Franke Tobey Jones

In existence for almost 100 years, Franke Tobey Jones offers a full spectrum of quality housing, services and programs, including skilled nursing care. As a continuing care retirement community (ccrc), ftj serves as many as 330 seniors and employs a staff of approximately 170. Situated on twenty acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, ftj offers a complete range of living accommodations for seniors with varying needs such as duplex or apartment living type units for independent retirees; assisted living and memory support for those who need extra care and services in their apartments; and residents requiring skilled nursing are provided 24-hour care by a staff of medical professionals. Ftj also offers an array of community programs, arts and cultural events, as well as numerous educational and social activities.

The senior wellness program assists seniors 55 and older in keeping healthy and active. The program offers a holistic, preventative wellness program that improves quality of life to over 750 individuals, both residents and the community. The wellness center at ftj houses a fully equipped workout room with certified instructors and a personal trainer. The center also hosts the annual senior wellness walk & health fair. Not only for residents, staff and the community, local vendors are also invited to participate, offering products and services to promote the health & well-being of those participating.

Franke Tobey Jones is committed to maintaining as residents those who have been admitted to ftj but who subsequently become unable to pay. With that goal in mind, the charitable subsidy program was instituted to provide for the housing and care of those residents who become unable to meet all of their financial obligations to ftj for their residency and care. The program enables these residents the ability to stay in their homes and continue to enjoy the quality of life they have come to know. In the last 15 years alone, ftj has provided more than $4.4 million for subsidy recipients. The number of those on the program has varied with as many as nine residents in a given year.

Point defiance-ruston senior center has been operated by ftj since 1998. The mission of the center is to deliver quality services that promote growth and independence among the senior community. Serving almost 1,500 seniors, the center provides educational and wellness programs, such as spanish classes, dance lessons, yoga and informational speakers, along with a meal site program monday through friday. Almost 4,000 meals were served to local seniors, many of whom are on a fixed income. Beginning mid-2023, Franke Tobey Jones took over the operations of the beacon and lighthouse senior centers serving an additional 500 seniors in the tacoma community.

Senior university, the only program of its kind in pierce county, offers a wide spectrum of educational, cultural, social and wellness programming with a focus on senior interest topics. Classes, held on campus, are offered in partnership with local colleges and universities, museums and cultural organizations and local businesses, serving almost 550 residents and community seniors alike. Most courses are free of charge and offered as a public service.