A new funding opportunity is available from the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) to fund Senior Health Promotion Programs that make improvements in the health and well-being of King County Seniors. In addition, this RFP will fund one entity to provide technical support and consultation.
A gradual decrease in mental and physical capacity and a growing risk of disease are normal parts of the aging process. The likelihood of chronic diseases like diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and lung disease increases as people age, with 94.9 percent of older adults having at least one chronic condition and 78.7 percent having at least two. Lifestyle changes that often come with older age, such as retirement from the workforce, changing roles within families, relocation to different types of housing, and the loss of friends and partners can have significant impacts on mental health.
At the same time, there is no “typical” Senior health profile, and aging by itself does not cause disease or disability. Even as they navigate changing health conditions, Seniors can maintain or even improve the quality of their adult lives and make important contributions to their families and communities.
Social and economic conditions play a critical role in determining Senior health. Economic stability, healthy and safe neighborhoods and physical environments, community support, and high-quality health care are all crucial “social determinants of health”. Access to these resources, or the lack thereof, shapes a person’s health and well-being over the course of a lifetime.
In King County, significant health disparities exist among Seniors based on race, ethnicity, and geography. For example:
- Those living in high poverty neighborhoods in King County have a life expectancy of 78 years, five years less than those in low poverty neighborhoods (83 years). Between specific neighborhoods with the highest and lowest life expectancies, the difference can be as much as 11 years.
- The percentage of older adults aged 60+ experiencing chronic conditions in King County is higher among Indigenous older adults (83 percent) than White older adults (64 percent). White older adults aged 60+ are more likely to self-report being in excellent or good health (82 percent) than Black older adults (70 percent) or Hispanic/Latino older adults (75 percent).
- Among older adults 60+ in King County, 27 percent have a disability, and 44 percent of those living in or near poverty do.
Funding overview
The Senior Health Promotion funding opportunity will fund two service areas:
Senior Health Promotion Programs that directly serve Seniors, to include both Evidence-Based and Community-Identified Programs. Senior Health Promotion Programs are defined in this Request for Proposal (RFP) as programs delivered in a community or home setting that support healthy lifestyles and promote healthy behaviors among Seniors. Both Evidence-Based and Community-Identified Senior Health Promotion Programs are eligible for funding under this RFP. Programs may address one or more of the following areas of Senior health:
- Falls prevention (which may include programming to support Seniors with vision impairment or loss)
- Physical activity
- Chronic disease management
- Health education
- Social connectedness
- Mental health
- Nutrition
- Medication management
- Other health issues relevant to the Senior population(s) being served
Not all health issue areas listed above will necessarily be represented among the group of programs that are funded through this RFP; however, King County intends to fund at least one program addressing falls prevention. King County also intends to fund a mix of Evidence-Based and Community-Identified Senior Health Promotion Programs. Applicants may propose to deliver one or both program types.
One program support entity that will provide technical assistance and support around Senior Health Promotion Program implementation and evaluation. The Program Support Entity will provide technical support to King County and VSHSL-funded Senior Health Promotion program providers related to program implementation and evaluation. King County staff will manage the support workflow during the program period and facilitate direct connections between the Program Support Entity and providers as needed.
The core responsibilities of this role will include:
- Providing technical support around issues related to program implementation
- Providing technical support around issues related to program evaluation
Application details
Available funding: Up to $3,897,814 in Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy funds
Investment period: January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027 (subject to change)
Questions: Contact Virginia Weihs at vweihs@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-3468
Applications due: September 9, 2024 by 2:00pm Pacific Time
Join the information session to learn more about the funding opportunity
A virtual information session to discuss questions related to this RFP will be held on August 8, 2024, 3:00 – 4:30pm.
Join by Zoom :
Meeting URL: https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/84161303565
Meeting ID: 841 6130 3565
Passcode: 439873
Join by Phone:
253-215-8782
The information session will be recorded and posted here.
This will be a remote session with speech to text captioning provided. For accommodations to participate, please contact Virginia Weihs by August 2, 2024.
About the VSHSL
The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL), administered by the King County Department of Community and Human Services Adult Services Division, promotes healthy living, financial stability, social engagement, housing stability and service system access for veterans, seniors, and resilient communities.