AAA Funded Services
Aging and Disability Services funds the following services to older adults and adults with disabilities who live in King County. Most services are provided by a network of community-based organizations located throughout King County who subcontract with ADS to serve over 30,000 seniors, adults with disabilities and family caregivers. In addition, ADS provides direct case management services to approximately 6,000 clients.
(Click on a service to view more information.)
- Adult Day Services
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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. Depending on the level of their need and the number of days authorized, participants may enroll in one or combination of the following services:
- Adult Day Care programs provide core services such as: personal care (e.g., body care, eating, positioning, transfer, toileting), social services, routine health monitoring (e.g., vital signs, weight, dietary needs), general therapeutic activities (e.g., recreational activities and relaxation therapy), general health education (e.g., nutrition, stress management, preventive care), supervision, assistance with arranging transportation, and first aid as needed.
- Adult Day Health programs includes the core services mentioned above plus skilled nursing services, skilled therapy services (e.g., physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy), and psychological or counseling services.
- Alzheimer Program
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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
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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
- Support services include information and assistance, support groups, caregiver training, respite care services, counseling, and translating/interpreter services.
- Respite Care services provide caregivers with time away from the responsibilities of ongoing care of a disabled adult. It includes in-home and out-of-home respite care services for family and other unpaid caregivers that provide the daily services required when caring for adults with functional disabilities. The care that is provided ranges from companionship and supervision to care provided by a registered nurse.
- Case Management
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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. Screening and referral for case management services are provided through the Information & Assistance programs, and the State DSHS Home and Community Services.
- Amy Wong Client Fund (link to www.amywongfund.org ) is a charitable fund that is available to Case Management clients. The fund provides services such as in-home care, emergency services and other health related items for adults with disabilities who wish to remain living independently in their own homes. Services are authorized by case managers and provided through ADS service providers and outside vendors.
- COPES, Chore Personal Care, and Medicaid Personal Care support individuals who are unable to care for themselves. Services are authorized by a case manager and include assistance with dressing, bathing, eating, toileting, and transferring. Limited household services are also available to maintain individuals in a safe and healthy environment.
- Nurse Consultation focuses on high risk older people and disabled adults with medically unstable health conditions. Services provided include appropriate referrals and coordination with health care professionals. The frequency and amount of service is based on individual need that is defined by eligibility and client assessment.
- Mental Health Consultation Support is available to case management staff working with clients who may be resistant to receiving formal mental health services and for clients with substance abuse issues.
- Disability Access Services
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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. Components include:
- Information, Referral, and Assistance
- FLASH Card - a discount card for people with disabilities.
- Disease Prevention/Health Promotion
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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.
- Elder Abuse Prevention
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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.
- The Long Term Care Ombudsman is designed to improve the quality of life for residents of nursing homes, congregate care facilities, boarding homes and adult family homes. With the assistance of trained volunteers the Ombudsman investigates and resolves complaints made by or on behalf of residents, and identifies problems that affect a substantial number of residents. Changes in federal, state and local legislation are also recommended by the program.
- The Gatekeeper Program trains community members who come into contact with older adults to identity and report at-risk elders, particularly those who are isolated, living alone and in need of some type of assistance.
- Employment
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Job placement assistance is provided to job seekers over age 55. Part time community service employment opportunities are available for low-income King County residents age 55 or older through the Title V Senior Community Service Employment Program
- Home Health and Health Maintenance
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Medical services provided to individuals in their own homes on a visiting basis. Services may include professional nursing services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and home health aide services. The individuals receiving services must be under the care of a physician, and services provided must be specified in a plan established and periodically reviewed by a physician. Home health services funded by Aging and Disability Services are only for people who are not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or third party payor coverage.
- Homesharing for Seniors
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The Homesharing for Seniors program helps older adults remain independent and living in their own homes while providing safe, affordable housing choices for people of all ages. The program carefully matches older homeowners with tenants needing low-cost housing while providing companionship and security to both.
- Information and Assistance (I&A)
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Information and Assistance (I&A) connects older adults with the services and information they need.
- Primary I&A - Information is provided over the telephone, in-person, and through the internet. Assistance in contacting services is also provided for clients who are unable to do so themselves. I&A staff screen clients to determine their need for more extensive services which are provided by the case management program.
- Special Information and Assistance programs provide services to older persons who are not able to use the primary I&A program due to language, cultural, racial or social barriers. The four Special I&A programs serve Chinese, Asian and Pacific Islander, East African and Hispanic elderly persons, and homeless elders. Services are provided by bilingual staff via telephone, office and home visits.
- Legal Services
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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
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Includes congregate or community meals, home delivered meals, and outreach services.
- The Congregate Meal Program helps meet the dietary need of older people by providing nutrition education, and nutritionally sound lunches served in a group setting. Nine agencies manage 59 nutrition sites located throughout King County. Twenty of the sites serve ethnic meals once a week, or provide ethnic-specific food to African American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian community members. There are also 22 sites provided through Senior Centers.
- The Home Delivered Meals program, often known as "Meals on Wheels," provides nutritious meals to older people who are homebound and unable to prepare meals for themselves. Frozen meals are delivered to individuals throughout Seattle and King County. Hot, home delivered meals targeted to African American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian elderly people are available.
- Nutrition Outreach is designed to increase the participation of Hispanic elders in nutrition programs. In addition, registered dietitian consultation is provided to the ethnic-specific nutrition programs to ensure compliance with dietary requirements.
- Outreach Advocacy
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The Senior Outreach program identifies older people who do not come into contact with traditional referral sources. The purpose is to inform older people about available services and encourage their participation in aging programs. Outreach Advocacy workers provide some direct services, such as completing forms and applications and arranging transportation. Direct services are provided only to seniors who are unable to complete these tasks on their own and who have no one to help them.
- Senior Centers
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Aging and Disability Services administers local funds that support a number of Senior Centers in the City of Seattle. Senior Centers are community resource centers that meet the physical and emotional needs of older adults by offering access to services and resources on site, including immunization, health screening, nutrition and meal programs, and exercise and fitness activities.
- Seniors in Service to Seattle
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The volunteer program, Seniors in Service to Seattle, is funded with local dollars, uniquely promotes volunteer and intergenerational relationships by finding opportunities for seniors age 55 or over in City departments, schools and community based programs.
- Technology Support
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Funding is provided to subcontractors as part of their operating costs for upgrade and maintenance of their information systems, for purposes of client tracking and reporting, for training, and fiscal management.
- Transportation
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Aging and Disability Services primary focus for transportation in King County is to provide access to nutrition services. Working in partnership with Metro/King County, ADS funds provide transportation to nutrition sites. ADS also funds Volunteer Transportation, which provides rides to medical appointments on a priority basis.
- Utility Discount Program
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The Utility Discount Program offers discounted rates on electric, water and solid waste services are available to Seattle low income families, home owners or renters who are age 65 or older, or under 65 and disabled.
