Washington’s population is aging, including here in King County. In 2020, one in four King County residents were aged 55 or older. This proportion of King County’s population is expected to increase to 30 percent before 2040.

Many older adults are at a higher risk for social isolation and loneliness which negatively impact health and well-being, and need supports to age in place in their communities of choice.

The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) invests in programs and services to support King County’s seniors and their caregivers to age with full and equal opportunities to be healthy, happy, and connected to community.

The prior VSHSL (2018-2023) added seniors to the levy’s focus populations and used the emphasis on supporting seniors to fill funding gaps for aging services including senior centers. Since then, VSHSL funding has helped stabilize operations and transform senior centers into resource hubs that expand services, outreach, and engagement to isolated and racially and culturally diverse seniors. From 2021-2023 VSHSL-funded senior centers served more than 67,500 seniors, including reaching over 19,000 seniors who were new to senior center services in each of 2022 and 2023.  

Investments from the 2024-2029 Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy continue to build on programs making an impact on the older adults in King County, as well as new or adjusted programs to meet older adults’ developing needs. Programs connect older adults to critical supports such as food and nutrition, information and assistance, cultural and social activities, educational opportunities, wellness checks, health promotion, and support and connection for isolated seniors. Strong, coordinated service systems that can support the unique needs of seniors and their caregivers are important for ensuring all seniors in King County can thrive.

Investments and awarded partners

In 2024, the VSHSL launched investments supporting seniors and their caregivers. Find a summary of those investments and VSHSL-awarded community partners listed below.

Support Senior Centers

Social Engagement (SE) 1: Support Senior Centers investment provides foundational support to 41 Senior Centers and establishes the King County Senior Center Network. Funded Senior Centers are well positioned to be inclusive, vibrant gathering spaces for Seniors and their caregivers.

Funded partners:

Senior Villages

Housing Stability (HS) 5: Senior Villages supports diverse and low-income seniors to age well in their communities by fostering models that promote mutual support, resource sharing, and social connection among members. These geographically or culturally focused communities enable seniors to remain stably housed and thrive through tailored services and opportunities for meaningful engagement.

Funded partners:

Senior Health Promotion

Healthy Living (HL) 6: Senior Health Promotion funds a diverse set of programs that empower King County seniors to address their health and well-being. From falls prevention and nutrition to unique, culturally informed physical activities, chronic disease management and prevention, and health education, these programs offer seniors the options to make meaningful, lasting changes in their health and lives.

Funded partners:

Caregiver Connections and Support

Social Engagement (SE) 4: Caregiver Connections and Support helps family caregivers of seniors and persons with disabilities by funding programs that decrease their isolation and stress, while increasing their access to services, improving their skills and understanding, and promoting community connections and wellbeing. The supportive services and resources offered by these programs helps family caregivers maintain their health and remain in their caregiving role over a longer duration.

Funded partners:

Kinship Care Supports

Social Engagement (SE) 5: Kinship Care Supports provide vital assistance to seniors raising children of relatives or close family friends. These programs ensure kinship caregivers have access to resources and supports to sustain their well-being and meet the needs of the children in their care.

Funded partners:

Geriatric Regional Assessment Team

Healthy Living (HL) 5: Geriatric Regional Assessment Team (GRAT) is a home-visiting team of behavioral health and human services experts who assess and connect seniors to behavioral health or other human services that help seniors at risk remain in community and avoid institutionalization or harm. GRAT then helps recipients connect with community resources for stabilization and ongoing support.

Elder Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Team

Healthy Living (HL) 11: Elder Abuse Multi-Disciplinary Team (EAMDT) brings together a multi-disciplinary team of professionals from across agencies and disciplines to improve King County’s response to cases of elder and vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. The EAMDT coordinates investigations, provides consultations, makes referrals, and offers needed resources to provide meaningful and improved outcomes for victims.

Mobile Meal Delivery for Seniors

Healthy Living (HL) 8: Mobile Meal Delivery for Seniors leverages federal nutrition funding to allow mobile meal and grocery delivery services to expand the number of seniors who benefit from these essential supports.

Senior Home Repair

Housing Stability (HS) 4: Senior Home Repair supports the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Housing Repair Program. The program provides housing repair services to low-income homeowners and special needs renters in King County. Support in completing home repairs such as adding accessible entrances and bathrooms, replacing a failing roof or heating system, or an emergency sewer repair, help seniors age in place in their community of choice.

The VSHSL also invests senior-specific funding in several other programs that are administered by our King County partners, including mobile medical outreach for individuals with less access to healthcare resources, the building of housing units for seniors, and behavioral health supports that include people 55 and above.