Age-Friendly Communities
Outdoor spaces and buildings | Transportation | Housing | Social participation | Respect and social inclusion | Civic participation and employment | Communication and information | Community and health services
*** New! Visit our new Virtual Events page to see what Age Friendly Seattle has in store! ***
Aging and Disability Services is committed to helping communities become more age-friendly under criteria established by AARP and the World Health Organization, called “The 8 Domains of Livability.”
Age Friendly Communities in King County
Aging and Disability Services can provide information and guidance to any community in King County that is interested in becoming more age-friendly.
Age Friendly Seattle
The City of Seattle joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in July 2016 and strengthened their commitment in March 2017 with a Mayor/Council resolution and set of early actions. On July 27, 2018, Age Friendly Seattle completed their Age Friendly Action Plan, which includes 29 initiatives spanning The 8 Domains of Livability. Follow their progress at www.seattle.gov/agefriendly. For questions or additional information, e-mail agefriendly@seattle.gov.
Age-Friendly Renton
The City of Renton joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities in June 2020. For questions or additional information, contact Renton’s Recreation & Neighborhood Director at 425‐430‐6615 or mvancleave@rentonwa.gov.
Recent Articles
Following are articles about age-friendly communities published during the past year in AgeWise King County, a monthly e-zine published by the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services:
- Age Friendly Renton: Bridging the Isolation Divide (April 2022)
- Advancing Age Friendly Seattle (January 2022)
- Age Friendly Seattle Adapts to the Virtual Environment (September 2021)
- Age-Friendly Outreach to Immigrants Lands a National Award (May 2021)
- Age Friendly Seattle Increases Access and Inclusion Despite COVID (March 2021)
- Age-Friendly Efforts Continue in a Year of Uncertainty (January 2021)
- Exciting Changes to ‘Age Friendly Live’ Virtual Events (January 2021)
- LGBTQ+2S: Vaccinations, Vaccine Trials, and You (October 2020)
- LGBTQ+2S Resilience During the COVID Pandemic (August 2020)
- Lessons from the Past Offer Perspective for COVID Response (July 2020)
- Age Friendly Seattle Offers Virtual Events During COVID-19 (June 2020)
- Join the ‘Age Friendly’ Movement (March 2020)
- Seattle’s Dementia-Friendly ‘Momentia’ Movement Comes to the Eastside (November 2019)
- Cheer on Seattle Sounders FC at Inaugural ‘Age-Friendly’ Match (August 2019)
- AARP Community Challenge Grants Benefit Local Nonprofits (August 2019)
- Public Forum: How to Plan an Accessible Event (May 2019)
- MySavingsJarTM Will Help Seattleites Save (April 2019)
- Age Friendly Seattle Housing Initiatives Take Off (September 2018)
- How Many Ways Can You Get to Alki Beach? (September 2018)
- Momentia: The New Dementia Story (August 2018)
- Kitchen Table Talk: Outdoor Spaces & Buildings (August 2018)
- How to Plan an Age- and Disability-Friendly Event (July 2018)
- Designing for Special Populations Forum on July 24 (July 2018)
- Home Sharing is One Housing Solution (June 2018)
- Bridging Generations Enriches Communities (June 2018)
- Age Friendly Seattle Launches Kitchen Table Talks (June 2018)
- Age Friendly Seattle Team on Board (May 2018)
- Celebrating Human Services Innovation and Healthy Aging (April 2018)
- Making Seattle a Great Place to Grow Up AND Grow Old (March 2018)
- Age Friendly Housing Supports Aging in Place (January 2018)
- 200 Engaged in Discussing Women and Optimal Aging (December 2017)
- Survey Says! Seattle’s Older Residents Rank the City on Age-Friendly Factors (November 2017)
- Seattle Human Services Department Supports Age Friendly Community Projects (October 2017)
- A City for All—Civic Technology Hackathon Results (October 2017)
- Walking: The Wonder Drug (September 2017)
The following sections outline—by domain—local efforts and opportunities for communities in Seattle-King County to become more livable for both older residents and people of all ages.
Outdoor spaces and buildingsUniversal Design is a concept for designing all aspects of the built environment—homes, mobility routes, landscapes, commercial developments, products and life space, including equipment and architecture—with the goal of making them accessible to every person, regardless of age or ability.
Aging and Disability Services is working with our Advisory Council, other local and national organizations, and community members to promote the use of Universal Design. Our hope is that Universal Design will become commonplace in all aspects of the built environment—enabling all to remain in the place they call home, even if their abilities change.
The Northwest Universal Design Council (NWUDC) serves as a forum to educate and collaborate in an effort to promote universal design and create “environments for all.” The council reports to the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services on a monthly basis, holds monthly steering committee meetings, and offers periodic educational forums on Universal Design issues. To sign up for their listserv, visit NWUDC email list.
Resources:
- “Universally Designed House Built in Tukwila”
Article by Sandra Hartje, Associate Professor at Seattle Pacific University, featured in the September 2005 issue of Housing Washington. - Adaptive Environments/Institute for Human Centered Design Information on Universal Design, education and training, publications, design examples.
- Practical Guide to Universal Home Design

The King County Mobility Coalition produced this guide to accessible travel options in Seattle and King County—public, private, and nonprofit. Click on the image to open a PDF copy . To request a printed copy of the Getting Around King County map, e-mail mobility@hope-link.org. Updated Summer 2016.
An age-friendly community promotes safe and accessible transportation options for all people, including those that provide community mobility for people with special needs.
Aging and Disability Services (ADS) collaborates with transportation and other community-based service providers to develop a coordinated transportation system in King County. Our vision is to provide mobility for the entire community: children, youth, older adults, individuals with disabilities, residents with language barriers, and those with low-income status.

For printable PDFs in multiple languages, click on the image above to visit the King County Mobility Coalition resource page.
ADS is represented on the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Special Needs Transportation Committee. Partners include the Puget Sound Regional Council; Washington State Department of Transportation; King, Pierce, and Snohomish county transit agencies; and local human services providers.
ADS is also active in the King County Mobility Coalition, which facilitates the coordination of King County special needs transportation to better serve the community. The Coalition’s website includes committee roster, meeting schedules, minutes and agendas.
Tips for Getting Around King County, the King County Mobility Coalition’s Community Travel Video Series, can help you learn to ride the bus, pay for the bus and light rail, and use other ways to travel. It’s available in Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Cantonese, English, Korean, Mandarin, Nepali, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese, along with storyboards that you can print out to share. Visit the King County Mobility Coalition and click on the language you want and then on each of three videos. Links are also available on this website (click here).
Resources:
Hyde Shuttle
- Metro Transit
- Regional Reduced Fare Permit
- Snoqualmie Valley Transportation
- Sound Transit
Vets-Go.com: Transportation options available to veterans in King County.
- Volunteer Transportation
- Downtown Seattle Circulator Bus – Solid Ground provides free rides on a fixed route for people living on low incomes and those who access health and human services in the downtown area.
Eastside Easy Rider Collaborative – provides older adults, persons with disabilities, low-income individuals and youth in East King County with information and tools to find and use the transportation services they need to live quality lives.
- Recent AgeWise King County articles on transportation issues:
- A City for All – Civic Technology Hackathon Results (October 2017)
- Walking: The Wonder Drug (September 2017)
- RapidRide is expanding in Seattle! (April 2017)
- Making Seattle’s Streets Safer for Everyone (March 2017)
An age-friendly community promotes accessible and affordable housing for people of all ages and abilities.
Aging and Disability Services collaborates with community partners to promote age-friendly housing that meets the needs of older adults in King County. In 2018, an interagency advisory group developed a list of recommendations that are currently being implemented. The recommendations were based on research and data from the 2017 Age Friendly Housing Assessment Report, Moving Toward Age-Friendly Housing in King County, produced by a team of researchers from Washington State University and Portland State University. Along with a complementary report summarizing stakeholder and community input, the report updates our understanding of the housing needs of older adults and recommends strategies to increase and expand age-friendly housing in King County.
Some of the key findings of the assessment are:
- Older adult households are increasing rapidly in King County.
- Housing is unaffordable for many older King County households.
- Low-income older adults are unable to afford housing in King County.
- King County is becoming more diverse as the size of many historically under-served populations is increasing.
See the report for details and recommendations. Aging and Disability Services is working with community partners to prioritize recommendations in alignment with Age Friendly Seattle, the Regional Affordable Housing Taskforce, the King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, and other affordable housing plans and initiatives.
In 2016, ADS partnered with the Housing Development Consortium on a Housing and Aging Forum that kicked off our efforts to update Quiet Crisis: Age Wave Maxes Out Affordable Housing, a 2009 senior housing report.
Get free, confidential housing information and referrals to local benefits via the professional advocates at Community Living Connections.
Property Tax Relief
In February 2020, the King County Assessor’s Office launched a Tax Relief Web Portal that makes it easier to get information about property tax exemptions for qualifying homeowners (e.g., older than 61 and low income). The portal includes helpful videos, a checklist for documents you’ll need to apply, and an online application option. A booklet—Guide to Property Tax Exemptions for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Disabled Veterans—is also helpful. For more information about property tax relief in King County, e-mail Exemptions.Assessments@kingcounty.gov or call the King County Assessor’s office at 206-296-3920.
Resources
For 24/7 online access to benefits information, visit any of the following National Council on Aging programs:
Local housing resources include:
- Downpayment Assistance Programs (Washington State Housing Finance Commission)
- Foreclosure Assistance (Washington State)
- Foreclosure Prevention (Seattle Office of Housing)
- Homeownership Assistance: Washington (HUD)
- Home Repair Loan Program (Seattle Office of Housing)
- HomeWise Weatherization (Seattle Office of Housing)
- Housing Repair (King County)
- Housing Resources (Solid Ground)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Minor Home Repair (Sound Generations)
- Property Tax Relief (King County Assessor’s Office)
- Property Tax Relief Portal (information and online application)
- Guide to Property Tax Exemptions for Seniors, Persons with Disabilities, and Disabled Veterans
- Tenants Union of Washington State
- Utility Discount Program (for Seattle City Light & Seattle Public Utilities customers)
- Weatherization (King County Housing Authority)
An age-friendly community encourages accessible and affordable social and recreation options for all ages.
Lifelong learning
Following are a variety of promising lifelong learning opportunities for older residents of Seattle and King County.
Classes—General
- Northwest Center for Creative Aging: Presents programs to help adults to find new meaning in their lives as they age, delivered in senior communities, libraries and other venues throughout the Seattle region.
- Osher Lifelong Learning Institute-UW: Workshops and special events for adults over 50 led by retired UW faculty and community experts. Classes taught in multiple locations.
- Seattle Lifelong Recreation Program: Arts, fitness and social opportunities for people age 50+ sponsored by Seattle Parks and Recreation and offered at multiple community centers.
- South Seattle College: Continuing education classes related to the arts, food and wine, personal enrichment, computers, professional continuing education, and online courses.
The arts and healthy aging

Senior Centers Provide a Bevy of Art Opportunities (AgeWise King County, January 2015) features the art group at The Central senior center, and many more.
Following are a variety of promising participatory arts and arts appreciation opportunities for older residents of Seattle and King County.
Classes—General
- Northwest Center for Creative Aging: Presents programs to help adults to find new meaning in their lives as they age, delivered in senior communities, libraries and other venues throughout the Seattle region.
- Osher Lifelong Learning Institute-UW: Workshops and special events for adults over 50 led by retired UW faculty and community experts. Classes taught in multiple locations.
- Seattle Lifelong Recreation Program: Arts, fitness and social opportunities for people age 50+ sponsored by Seattle Parks and Recreation and offered at multiple community centers.
- Senior Centers Provide a Bevy of Art Opportunities (AgeWise King County, January 2015)
- South Seattle College: Continuing education classes related to the arts, food and wine, personal enrichment, computers, professional continuing education, and online courses.
Dance
- Dance for PD: Classes are based on the Dance for PD (Parkinson’s Disease) program developed by the Mark Morris Dance Group and Brooklyn Parkinson Group. They include certified instructors and live music. Sponsored by Seattle Theatre Group, Spectrum Dance Theatre, Evergreen Health, Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, City of Seattle Lifelong Recreation and Des Moines Legacy Foundation. For schedule information, visit Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation.
- World Dance Party: World Dance Party grew out of an Aging Your Way gathering. It’s designed to get neighbors to interact and to celebrate culture and diversity. Everyone from all backgrounds and ages is welcome.
Museum Programs
- here:now
(Frye Art Museum): Arts-engagement program for individuals living with dementia—and their care partners—to enjoy a creative and relaxing afternoon together.
- Seattle Art Museum Downtown: Free days plus senior discount.
- Seattle Asian Art Museum: Free days plus senior discount.
Music
- Seattle Festival Orchestra: Multi-generational orchestra. Formerly called the Musicians Emeritus Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman helped to found this orchestra in the 1970s.
Visual Arts
- Elderwise Outreach Program: Elderwise takes elements of its visual arts program to other facilities serving elders.
- Path with Art: Nonprofit dedicated to providing adults recovering from homelessness and those “on the margins” the opportunity to engage in the creative process as a unique means to improve and rebuild their lives.
- Seniors Creating Art: Offers art classes in different mediums, taught by professional art instructors to participants in community centers, senior centers, and other facilities that wish to host an eight-week long art program.
Research
The Creativity and Aging Study: The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on Older Adults (Gene D. Cohen, 2006)
- The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on the Physical Health, Mental Health, and Social Functioning of Older Adults (Gene D. Cohen, et al., The Gerontologist, 2006)
- Research on Creativity and Aging: The Positive Impact of the Arts on Health and Illness (Gene D. Cohen, Generations, 2006)
Resources
- Changing the Way We Think about Alzheimer’s—One Painting at a Time (AgeWise King County, January 2015)
- 4Culture (King County Cultural Services)
- Seattle Office of Arts & Culture
- Neighborhood Matching Fund (Seattle Department of Neighborhoods)
- Grantmakers in Aging: Arts and culture
- Pinterest: Aging & the Arts (Aging King County)
- The Art of Alzheimer’s
An age-friendly community promotes respect, inclusion, and cooperation among people of all ages and abilities. Aging and Disability Services works to reduce ageism and ableism through online communications such as:
- AgeWise King County
- Social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest)
- Accessible digital communications
Please visit our Disability Etiquette & Communications webpage for tips on communicating with and about people with disabilities.
An age-friendly community encourages economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for meaningful work—paid and volunteer.
Volunteering
Following are a variety of promising civic and social engagement opportunities for older residents of Seattle and King County.
Referrals and Coordination
- Generation to Generation Seattle
- RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program)
- United Way of King County
- VolunteerMatch.org
Volunteer Programs Supporting Older Adults & Individuals with Disabilities
- AARP Washington
- Alzheimer’s Association
- Bellevue Network on Aging
- ElderFriends
- Kirkland Senior Council
- Seattle Commission for People with disAbilities
- Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services
- Seattle Mayor’s Council on African American Elders
- Sound Generations
- Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA)
- Volunteer Transportation
Boards and Commissions
Every city and town in King County has a variety of boards and commissions whose members are appointed. Following are links to boards and commissions information within a variety of jurisdictions: King County | Auburn | Bellevue | Bothell | Burien | Des Moines | Enumclaw | Federal Way | Issaquah | Kenmore | Kent | Kirkland | Maple Valley | Mercer Island | Redmond | Renton | Sammamish | SeaTac | Seattle | Shoreline
Note: To recommend a volunteer program for older adults, e-mail information (including an online link) to ADS communications manager Irene Stewart.
Employment
If you or someone you know is age 55 or older, visit the following links for information about job search supports and services:
- NAPCA
- AARP Foundation Senior Community Service Employment Program (in Seattle, call 206-624-6698 or visit the office at 115 N 85th Street, Suite 105, Seattle (map it) between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Resources
Can you afford to grow old?
Aging and Disability Services (ADS) promotes financial empowerment and economic self-sufficiency for King County residents of all ages.
In 2011, ADS participated in development of the Elder Economic Security Standard Index for Washington (“Elder Index”), which measured the income that Washington’s seniors needed to maintain independence and meet basic living expenses.
The Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging (UMass Boston Gerontology Institute) has since published Living Below the Line: Economic Insecurity and Older Americans Insecurity in the States 2016, which summarizes what the Elder Index looks like across the states. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research, UMass Boston, and National Council on Aging also provide an online tool for searching the current Elder Index.
The total monthly Elder Index is the cost to live a reasonable quality of life in a specific geographic area without having to choose between necessary expenditures. Put simply, it details how much income an older adult needs for self-sufficiency in Seattle and King County.
Social Security is the sole source of income for one in five retired older adults in Washington, the majority of whom are women. In 2009, about eight percent of the state’s older adults lived at or below the federal poverty level, and another 17 percent were at or below 150 percent of the poverty threshold. Many older adults who are not poor as defined by the official poverty level are still unable to meet their basic needs.
Younger residents who do not yet collect Social Security will benefit from using The Self Sufficiency Calculator for Washington State to determine earnings needed to meet expenses in a specific geographic area.
An age-friendly community encourages access resources, benefits, and services for all ages and abilities. Resources include:
- Community Living Connections
- Digital Equity Initiative (City of Seattle)
- AgeWise King County—For a free subscription to our Advisory Council’s monthly e-zine, click here.
An age-friendly community promotes community and health services that support healthy aging. For information about Aging and Disability Services’ work in this area, visit the following pages on this website:
Click on the headings above for more information. For free, confidential access to aging network services in Seattle-King County, contact Community Living Connections.