Weatherly Inn Tacoma

Garry Fujita

For six years, my mother was a very happy resident at the Weatherly Inn in Tacoma. She recently passed away at the age of 101. The Weatherly staff was so respectful, thoughtful, considerate, and compassionate when and after my mother quietly passed away in her sleep. Her health was generally good, but when issues arose, the Weatherly staff were quick to spot them, alert the family, and help arrange for her to get medical assistance. During one episode, the doctors were reluctant to honor my mother's POSLT (Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form, pushing for no treatment (no medical treatment, hydration, or food) and offering comfort treatment only. We insisted that the form be honored that required food and medical treatment but no “heroics” (my words, not the term in the form), because that is what my mother chose. She could have chosen the option that the doctors were pushing. But she did not make that choice. The doctors reluctantly released her, but only if she was in Hospice care at the Weatherly. So, she returned to the Weatherly under Hospice care, and the Weatherly was delighted to have her return. The family had to be with her at each meal to feed her because she could not feed herself. The staff would happily and eagerly do the same when family members were not available. She gained enough strength to feed herself and continued to feed herself to live for another few years. The Hospice staff terminated my mother’s care because she was living a normal life for someone in her late nineties, approaching one hundred. We believe she lived another two or three years because of the Weatherly staff. They extended her life long enough for my mother to meet her only great granddaughter whose births were one hundred years apart. The food in the Weatherly dining room food quality was excellent as well, with the kitchen staff and servers willingly providing meals. They learned what my mother preferred, and they would assure her preferred food was available to her. At times, they might suggest that my mother try a different meal if it were something they thought she would like, knowing the other foods that she enjoyed. I think they did that so that my mother would not tire of eating the same meal each day, knowing that experiencing different meals would remove the boredom of eating. The kitchen has a chef and not just a cook, so the dishes for the residents were more creative in the dining room rather than that of a cafeteria. Both the administrators and the staff were so good to her and us as family members. They smiled, remembered our names, and were extremely friendly. It is truly the little things as well as those expected of the facility that really set our experience apart. Staff that did not seem to share those characteristics (and we found them to be the outliers) did not last long at the Weatherly. We can either assume that those individuals were not able to meet those expectations, or they refused to meet those expectations. The staff have physical jobs, lifting residents into and out of chairs, beds, wheelchairs, toilets, and showers. They have great patience with residents who are moody and grumpy, and resist food, dressing, exercise, or medication. But they are pros who help willing and unwilling residents --- who may not want their help --- accomplish their daily tasks. We visited other facilities before deciding on the Weatherly, and we saw staff at some locations who acted more like drill sergeants, verbally or physically forcing the residents to do what was “good for them.” At the Weatherly, we experienced a staff who found gentle and compassionate ways to gain cooperation. If we were faced with choosing a facility again, we would choose the Weatherly Inn without hesitation.