannen and Albert Meyer remodeled their home to accommodate primarily aged parents of close Christian friends, to provide companionship and care to elderly Christian people who would be prayer warriors for missionaries. Their home became one of the first licensed nursing homes in Yakima. In 1956 they obtained a 10-year lease of the former Yakima County Hospital and opened the 184-bed West Valley Nursing Home. It was incorporated in 1958 and named West Valley Nursing Homes, Inc., now doing business as Living Care Retirement Community. Non-profit status was approved in 1959 and the Meyers transferred ownership to a volunteer Board of Directors.  In 1961 Summitview Manor Nursing Home was purchased, and over the years, additional parcels of land surrounding this location were purchased. Living Care added retirement housing and assisted living services. Following a major expansion that was completed in 2002, Living Care now offers 176 retirement apartments, 47 assisted living apartments, and 78 skilled nursing beds. 

The Retirement Apartments at Living Care are located in multiple buildings about the campus with the monthly rent varying in price depending upon the size and location of the apartments. Each unit comes with a kitchen, living room, 1 or 2 bedrooms, bathroom and an emergency call system. The evening meal, weekly housekeeping, all utilities except phone, and cable TV are included in the monthly rent.  Services and amenities include Chapel Services, Bible study, social programs, spa & exercise activities, beauty salon, shopping and transportation to special events. Assisted Living is offered at Hillcrest at Summitview offering three meals, weekly housekeeping, all utilities except phone, cable TV, linen change and bed/bath linen laundry and an emergency call system; health care monitoring and medication review, Chaplaincy Program, planned recreation and events. Non-denomination Chapel services and Bible studies are offered through their Chaplaincy Program, including room and hospital visitation, counseling, and if requested, to officiate in Memorial Services. Living Care has four full-time chaplains. Three work predominately on campus, with one working off campus. They provide services to four Yakima-area nursing facilities.

As assessed needs of the resident increase, the level of assistance may be appropriately increased with the cost of service increased accordingly. Skilled Nursing is offered at Summitview Healthcare Center, certified to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, with licensed nursing staff present 24-hours a day to provide loving care in a Christian environment. The spacious size of the Center allows for a variety of quality resident service programs such as Chaplain, social services, and physical, occupational and speech therapy. They have a “Gentle Care Unit” offering the special care that residents with dementia require. Living Care is especially suited to assist those requiring short-term physical rehabilitation.

Living Care Retirement Community is a nonprofit fellowship of evangelical Christians dedicated to providing ministry, quality housing, care and services with a Christian influence to the elderly/senior citizens. They exist to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals. This total care is provided in an atmosphere of warmth, hope and security, building the dignity of each individual for a meaningful and purposeful life. Their core values are: honor, integrity, excellence, sanctity of life, stewardship, compassion, ethical business practices, quality of service and aging gracefully.   

The Village Center is a new, integral part of the Living Care Retirement Community. Residents can meet friends at the café, join in an exercise class in the Fitness Center, relax in the spa, or enjoy a special event in the Meyer Auditorium which seats up to 130 guests. Currently, they are featuring a year-long monthly series of the Lewis & Clark Exhibition, with speakers covering different aspects of the journey, such as foods taken on their journey, medicines available, and clothing worn for that period. A Yakima area program called “Lifelong Learning” also uses the auditorium to provide programs for seniors. Living Care’s Food Services department holds special buffets for the entire campus eight times throughout the year for such events as New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, barbecues, luaus and more. They have one centrally located kitchen with a chef that oversees a staff and the menu and meal planning. The meals are distributed to six different buildings, except for the special buffets when the chef personally takes center stage to make the events exceptional.

With three activity directors, Living Care can provide a variety of activities for the entire campus. They have a senior center band, bridge/pinochle/games, local school presentations, music, exercise classes, bookmobile, bingo and a number of off campus events to museums, shopping, dining, the senior expo and the fair. 

Nursing Assistant Certified training is provided monthly at Living Care’s on-campus training center, offering a six-week course to ten students, with two instructors. While the State requires 100 hours of training, Living Care’s program provides close to 200 hours. Because of this program, Living Care has never had to use outside agencies for staffing. Also, the Yakima Valley Community College requires their nursing students work one rotation at Living Care as part of their curriculum, enabling students to gain experience in providing compassionate care to our most frail seniors. 

Living Care’s Healthcare Center is 65% Medicaid, 5% Medicare, and 30% private pay.  Their Assisted Living and Residential housing are all private pay with no entry fee required upon admission. They currently have no structured fundraising program, but do accept donations. A local resident of the Yakima area generously donated funds for their new therapy pool.

When asked what it means to be a nonprofit organization, Executive Director, Calvin Groenenberg, said, “While concerned about financial aspects, we are able to focus on the mission of providing quality services to our residents. All monies are reinvested toward improving our residential community.” 

Living Care Retirement Community 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). When asked what it means to be a WAHSA member, Calvin Groenenberg, Executive Director at Living Care Retirement Community stated,  “Our staff members appreciate the opportunity to network with peers over questions and problems that arise. WAHSA members help one another. We have a strong united voice representing non-profit providers, and are kept current with educational offerings, allowing our staff to continually grow.”