Area Agency On Aging for Seattle and King County

About Us

Aging & Disability Services plans, coordinates, and advocates for a comprehensive service delivery system for older adults, family caregivers and people with disabilities in King County.

ADS is a division of the Seattle Human Services Department and works in partnership with King County and United Way to:

• improve the health and quality of life for seniors and adults with disabilities;
• connect seniors and adults with disabilities with helpful resources; and
• provide help and support for caregivers.

Services

Adult Day Services

Adult Day Services are provided to adults with medical or disabling conditions in order to prevent or delay the need for institutional care. Case management authorized participants attend State approved day centers and receive care designed to meet their physical, mental, and emotional needs.

Alzheimer Program

This program supports a holistic model of care for Alzheimer's patients. It involves the collaboration between primary care physicians, dementia care specialists and social care programs.

Caregiver Information and Support

Caregiver information and support focuses on both the individual caregiver and the system that supports the caregiver. Depending upon the funding source, services range from kinship care for grandparents (age 60+) caring for relatives, to caregivers caring for persons age 18 and over

Case Management

The Case Management Program provides in-depth assistance to frail adults who have significant health and social needs. The case managers conduct in-home assessments and consult with the client in order to develop and implement a service plan that addresses the individual's needs. Case managers have regular follow-up contact with clients and service providers to ensure that their situations have stabilized. Short-term counseling is provided if needed.

Disability Access Services

Services provided include case management, sign language and tactile interpretation services, and advocacy for persons who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing. Other services include providing training to community agencies and other groups and advocacy and technical assistance on making facilities and programs accessible to people with disabilities.

Disease Prevention/Health Promotion

Project Enhance widens the access of older adults who face limitations in their activities of daily living to low-cost, high-quality and comprehensive health promotion programs located in community sites. These research-based programs include an exercise program offering one hour supervised classes, a seven session course led by trained volunteers providing tools for living a healthier lifestyle with chronic conditions, and a health enhancement program which provides personal guidance and support to maintain and improve health.

Other Services

Elder Abuse Prevention

Gatekeepers and other members of the community are trained to recognize signs that may indicate that a vulnerable adult is at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation and how to report their concerns.

Health Maintenance

The Vashon Health Maintenance Program enables persons 60 years of age or older and residents of Vashon Island to remain at home despite the need for assistance with activities of daily living.  This is a discretionary funded program and clients must first be screened by ADS case management for eligibility for other programs like Medicaid Personal Care.  Services include assistance with bathing , personal hygiene, prescribed exercises and ambulation, meal planning, preparation and eating assistance, observation of vital signs, medication reminders, simple dressing changes, and housekeeping tasks related to the provision of other health maintenance services.

Legal Services

The purpose of Legal Services is to enable older people to secure rights, benefits and entitlements under federal, state and local laws. It also seeks to effect favorable changes in laws and regulations that affect older people and strives to maintain public and private resources that benefit low-income elderly people. Services include group legal representation, including class action lawsuits, advocacy training and information to service providers, private attorneys and volunteer advocates, and individual client legal services.

Nutrition Services

Includes congregate or community meals, home delivered meals, and outreach services.