Help that costs nothing and offsets what you would otherwise pay for. Meals, rides, legal aid, caregiver support, and benefits counseling.
The biggest and most widely used first. We take no referral fees, so this is what is worth your time, not what pays us.
Dollar figures are ranges, not promises, and each program sets its own rules. Confirm eligibility with the program before acting.
This site is free to use and takes no referral fees. Your support helps cover the cost of running it, so it stays online and independent for every Washington family.
Support this projectAging and Disability Resource Centers offer free long-term care information, referral, and assistance for people of all ages. An ADRC can help you plan, find, and set up care services such as transportation, meals, housekeeping, and personal care. It can help you look at ways to pay for long-term care and check whether you qualify for benefits. It can help you sort out health insurance and prescription drug options, get listings of adult housing and assisted living, and work through legal matters such as advance directives and living wills. ADRCs operate statewide under the Community Living Connections name.
Area Agencies on Aging were established under the federal Older Americans Act in 1973 to help older adults (60 or older) remain in their homes. AAAs are located throughout the United States and are available in every county within Washington State. They help older adults plan and find additional care, services, or programs, from arranging services for a frail adult so they can remain at home, to providing access to activities and socialization through programs like senior centers. AAAs also support family or friends helping to care for older adults.
FCSP serves unpaid caregivers of adults in Washington. Local FCSP offices, administered by Area Agencies on Aging, provide individualized support: identifying local resources and services, connecting caregivers to support groups and counseling, training on specific caregiving topics, arranging respite care, and one-on-one problem-solving for caregiving challenges.
Home delivered meals bring prepared, nutritious meals to adults who have difficulty leaving home. Senior centers also offer congregate (group-setting) meals for those who can travel.
Medicaid Alternative Care (MAC) is one of two programs offered under a special Washington Medicaid project run by the state Department of Social and Health Services. MAC supports unpaid family caregivers who look after older adults on Medicaid. It provides services that help the caregiver keep caring for their loved one at home, which can delay or prevent the need for paid Medicaid long-term care. As of December 1, 2025, MAC has paused new sign-ups and is running a waitlist because it is projected to spend more than its budget.
Respite care is a service where another trained person or staff at a facility provide planned, short-term care for the person you care for so you have time away from caregiving. It may be delivered in the home, through an adult day center, or at a residential care facility, and may be provided by home health care agencies, adult family homes, boarding homes, adult day health or adult day care programs, nursing facilities, or family, friends, and volunteers.