Aging King County

05/27/2026

During American Stroke Month in May, the American Stroke Association (a division of the American Heart Association) is sharing trusted resources to help survivors and caregivers take care of their emotional health—not just their physical recovery.

Read all about them in the latest edition of AgeWise King County.

A stroke can change daily life in unexpected ways, especially for older adults. Along with physical recovery, many people notice emotional changes such as feeling down, worried, frustrated or unsure about the future. According to the American Stroke Association, these emotional responses are common....

05/21/2026

The latest edition of AgeWise King County spotlights Find a Ride, a special transportation service developed by Hopelink’s Mobility Management team and the King County Mobility Coalition.

The program’s goal is simple but powerful: to help people discover, plan, and connect to rides that meet their needs, all in one easy place.

Getting where you need to go shouldn’t be a puzzle. Whether it’s getting to work, school, the doctor, or just meeting friends, everyone deserves a simple way to plan a trip. That’s exactly what Find a Ride was created to do. And in 2026, it’s getting even better. What is find a ride? Find a....

05/19/2026

A short stretch of missing sidewalk can be the difference between someone getting where they need to go and someone deciding it isn’t worth the risk. If you find yourself noticing places like this in your own neighborhood, you can help.

Take a walk, pay attention, and, if you’re able, share what you see. Whether it’s through a community walkabout or a quick note in an app, your small observations will help shape a clearer picture of how our communities work—and how they can work better for everyone.

Our spring walk starts at a corner that looks, at first glance, perfectly ordinary. A bus stop sits just ahead, close enough to read the schedule if you squint. There’s a bench, a patch of gravel, the usual signs of a place people are meant to wait. Cars move steadily past. It feels like an... Rea...

05/15/2026

In the latest edition of AgeWise King County, Joel Domingo of the ADS Advisory Council, explores the idea that true advocacy does not only happen through policy battles. It also happens in everyday spaces where we insist that systems work with us, rather than against us, as our needs change.

As we celebrate Older Americans Month, we are reminded that aging with dignity is a collective effort that requires reflection on what it truly takes for older adults to participate fully in community life. With the spring and summer travel seasons upon us, many families are preparing to reconnect.....

05/13/2026

In the latest edition of AgeWise King County, learn how family caregiving makes it possible for millions of older adults to remain independent and live safely at home.

“Family caregivers are a major economic force and the backbone of our long‑term care system,” said Marguerite Ro, AARP Washington State Director. “The value of the care they provide now exceeds $25 billion each year. Yet too often, that care comes at a steep personal cost to caregivers’ health, finances, and well‑being. AARP is working to elevate this issue and advocate for policies that save family caregivers time and money.”

Family caregivers in Washington state provide an estimated $25 billion worth of unpaid care each year, according to a new AARP report that underscores the essential role families play in supporting older adults and sustaining the state’s long‑term care system. The report finds that approximately...

05/11/2026

Did you know that people ages 65 and older should get two COVID shots a year, spaced about six months apart (or at least 2-3 months apart)?

Elisabeth Beaber of Public Health - Seattle & King County explains why you should talk with your healthcare provider about which vaccines are recommended for you -- not only for COVID and flu, but also pneumococcal (pneumonia), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), shingles, and pertussis.

It’s springtime in our northwest corner of the world! Daffodils, sunglasses, and shorts are optimistically out even though some days still feel like February. And the entire county is buzzing with sports energy—from rooting on the Mariners to hosting six Men’s World Cup soccer games in Seattle...

05/07/2026

Tubman Center for Health & Freedom takes over the Black Elders Wellness Program in Seattle, focusing on culturally responsive care and community connection.

05/07/2026

Returning to the workforce as an older adult can be intimidating. At a recent Civic Coffee event, an expert panel explained how to get started.

Sonali Agarwal, an intern with Age Friendly Seattle, writes: "If you are overwhelmed, remember that you have the skills, abilities, and intelligence to serve others and work towards any goal that you would like. Go one step at a time and trust in the strengths you bring to each position."

Persistence is better than perfection. That was a theme in the March Civic Coffee event on employment support services in Seattle for non-native English speakers hosted by Age Friendly Seattle and The Seattle Public Library. The panel featured insights from Joseph Ntumba, project manager at Workfor...

05/05/2026

Happy Older Americans Month!

In the new edition of AgeWise King County, Alex O’Reilly, who chairs the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services, writes:

"We frequently hear about the challenges the older adult population face, like failing health, high cost of living to meet expenses on a fixed budget, isolation, ageism, and lack of mobility. These are all important issues to keep on the community’s radar and advocate for changes in policy and funding.

"But this month also gives us an opportunity to celebrate what older adults contribute to their families and their communities."

May is Older Americans Month. The theme, selected by the federal Administration for Community Living, is “Champion Your Health.” It focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility. The effort highlights aging trends and encourages community engagement. It was first observed in 1963,...

04/27/2026

Sonali Agarwal, an intern with Age Friendly Seattle, writes that it's never too late to get involved in efforts to improve environmental sustainability. She explains the steps we can all take to leave behind a livable planet for generations to come.

We live in a warming and aging world. It’s time that we think of these two things together. Climate change is a global problem with local implications. In the past decades in King County, we have already seen hotter summers, heavier rain events, less snowpack, and higher sea levels. This has real ...