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King County invests $20 million in services to seniors across the region, focusing on building connections and healthy aging

News

King County Executive
Dow Constantine


King County invests $20 million in services to seniors across the region, focusing on building connections and healthy aging

Summary

Executive Dow Constantine launched new investments that will enhance senior services in King County by offering more programs at existing senior centers and community organizations, expanding outreach to isolated seniors and connecting vulnerable seniors to community.

Story

King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced investments of over $20.6 million to senior centers across the region that will offer a wide range of resources for older adults and their caregivers, expand outreach to isolated seniors, and create and enhance services reflecting the diversity of King County’s senior population.  

Funding was made possible thanks to voter approval of the expanded Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy that, for the first time, includes funding dedicated to older adults and caregivers.

“King County is investing in programs specifically designed to improve the quality of life for our local seniors and their families,” said Executive Constantine. “Thanks to King County voters, we are making healthy aging a priority, and the support we’re providing for these senior centers will significantly increase access to services for older adults throughout the region.”

“These investments in services for King County seniors are unprecedented and reflect the generosity of, and commitment to our seniors by King County taxpayers,” said King County Council Chair Rod Dembowski.  “I have seen the value that senior centers deliver first-hand, as my 90-year-old dad is a regular visitor for meals and dances at his local senior centers.  These investments help ensure that our seniors have access to the services they have earned by their lifetime of contributions to our community and nation.” 

The Department of Community and Human Services encouraged regional senior centers and other community groups to form collaborations or “hubs” to better reach specific demographics, or serve a defined geographic area or cultural group.

For example, three senior centers partnered together to use their collective expertise to serve Native American elders and isolated and home-bound seniors from diverse cultural groups by providing outreach, support, and opportunities for social engagement.

Twenty-eight senior centers successfully competed for a total of $19,480,000 throughout the region. They will form 14 hubs for targeted senior services around the region. Funding for the expanded programming and services will be allocated over the next four and-a-half years.

Additionally, 13 senior centers will receive $90,000 each in one-time funding to provide services or invest in minor capital or equipment purchases to better serve older adults in their communities.

As the number of adults age 55 and over continues to grow and become increasingly diverse, King County is stepping up to serve the cultural and geographic diversity of seniors and their caregivers, including veterans, servicemembers and their respective families.

Significant health risks accompany social isolation. Remaining socially engaged in community has many benefits, including better physical health and resistance to illness and disease; mental and cognitive health; and a sense of purpose and control and longevity.

Many seniors in King County experience or are at risk of experiencing social isolation because of few social supports, lack of nearby family and mobility issues that cause them to be home-bound. Seniors in some communities may be at particular risk of isolation, such as individuals who are part of an immigrant community, Native American elders, non- or limited- English speakers, individuals who identify as LGBTQ or seniors in rural areas who may be geographically isolated.

The investments announced today will focus on reaching seniors, age 55 and over, and their caregivers who have not traditionally benefited from the existing network of seniors centers in King County.

Senior Hubs

Will become a senior hub that serves as the recognized resource center on aging services and provide support, outreach, connection, and social engagement for elders of the African Diaspora in Central Seattle and South King County.

Hub partners: Central Area Senior Center, Des Moines/Normandy Park Senior Activity Center

Amount awarded: $1,512,927

King County Council District(s) served: District 2, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7

Will become a senior hub that serves as the recognized resource center on aging services and provide support, outreach, connection, and social engagement for Latinos, Spanish speaking seniors, communities of color, immigrants, refugees and seniors with limited English skills.

Hub partners: El Centro de la Raza

Amount awarded: $1,092,469

King County Council District(s) served: District 2

Will become a senior hub that serves as the recognized resource center on aging services and provide support, outreach, connection, and social engagement for isolated seniors in rural East King County.

Hub partners: Issaquah Senior Center, Mount Si Senior Center, Sno-Valley Senior Center

Amount awarded: $1,613,938

King County Council District(s) served: District 3

Will develop the GenPRIDE Center to become a senior hub with a cultural focus in serving racially, ethnically and gender diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer seniors and to share their expertise to other senior hubs to better serve these and other vulnerable populations across King County.

Hub partners: Generations with Pride, Healthy Generations Center, Aging with Pride

Amount awarded: $1,413,471

King County Council District(s) served: All

Will become a senior hub that serves as a support and resource center for seniors diagnosed and living with Dementia and their caregivers in North King County and will offer resources and expertise related to Dementia to the other senior hubs.

Hub partners: Greenwood Senior Center

Amount awarded: $1,257,753

King County Council District(s) served: District 1 and District 4

Will become a senior hub that serves as the recognized resource center on aging services for Asian American and Pacific Islander elders throughout King County.

Hub partners: Asian Counseling and Referral Service, Chinese Information and Service Center, IDIC Filipino Senior and Family Services, South Park Senior Center

Amount awarded: $1,970,423

King County Council District(s) served: All

Will become a senior hub that serves Asian-Indian immigrant seniors where they reside throughout King County, providing opportunities for socially isolated seniors from these cultural groups to gather on a regular basis to access resources and connect with their communities.

Hub partners: IAWW

Amount awarded: $1,012,712

King County Council District(s) served: District 1, District 5, District 6, District 7

Will become a senior hub that serves as the recognized resource center on aging services and provides support, outreach, connection, and social engagement for the diverse population of seniors who live in Kent and other areas of South King County.

Hub partners: Kent Senior Activity Center

Amount awarded: $1,403,689

King County Council District(s) served: District 5

Will become a senior hub that serves Native American elders and isolated and home-bound seniors from diverse cultural groups, providing outreach, support, and opportunities for social engagement in North King County.

Hub partners: Sound Generations-Lake City-Northgate Senior Center Project, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation’s Native Elders Program, Wallingford Community Senior Center

Amount awarded: $1,413,472

King County Council District(s) served: District 1, District 2, District 4

Will become a senior hub that serves as the recognized resource center on aging services and provides support, outreach, connection, and social engagement for the diversity of seniors in Northeast King County, including Russian and Ukrainian seniors.

Hub partners: Kenmore Senior Center, Northshore Senior Center, Peter Kirk Community Center

Amount awarded: $1,591,596

King County Council District(s) served: District 1, District 6

Will become a senior hub that serves and provides support, outreach, connection, and social engagement to some of the most vulnerable seniors in King County, with a particular focus and programming for seniors who are homeless or at risk for homelessness in Seattle.

Hub partners: Pike Place Market Senior Center

Amount awarded: $1,306,184

King County Council District(s) served: District 4

Will become a senior hub that serves as the recognized resource center on aging services and provides support, outreach, connection, and social engagement for seniors in rural areas of Southeast King County.

Hub partners: Enumclaw Senior Center

Amount awarded: $885,010

King County Council District(s) served: District 9

Will become a senior hub that serves as the recognized resource center on aging services and provides support, outreach, connection, and social engagement for the diversity of seniors who live in suburban and rural areas of South King County.

Hub partners: Auburn Senior Activity Center, Federal Way Senior Center, Pacific Senior Center

Amount awarded: $1,592,883

King County Council District(s) served: District 7

Will become a senior hub that serves as the recognized resource center on aging services and provides support, outreach, connection, and social engagement for the diversity of seniors who live in Southeast Seattle, one of the most diverse areas in King County.

Hub partners: SE Seattle Senior Center, SE Seattle Senior Foundation

Amount awarded: $1,413,471

King County Council District(s) served: District 2

One year of funding to build service or infrastructure capacity that increase opportunities for senior centers to serve a diverse population of elders.

Participants
King County Council District(s) served

Amount awarded

City of Burien

District 5

$90,000

City of SeaTac

District 5

$90,000

City of Tukwila

District 5

$90,000

Filipino Community of Seattle

District 2

$90,000

North Bellevue Community Center

District 6

$90,000

City of Renton-Renton Senior Activity Center

District 5

$90,000

Black Diamond

District 9

$90,000

Greater Maple Valley

District 9

$90,000

Korean Women’s Association

District 5, District 7, District 9

$90,000

Vashon Senior Center

District 8

$90,000

Ballard NW Senior Center

District 1, District 4, District 8

$90,000

Senior Center of West Seattle

District 1, District 4, District 8

$90,000

Shoreline LFP Senior Center

District 1, District 4, District 8

$90,000


Relevant links


Quotes

King County is investing in programs specifically designed to improve the quality of life for our local seniors and their families. Thanks to King County voters, we are making healthy aging a priority, and the support we’re providing for these senior centers will significantly increase access to services for older adults throughout the region.

Dow Constantine, King County Executive

These investments in services for King County seniors are unprecedented and reflect the generosity of, and commitment to our seniors by King County taxpayers. I have seen the value that senior centers deliver first-hand, as my 90-year-old dad is a regular visitor for meals and dances at his local senior centers. These investments help ensure that our seniors have access to the services they have earned by their lifetime of contributions to our community and nation.

Rod Dembowski, Chair of the King County Council

For more information, contact:

Alex Fryer, Executive Office, 206-477-7966


King County Executive
Dow Constantine
Dow constantine portrait

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