Older Americans Month: Investing in senior health promotion
Every May, the nation observes Older Americans Month (OAM) to recognize the contributions of older adults, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to helping older adults thrive in their communities.
The 2026 OAM national theme, Champion Your Health, focuses on prevention and wellness as cornerstones of healthy aging. It highlights the importance ofevidence-based approaches, caregiver roles, and community partnerships that empower individuals to lead healthy lives.
In King County, 56% of older adults have multiple chronic conditions like diabetes, arthritis, coronary heart disease, or hypertension. Significant disparities exist in the prevalence of these conditions based on race, ethnicity, and geography. Falls are the leading cause of injury and trauma-related hospitalizations among older adults, and life expectancies across King County are lower for low-income older adults and older adults from communities furthest from access.
Through the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL), the Department of Community and Human Services invests in the health of older adults in King County. The investment, Senior Health Promotion, funds a wide range of programs that address important areas of healthy aging, from physical activity to chronic disease education and prevention, to fall prevention, to mental health and depression care. These programs serve a broad diversity of older adult participants throughout King County, especially older adults from communities that disproportionately experience health challenges and that have historically had less access to health promotion programming. Last year, over 1,800 seniors participated in VSHSL-funded senior health promotion programming, and 90% reported improvements to their health and wellbeing.
The VSHSL currently funds 11 community partners delivering a mix of evidence-based programs and community-identified senior health promotion programs that have been tested through scientific research or were selected or designed to align with specific community needs and cultural contexts. In addition, one program support partner provides technical support and assistance around program implementation.
One VSHSL-funded organization, Neighborhood House, successfully launched several evidence-based and community-identified programs serving a broad range of linguistic and cultural groups. Their health promotion programs include the Aging Mastery Program, Bingocize, Matter of Balance, PEARLS, and Zumba Gold.
Since, Neighborhood House has grown and received additional funding from other local funders, enabling them to further expand their health promotion programming and serve more communities. Most recently, Neighborhood House became a paid PEARLS provider for Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP) participants. PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives), is an evidence-based program that provides in-home counseling to reduce depression and improve the quality of life for older adults. Medicaid reimburses Neighborhood House on a “fee for service” basis for MTP participants enrolled in PEARLS. Insurance reimbursing evidence-based preventative health program enrollment creates sustainable funding for Neighborhood House to continue supporting older adults with minor depression and the increased health risks that come with it.
The VSHSL funding strengthened the human services network by supporting Neighborhood House in creating a strong foundation for senior health promotion programming which they then could expand upon, ultimately serving more of King County’s seniors.
“I had an amazing experience facilitating the Bingocize workshop this quarter with the older women I work with. The Bingocize sessions kept participants mentally stimulated by requiring them to actively listen, process information, and quickly identify numbers and letters on their boards. This cognitive engagement, combined with movement, created a fun and dynamic environment that challenged both the body and the mind. It was inspiring to see how focused, energized, and engaged the women became during each session… I am grateful they enjoyed the activity, but even more grateful to see the confidence, stimulation, and joy it brought to their lives,” shared Winta Yohanes, a Resource Navigator at Neighborhood House.
For more information about senior health promotion programs in your community connect with VSHSL’s funded partners:
The King County Fall Prevention Coalition has a new Fall Prevention Program Class Locator to help people in King County who are looking for a fall prevention program for themselves or for their clients or patients. The Locator’s purpose is to connect people to relevant, proven, federally designated evidence-based fall prevention programs in King County, including A Matter of Balance, Bingocize, CAPABLE, EnhanceFitness, SAIL, Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention, Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance, and The Otago Exercise Program.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay issued a proclamation acknowledging the important role older adults play in our community and the responsibility we have to ensure the continued health, happiness, and engagement of older adults in King County. Executive Zahilay proclaimed the month of May 2026 to be Older Americans Month.
