Aging Network

Aging & Disability Services—the Area Agency on Aging for King County—is part of the Aging Network which was established in 1965 with the passage of the Older Americans Act. See our historical timeline, below.

National Level

National Aging Network Diagram

Click: National Networks 

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is the Federal agency dedicated to policy development, planning and the delivery of supportive home and community-based services to older persons and their caregivers. The ACL includes the Administration on Aging, Administration on Disabilities, Center for Innovation and Partnership, and National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. The ACL works through the national aging network of 56 State Units on Aging, 655 Area Agencies on Aging, and 236 Tribal and Native organizations.

USAging is the umbrella organization for the AAAs and Title VI Indian Tribal aging programs throughout the country. Through its presence in Washington, DC, USAging advocates on behalf of the local aging agencies to ensure that needed resources and support services are available to older Americans.

State Level

In Washington State, the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA) functions as the State Unit on Aging. ALTSA is part of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

The Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging (W4A) works with local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to create elder friendly communities and to enhance the effectiveness of each AAA through a strong agenda of information, debate, advocacy and education. There are 13 local Area Agencies on Aging in Washington state.

 

Local Level

diagram of local Aging Services Network

Click: Local Networks

Aging and Disability Services (ADS)—a division of the Seattle Human Services Department— is designated by the State of Washington as the Area Agency on Aging for King County.

ADS provides direct services and also subcontracts with more than 80 agencies to provide a network of in-home and community services, support programs, and assistance to older people, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers.

AAA Services Brochure: Aging Seattle-King County

Consumers

Each year, almost 50,000 older adults, family caregivers, and adults with disabilities in King County receive services from the local Aging Network (see Client Profile Reports). To get more information on the types of programs and services available for older adults and people with disabilities, contact Community Living Connections at 206-962-8467 (toll-free 1-844-348-KING).

History

Aging programs and services in Seattle-King County have evolved since the 1920s. A timeline produced for the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act in 2015 provides highlights. For more information, visit our Our Elders, Our Selves: Visiting the Past, Planning for Our Future webpage and watch the video by the same name.

timeline of history

  Click:  Aging Network History Timeline