Our Era Living Story

A mission to honor and respect seniors

Era Living opened its first retirement community in 1987. However, the story began years earlier. Local founders and owners, Eli and Rebecca Almo, had spent a decade in the real estate development business and felt compelled to do something with a higher purpose. Something with meaning that represented their core values and beliefs.

The Almos noticed a void in the marketplace for providing compassionate and professional care for seniors. They wanted to offer an enriching retirement community with an elevated quality of programs, services and amenities that treated retirees the way they should be – with honor and respect.

With this goal in mind, the Almos started a unique relationship with the Seattle Education Auxiliary, which owned and operated Ida Culver House Ravenna – a retirement community for retired teachers. They purchased the community with an agreement to develop a new community, which ultimately became Ida Culver House Broadview in 1990.

Shortly thereafter, in 1995, The Lakeshore was developed. Meanwhile, at Ida Culver House Broadview, Eli and Rebecca noticed many residents were retired professors of University of Washington. This prompted the start of a new relationship with the University of Washington Retirement Association, which fueled the development of University House Wallingford in 1997.

Growth continued as the University House Issaquah was built in 2002 and The Gardens at Town Square was acquired in 2002. The Almos now had six fully established and operational retirement communities.

In 2006, Eli and Rebecca embarked on the process of re-examining the company’s values, promoting their mission to inspire a holistic approach to senior living, filled with passion, energy and happiness. They continued to establish such communities in the area, including Aljoya Mercer Island, which opened 2008, and Aljoya Thornton Place in 2009.

Eli and Rebecca continue their mission today, constantly seeking out new ways to enhance the lives of seniors so that they may age with healthiness, happiness and respect.