Seattle assisted-living facility built without cooling system, workers tracking down AC units

It’s been nearly 100 years since Providence Mount St. Vincent was built.

The Mount was founded in 1924 as the St. Vincent Home for the Aged, according to Providence Archives. “The Home served members of the public as well as the retired Sisters of Providence until 1966, when Saint Joseph Residence was opened on the same campus to provide skilled nursing and assisted living to the sisters,” Providence stated.

The brick walls holding up the facility strikes a chord with Don Linley, who lives right across the St. Joseph building on The Mount’s campus. While he usually admires the structure, its makeup is now more concerning as Seattle enters an unprecedented heatwave.

“I live in a brick house and I know when it gets hot, the brick kind of acts like an oven,” Linley said. “I would imagine it’s going to get pretty hot for those residents at Mount St. Vincent.”

Workers were trying to track down air conditioners across Seattle on Friday, a spokesperson said. She also said that at one point, the facility only had enough units to adequately cool down the fifth floor of its main building.

Those efforts and some help from good Samaritans helped the facility track down more AC units, but there is still a need for larger, free-standing AC units.

“Summer heat is a challenge we always face,” a spokesperson wrote in an email. “Our caregivers are working hard to keep residents/patients comfortable and make sure they stay hydrated.”

People aged 65 or older are more prone to heat-related health problems, according to the CDC.

“I feel for them because the Mount’s been wonderful neighbors for us,” Linley said. “I feel really bad because there are so many seniors there. All seniors, actually. And it’s going to be hot this weekend. It’s going to be a scorcher.”

If know where to find a large, free-standing AC unit, you can call Providence Mount St. Vincent at 206-937-3700.

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