For Our Neighbors

Active Senior Lifestyle Communities

As part of the longstanding Franke Tobey Jones mission “to enrich and extend the quality of life for seniors in our community,” we provide many opportunities for seniors outside of Franke Tobey Jones to participate in our programs, which include the following.

Fitness Program

Franke Tobey Jones is a leader in senior fitness in Pierce County with a comprehensive program developed by a nationally recognized wellness consultant. The program at our active senior living community has been a hallmark of our campus since 1998. Our holistic, preventative program improves quality of life and maintains independence as long as possible. Exercise helps maintain mental and physical health, and enhances the quality of life while prolonging independence. Participating in exercise programs results in improved self-esteem, self-confidence and intellectual performance. Socialization encourages a more positive emotional well-being and participants enjoy a strong sense of pride. A large indoor walking track runs along the inside perimeter of the building allowing participants to stay active regardless of the weather outside. An open, spacious classroom gives participants ample room to take part in the classes taught by our energetic and knowledgeable certified instructors. Participants appreciate the lockers, showers and handicapped accessible restrooms.

Holistic Wellness Program

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease.” ~ World Health Organization

FTJ has introduced a new and exciting opportunity to bring awareness to Holistic Wellbeing. Holistic Wellness addresses our body as a whole. This approach is key to longevity and maintaining independence as we age. Our unique program focuses on mental, emotional, spiritual, environmental, vocational, and social/cultural wellbeing. 

Guests from the community present on a wide array of Holistic Health and Wellness topics. There are also collaborations and partnerships with FTJ Senior University including Self-Care Practices for Living Well series and Dao (Tao) and Health. Offerings in this brochure are a sample of on-going and special one-of-a-kind classes offered through our Holistic Wellness Program.

Participation is limited to FTJ residents and Wellness members. For more information contact Sarah Doerner at 253-756-3241 or at sdoerner@franketobeyjones.com. 

Senior University

The Senior University at our retirement home in Tacoma provides a wealth of lifelong learning programs for residents and community members age 55 or better. This educational and cultural program designed for seniors is unique to Pierce County. Senior University offers the opportunity to build skills, explore new subjects and enjoy the learning process with others. Lecturers and instructors are experts in their fields hailing from local colleges and universities, businesses, not-for-profits and cultural organizations, along with others who have retired with rich career experiences. Most classes are offered free of charge as a public service to the Tacoma-Pierce County community. No degree or level of educational experience is necessary to join a Senior University class, just an urge to learn and grow. Franke Tobey Jones Senior University enjoys partnerships with many local cultural and educational organizations, including the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma Historical Society, Museum of Glass, Tacoma Opera, Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, Tacoma Art Museum, Pierce County Aging and Long Term Care, Northwest Sinfonietta, Northwest Repertory Singers, and Metro Parks Tacoma. 

Senior Center

Franke Tobey Jones operates three senior centers in Tacoma:

  • Point Defiance-Ruston Senior Center – 4716 N. Baltimore Street, Tacoma
  • Beacon Senior Center – 415 S. 13th Street, Tacoma
  • Lighthouse Senior Center – 5016 A Street, Tacoma

Seniors 55 and older can join in fun events and activities, stay active and healthy, make new friends, enjoy a healthy meal, and share experiences. Thousands of program participants come each year for exercise, computer classes, lunch, language classes, health screenings and more. They come to see their old friends and make new ones. Some people come for the trips, while others simply come for coffee and companionship. You’ll find some here every day and others here for their favorite activities. This is the life that fills our senior centers. Participants benefit from nutritious meals, exercise classes, health screenings, computer classes and much more.  

Summer Concerts on the Lawn

Every summer Franke Tobey Jones hosts a wide variety of live summer concerts on our campus, all for free to the public.  These concerts are hosted every Thursday night in August from 6:30 to 7:30pm. Guests are invited to bring family, friends, lawn chairs, blankets, and/or a picnic dinner.

Tacoma Senior Community Tour

If seniors are thinking about moving into a retirement community and just don’t know where to start looking or what questions to ask, then the Tacoma Senior Living Community Tour might be just the thing. Twice a year, eight senior living communities in Tacoma – Franke Tobey Jones, The Weatherly Inn, eliseo, Cogir at the Narrows, Merrill Gardens Tacoma, Merrill Garden Wright Park and GenCare Point Ruston – come together and offer a two-day tour (10:00am to 3:00pm) of all eight communities. We want to help seniors find the very best community that will fit their wants, needs, desires, location and budget. 

Annual Wellness Walk

Each year in early September we host the FTJ Wellness Walk and Fair. It is free and open to all people age 55 or older. Participants have the option of walking 1/8th of a mile up to one mile, on and around our campus. The Health Fair will be open during and after the walk. Talk to health care professionals and pickup brochures regarding a variety of wellness topics. If you have not yet joined our Senior Wellness program, which is open to the community at large, this is an easy way to find out more about it in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. Talk with those already participating and learn how to be a healthier, less stressed well person. 

Senior Art Show

Franke Tobey Jones hosts the Senior Art Show every other year in the fall. This is a first-of-its-kind event in Pierce County, and the art submissions come from throughout the state of Washington. The juried gallery of typically nearly 100 works created within the past two years features artists age 55 or older.  Typically the Senior Art Show then moves to the Tacoma Art Museum or another public location in Tacoma.