Free services and support

A Matter of Balance is a structured eight-week class developed at Boston University and managed nationally by MaineHealth. Trained coaches lead small groups through discussion and gentle exercises that help participants reduce fear of falling, set realistic goals for activity, change environments to lower fall risk, and exercise to increase strength and balance. The CDC recognizes it as an evidence-based fall prevention program. In Washington it is hosted by AAAs, senior centers, hospitals, and faith communities.

ACRS Care Transitions provides short-term support to adults returning to their communities after a hospital stay, helping them follow discharge plans, manage medications, attend follow-up appointments, and connect to ongoing community resources. It complements ACRS's Health Home program, which provides longer-term Medicaid care coordination through person-centered health action plans.

ACRS multilingual case managers conduct person-centered assessments to identify the needs of homebound older adults and adults with disabilities and develop holistic care plans. Services support older adults to live safely and thrive at home with the support of their families and caregivers, with particular attention to Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander cultural and linguistic needs.

The ACRS Food Bank distributes healthy and culturally appropriate foods, including rice, tofu, noodles, and fresh produce, that meet the cultural and dietary needs of Asians and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders across King County. While open to the broader community, the food bank's offerings are tailored to AAPI cuisines underrepresented in mainstream food banks.

Adult Protective Services investigates reports of abuse, abandonment, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect of vulnerable adults in Washington State. APS collaborates with other agencies to offer protective services and aims to promote lives free of harm while respecting individual choice. APS does not remove clients against their will, detain or arrest individuals, act as guardianship services, provide emergency response, or force people to accept services.

The African American Elders Program serves African American elders in central and southeast Seattle and south King County. The program identifies frail, isolated and hard-to-serve African American elders and assists them with culturally tailored outreach and support.

Aging and Disability Resource Centers offer free long-term care information, referral, and assistance for people of all ages. ADRCs help with planning, finding, and getting care services or programs (transportation, meals, housekeeping, personal care); exploring options for paying for long-term care and reviewing eligibility for benefits; figuring out health insurance and prescription drug options; getting listings of adult housing and assisted living; and sorting through legal issues such as advance directives and living wills. Pierce County is the pilot site as Washington's first ADRC.

Nursing Services consist of nurse consultants who provide health-related assessments and clinical consultation to clients eligible for Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS). Services are available to clients, providers, and case managers to support development, coordination, and implementation of a person-centered plan of care. HCS Nurse Care Consultants (NCCs), AAA Case Managers, and RN Case Managers (RCMs) collaborate on care plans for clients with triggered nursing referrals, particularly those related to skin integrity and pressure injury prevention. Nursing Services is not a direct provider of intermittent or emergency nursing care, nor of skills or services requiring physician orders and supervision. Area Agencies on Aging may also employ Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) as nurse consultants for focused assessments under the Skin Observation Protocol; LPN-collected data is reviewed by a Registered Nurse for care planning.

Free, confidential 24-hour helpline (1.800.272.3900, 365 days/year) staffed by master's-level clinicians and dementia care specialists offering support, information, and care consultation in 200+ languages.

Free one-on-one care consultation by phone or in person with Alzheimer's Association staff to help families plan for current and future dementia-care needs.

The Washington State Chapter offers a variety of free, high-quality education programs for individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. On-demand webinars include 10 Warning Signs; Approaching Alzheimer's: First Responder Training; Dementia Conversations: Driving, Doctor Visits, Legal & Financial Planning; Effective Communication Strategies; Living with Alzheimer's: For People with Alzheimer's; Living with Alzheimer's: For Caregivers (Early, Middle, Late Stage); Managing Money: A Caregiver's Guide to Finances; and Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia. Spanish-language webinars are available. Organizations may schedule sessions virtually or in person.

Free in-person and virtual support groups across Washington and North Idaho for people living with Alzheimer's, caregivers, and family members. Includes early-stage empowerment groups in Bellingham and other communities.

The Alzheimer's Association Washington Chapter facilitates a statewide network of free support groups for family caregivers, adult children, spouses, and people in the early stages of memory loss. Groups meet weekly or monthly, and many run for years. The chapter also operates the 24/7 helpline at 1-800-272-3900, free education classes, and a national database of support groups searchable by zip code.

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.

Adult day program operated by Senior Services for South Sound providing structured social and supportive activities for older adults in Thurston County.

Care Teams pairs unpaid family caregivers with volunteer teams who commit to 4 hours per month for 12 months, providing in-home respite and companionship support so caregivers can take needed breaks.

Volunteer Services is committed to helping elders and adults with disabilities remain independent in their own homes through a network of caring community volunteers. Includes the Southwest Volunteer Transportation service, which provides low-income seniors and adults with disabilities door-through-door transportation to medical, dental, grocery shopping and essential errands.

CHAMPVA is a health benefits program for the spouses, dependents, and survivors of veterans who meet service-connected disability requirements. Enrollees may also access related programs: VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP) for discounted private dental insurance, Meds by Mail for prescription medications, and the CHAMPVA In-house Treatment Initiative (CITI) which lets enrollees get care at participating VA facilities.

CLEAR is the statewide intake and referral system for low-income people in Washington with civil legal problems. Callers receive legal advice, brief services, or a referral to a volunteer or staff attorney for ongoing representation. Inside King County, callers are routed to the 211 Legal Referral and Information Hotline; outside King County, callers reach CLEAR directly. Specialized lines exist for eviction (1-855-657-8387) and foreclosure (1-800-606-4819).

CLEAR*Sr is a dedicated statewide legal hotline for Washingtonians age 60 and older. Older adults who would not otherwise income-qualify for CLEAR can still receive free legal advice on a wide range of civil matters including consumer issues, housing, public benefits, healthcare, powers of attorney, and elder abuse. The hotline is staffed by Northwest Justice Project attorneys and paralegals.

Club Bamboo programming offers multicultural activities, nutritious ethnic meals, exercise, and educational workshops in the languages spoken by participants. The senior center provides a safe, welcoming community space for Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults aged 55 and older to connect with peers, access wraparound services, and support their physical, social, and emotional well-being.

Crisis Connections answers the 24-Hour Crisis Line and 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline calls for King County and parts of Washington. Trained crisis staff assess risk, provide emotional support and referrals to in-person or virtual care, and can dispatch mobile crisis teams onsite when needed. Translation services are available in many languages.

The Senior Hub provides nutritious daily congregate meals (5 days/week, 11 AM to 12 PM), a weekly grocery bag from El Centro's food bank, the Tomando Control de su Salud chronic-disease self-management workshop series, EnhanceFitness classes three times a week, and bilingual recreational/educational activities such as Loteria, bingo, karaoke, guest speakers, and financial presentations. Open weekdays 9 AM to 3 PM at El Centro's historic building on Beacon Hill (north entrance).

Full Life Care's ElderFriends program matches trained volunteers with isolated older adults for regular companionship visits, helping reduce loneliness and support aging in place.

EnhanceFitness is an evidence-based group exercise program for older adults developed at the University of Washington's Health Promotion Research Center and Group Health (Kaiser Permanente Washington). Each one-hour class has four components: cardiovascular warmup and conditioning, strength training with hand and ankle weights, balance work, and flexibility. Classes are led by certified instructors and adapted for all fitness levels, including people who use a chair. Project Enhance, run by Sound Generations, manages the program nationally.

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.

AmeriCorps Seniors program in which volunteers age 55+ mentor and tutor children with special or exceptional needs. Locally facilitated by Homage in King and Snohomish Counties.

Peer support group for older adults coping with grief and loss, hosted by Homage Senior Services in Snohomish County.

New dementia program from Homage, developed with local, state, and federal experts, offering dementia-friendly training and community programs in Snohomish County.

Helps older adults in Snohomish County access mental health and chemical dependency services appropriate for their individual needs.

Provides health and safety home repairs for low-income senior homeowners in Snohomish County. Companion fee-for-service handyman service (Home Solutions) is open to the general public.

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.

Adult education programs at Hopelink including ESL, GED preparation, and digital-literacy classes serving low-income north and east King County residents.

Hopelink case-management/coaching program that pairs households with a Family Development Specialist to set goals and connect to long-term stability resources.

Hopelink brokers Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in King and Snohomish Counties for medical services covered by Medicaid. Riders can request, check status, cancel, or report a late ride through MyRideOnline or by phone or fax.

Hopelink's Mobility Management team provides education and resources through three travel-training programs in King County: Travel Ambassadors, Mobilize! Public Transit Orientation, and Getting Around Puget Sound (GAPS). Hopelink also coordinates the Community Van shared-ride service (volunteer-driven, scheduled in advance via local Community Transportation Coordinators) and manages FindARide.org, a regional gateway to public transit, special needs transportation, and community shuttles in central Puget Sound.

Hopelink's transportation services for King and Snohomish counties, including non-emergency Medicaid transportation brokerage, Mobility Management, and DART paratransit.

Hyde Shuttles transport older adults aged 55+ and adults with disabilities of all ages to hot lunches at community partner sites, senior centers, grocery shopping, and other errands within King County. Rides must be scheduled in advance.

LAARK is a statewide legal advice program housed at the King County Bar Association that provides free phone-based legal advice and referrals to kinship caregivers in Washington on issues related to the children in their care. Topics include minor guardianship, the child welfare system, education, housing, and public benefits. LAARK does not represent caregivers in court. Open to Washington kinship caregivers and to caregivers outside the state who have legal disputes in Washington.

Provides legal assistance to Medicaid-eligible adults living in residential long-term care settings (Adult Family Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Enhanced Services Facilities) when they face discharge, transfer, or have been removed without proper notice. Helps residents understand their rights, access timely legal assistance, and avoid unsafe or unlawful removals. Services range from full legal representation in administrative appeals, negotiations, and court proceedings to one-time advice and self-advocacy resources.

Living Well Washington is the state portal for Stanford-developed Chronic Disease Self-Management Education programs (CDSME), including the general CDSMP, Diabetes Self-Management Program, Chronic Pain Self-Management Program, and tomando control de su salud (Spanish). Each is a six-week small-group workshop led by trained leaders (often peer leaders living with chronic conditions themselves). Topics include medication management, healthy eating, exercise, communication with providers, fatigue and sleep, and coping with difficult emotions. The program is recognized by the CDC and ACL as evidence-based.

Medicaid Alternative Care (MAC) is one of two programs offered under Washington's Medicaid Transformation Demonstration (MTD), administered by DSHS/ALTSA. MAC supports unpaid family caregivers of Medicaid-eligible older adults by providing services that help the caregiver continue caring for their loved one at home, delaying or preventing the need for paid Medicaid long-term services. As of December 1, 2025, MAC has paused new enrollments and is operating a waitlist due to overspending projections.

Memory cafes are informal social gatherings designed for people living with dementia, memory loss, or mild cognitive impairment, along with their family care partners. The University of Washington Memory and Brain Wellness Center maintains a registry of memory cafes across the state, hosted by libraries, museums, senior centers, and community partners. Each cafe is run differently, but most include refreshments, music or art, and time for conversation in a supportive setting where a memory diagnosis is not stigmatized. Many participants attend for years.

Minor Home Repair is a Sound Generations Assistance Service supporting older adults' ability to stay independent at home. The program complements Pathways I&A's work on home maintenance and ADA modifications and is listed alongside Caregiver Support, Senior Rights Assistance, and the Geriatric Regional Assessment Team in Sound Generations' Assistance Services portfolio.

Momentia Seattle is a grassroots movement that supports a network of dementia-friendly engagement programs across King County. Programs include memory cafes (West Seattle, Greenwood, Northgate, Lake City, others), Out and About walks at parks and trails, the Greenwood Senior Center's Gathering Place, art and music programs at Frye Art Museum and elsewhere, and dementia-inclusive choirs. Momentia is run by a coalition of senior centers, museums, healthcare partners, and care community members, and is supported in part by the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center.

The MS Achievement Center, operated within Full Life Care's adult day health programming, helps participants with multiple sclerosis improve well-being through occupational therapy, exercise groups and strength building, and referral and support with managing and living with the effects of MS.

In-home and telehealth therapy for older adults and adults with disabilities in Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties, delivered by NWRC clinicians.

Care coordination program helping people with serious, complex health needs in NW Washington navigate health care systems and connect to resources.

NWRC dementia support services, consultation, education, and support groups for people with Alzheimer's/dementia and their families across Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties.

Brokered non-emergency medical transportation for eligible NW Washington residents needing rides to covered medical appointments.

NWRC outreach providing information, Kinship Care training, telephone reassurance, and friendly visiting to elders in the six federally recognized tribes of Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties.

LCSNW's Older Adults Support Program assists aging foreign-born adults in overcoming barriers and attaining the skills needed to obtain US citizenship and live fulfilling lives. Services include case management, resource connection, and classes designed to help individuals improve and practice English, adjust to the US system, and prepare for the US naturalization process. Classes are currently online and taught by multilingual staff and volunteers.

Senior Services for South Sound program that helps low-income older adults in Thurston/Mason counties care for their pets through assistance with food, supplies, and veterinary needs.

Pathways case managers specialize in complex situations that need follow-up, including help applying for the Medicaid programs COPES and TSOA, ways to stretch your dollar, long-term care options, ways to stay independent at home, and planning for life changes. Pathways also acts as a Gateway Program for referrals to internal Sound Generations programs and other community programs when pre-crisis interventions are needed, taking the least restrictive approaches. The Gateway Program supports isolated community members and identifies those at risk for potential elder abuse or those who need access to services. The team assists with In-Home Services & Support, Housing Resources, Legal Assistance, Medicare & Medicaid, ADA-compliant Transportation, Food Services & Nutrition, Health & Wellness, Employment Resources, Counseling Services, and Home Maintenance & ADA Modifications.

PEARLS was developed at the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center and is delivered locally by AAAs, Sound Generations, and other community partners. A trained PEARLS counselor visits the participant in their home (or by telehealth) for six to eight sessions over four to five months. The counselor uses problem-solving therapy, behavioral activation, and pleasant-event scheduling to help the participant work through depression. Studies show PEARLS reduces depression symptoms in older adults more than usual care.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a six-week, evidence-based class developed by Legacy Health in Portland and now offered nationwide. Trained leaders walk small groups of family caregivers through self-care, stress reduction, communication with doctors and family members, decision-making for difficult situations, and emotion management. The Washington class registry is maintained by the program's national office, and most Washington AAAs (Pierce, Clark, Cowlitz, Northwest Regional Council, and others) offer recurring cohorts in person and on Zoom.

The Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) supports the family caregivers of veterans with a service-connected disability. Approved caregivers may receive a monthly financial stipend, access to health insurance, mental health counseling, caregiver training, and respite care. VA also runs a separate, lighter-touch Program of General Caregiver Support Services with free resources, education, and support for any veteran's caregiver, plus a respite-care benefit.

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.

Solid Ground receives federal AmeriCorps Seniors funding to operate RSVP for King County. RSVP is open to anyone age 55 and older and currently engages 300+ volunteers with approximately 35 nonprofit partners. Priority areas include helping students succeed (tutoring), increasing food security, connecting with elders to support independence, and helping people navigate healthcare (Medicare and health-insurance options). Partner stations include American Red Cross, Catholic Community Services, CIRC, FareStart, Franciscan Hospice, Full Life Care (ElderFriends, Care Teams), Jewish Family Service, Lifelong (Chicken Soup Brigade), Providence ElderPlace (PACE), and Solid Ground's own Community Food Education and special-events teams.

RSVP volunteers provide 'Service as a Solution', matching their skills with the needs of more than 116 non-profit agencies in Snohomish County. The program matches people 55 years and over with volunteer opportunities in their community.

Roads to Community Living is Washington's federally funded Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration project, scheduled to run through 2028 (with CMS having approved an extension through 2029). It supports people with complex long-term care needs who want to leave institutions for home and community settings. Participants receive one-on-one transition planning, one-time moving and transition expenses, and one year of additional services and supports beyond what existing programs typically cover. An MFP Tribal Initiative focuses on culturally appropriate transition support for American Indian and Alaska Native participants.

The Senior Companion Program pairs volunteers age 55 and older with homebound seniors to provide companionship, light assistance, and respite for family caregivers. In Western Washington, Homage Senior Services facilitates the program in King and Snohomish Counties.

Senior Information & Assistance (I&A) is a free information and referral service for adults age 60 and older and for family and friends helping care for the older adult. Local offices throughout Washington help you plan, find, and get care services or programs (transportation, meals, housekeeping, personal care); explore options for paying for long-term care and review benefit eligibility; figure out health insurance and prescription drug options; get listings of adult housing and assisted living; and sort through legal issues such as advance directives and living wills, or get referrals for legal advice.

Washington's Senior Nutrition Program operates under the federal Older Americans Act and is administered by ALTSA in partnership with local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and community providers. The state publishes Senior Nutrition Program Standards (revised 2025) that govern menu planning, food safety, and nutrition quality. Meals are typically delivered as either congregate meals (at senior centers and other community sites) or home-delivered meals to homebound seniors. The program also points participants to broader nutrition resources, food banks, and the Basic Food (SNAP) program for additional food assistance.

Transportation services help older adults who can no longer drive or do not have access to a car get to doctor's appointments, shopping, and community activities. Specific providers vary by community.

The Specialized Dementia Care Program (SDCP) is a state program offered through assisted living facilities that contract with DSHS to provide specialized care for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The program covers information for families seeking care, processes for finding participating facilities, alternatives when the program isn't available locally, and provider supports including provider introduction, requirements to become an SDCP provider, continuous quality improvement, dementia-related resources, and required new-administrator orientation training.

SAIL is a multi-component group exercise program developed in Washington and recognized by the CDC as evidence-based for fall prevention. Each one-hour class includes a warm-up, aerobic activity, strength training, balance practice, and stretching. Classes are taught by trained instructors and can be done seated or standing. SAIL was created at Group Health (Kaiser Permanente Washington) and is supported by Washington DOH and local AAAs.

Tai Ji Quan, Moving for Better Balance is a community-based fall prevention program developed by Dr. Fuzhong Li at the Oregon Research Institute. It adapts traditional tai chi into eight forms designed to build lower-body strength, improve balance, and increase confidence in walking. The CDC and the National Council on Aging both recognize it as an evidence-based fall prevention program. In Washington, classes are offered through senior centers, libraries, AAAs, and community partners.

Tailored Supports for Older Adults (TSOA) is a Medicaid Transformation Demonstration program for older Washingtonians (55+) who are NOT on Medicaid but who would functionally qualify for Medicaid long-term services and supports. TSOA provides supports either directly to the older adult or, more often, to their unpaid family caregiver, with the goal of delaying or preventing entry onto the formal Medicaid LTSS rolls. As of December 1, 2025, TSOA has paused new enrollments and is operating a waitlist.

TCARE (Tailored Caregiver Assessment & Referral) is the evidence-based caregiver assessment and tailored planning process used by Washington State's Family Caregiver Support Program. The process starts with a Personal Caregiver Survey and is conducted by trained Family Caregiver Specialists / TCARE Assessors to identify each caregiver's unique stressors and recommend tailored supports. RCW 74.41 mandates the creation of an evidence-based caregiver assessment in Washington.

Connects Native elders with community to maintain independence and share cultural practices and intergenerational knowledge. Nutritious lunches are served four days a week, 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM (Mon/Wed/Thu at Labateyah Youth Home in Seattle; Tuesdays at Bitter Lake Community Center). Weekly activities include arts & crafts (Mon), bingo (Tues, Thurs), and Zilch dice game (Wed). Additional services: cultural activities, art and fitness classes, transportation, and social-service information & referrals. No registration required.

Adult Day Health Care is a program Veterans can attend during the day for social activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation. It serves Veterans who need help with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, fixing meals), are isolated, or whose caregivers are experiencing burden. Health services from nurses, therapists, and social workers may also be available. ADHC can provide respite for family caregivers and help Veterans and caregivers gain skills to manage care at home. Programs are operated at VA medical centers, State Veterans Homes, or community organizations. Sessions can be half-day or full-day, typically several times per week, with possible transportation assistance. Services may vary by location.

VA Health Care is the umbrella benefit that covers enrollment in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. Veterans who served in the active military, naval, or air service and were not dishonorably discharged may qualify. Reservists and National Guard members may qualify if they were called to active duty by a federal order. Once enrolled, veterans are assigned to 1 of 8 priority groups based on military service history, disability rating, income level, Medicaid eligibility, and other VA benefits received (such as VA pension). Priority group drives both how soon enrollment is completed and how much (if anything) the veteran pays in copays. The PACT Act expanded eligibility to all veterans exposed to toxins or other hazards (burn pits, Agent Orange, etc.), including everyone who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11. VHA delivers care at VA Medical Centers (VAMCs), Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), Vet Centers, and via Community Care contracts.

Palliative Care uses comfort care with a focus on relieving suffering and controlling symptoms so veterans can carry out day-to-day activities and continue to do what is most important to them. It aims to improve quality of life in mind, body and spirit. Palliative Care can be combined with curative or disease-controlling treatment, started at the time of diagnosis, and provided throughout the course of the illness. An interdisciplinary team (medical provider, social worker, nurse, chaplain, mental health provider, and others) addresses physical symptoms, family coping, emotional/spiritual distress, and access to needed resources.

Respite Care pays for care for a short time when family caregivers need a break, need to run errands, or need to go out of town. There are two types: Home Respite Care (a paid home health aide comes to the veteran's home, or the veteran attends an adult day health care program) and Nursing Home Respite Care (the veteran stays in a VA Community Living Center or a community nursing home, scheduled in advance). The program is for veterans who need help with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, fixing meals), or who are isolated, or whose caregiver is experiencing burden. Can be combined with other Home and Community Based Services.

Volunteer Transportation helps older adults aged 60+ get to medical, dental, and other essential healthcare appointments in King County, using a network of volunteer drivers. Schedules are flexible based on volunteer availability.

Walk With Ease is an Arthritis Foundation program promoted in Washington by DOH. The group format meets three times a week for six weeks with a trained leader, and the self-directed format uses a guidebook plus weekly check-in calls or emails. Each session includes a discussion topic, warm-up, walking, and cool-down. Walk With Ease is recognized as evidence-based for adults with arthritis and others looking to start a walking habit.

The AGO offers informal complaint mediation: it forwards consumer complaints to the named business and requests a response within 30 days. The AGO cannot compel resolution, give legal advice, or represent individual consumers; it can only bring legal action in the name of the State. Closed complaints are retained for pattern analysis and may seed civil-enforcement investigations. Specialty intake forms exist for: General Consumer, Robocalls, Pregnancy Accommodations, Fair Chance Act Jobs, Manufactured Housing, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the COVID-19 Tenancy Proclamation 21-09. A Spanish-language form is available for several intakes.

Washington Connection is a free, secure state portal that lets households apply for and manage a range of DSHS, DCYF, and HCA public benefits in one place. Through the portal you can run a 'See If I Qualify' prescreener, start a new application, renew (eligibility review), report changes, complete a mid-certification review (MCR), and upload verification documents via the Document Upload Portal. A companion mobile-friendly site, MyWABenefits, lets users track application status, view interview details, and opt into text/email reminders. DSHS also accepts applications by phone (877-501-2233), in person at a local Community Services Office, or by mail/fax of the printable Application for Benefits (form 14-001), which is published in English plus Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Laotian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Statewide network of 39 county-level Veterans Service Officers and County Veterans Assistance Programs. CVSOs help veterans and their families file federal VA claims, navigate state and county benefits, and (in many counties) access locally-funded emergency assistance. WDVA hosts a county-map locator and publishes statewide veteran-population data; as of 9/30/2025 Washington has 494,383 veterans, with the largest concentrations in King (87,461), Pierce (87,272), Snohomish (44,362), Spokane (41,453), Kitsap (34,339), Clark (33,249), and Thurston (30,936).

DOL issues three categories of disabled parking permits: Permanent (1-2 blue placards, or 1 blue placard plus disabled parking plates or yellow tab), Temporary (1 red placard, valid up to 1 year from the physician-noted date), and Organizational (for organizations transporting people with qualifying disabilities). Applicants receive an "Individual with Disabilities Parking Privilege" ID card separately, mailed within 2-3 weeks. Permanent placards must be renewed every 5 years (DOL mails a renewal notice 45 days before expiration, requiring a new healthcare-provider attestation).

Veteran-specific variant of the WA disabled parking program. Eligible veterans may receive 1-2 blue placards, or 1 blue placard plus disabled veteran parking license plates or a yellow disabled veteran parking tab. Permits are valid for 5 years; plates and tabs renew annually. DOL issues a separate "veteran with disabilities parking privilege" ID card within 2-3 weeks.

A joint program of DSHS and the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA), run since 2013, focused on Medicare and Medicaid enrollees with the highest health risks. Care Coordinators develop individualized Health Action Plans and deliver six core services: comprehensive care management; care coordination across systems; health promotion and education; comprehensive transitional care and follow-up; individual and family support; and referrals to community and social services. Participation is entirely voluntary and does not replace existing services, it is an added layer of support on top of them. There is also a separate Health Home program for Tribes.

Kinship Navigators are staff (and in some communities Resource Persons or support group leaders) whose job is to help relatives raising children navigate Washington's public benefits, healthcare, child care, food assistance, legal services, and other supports. Navigators are available to answer questions for relatives in 39 Washington counties, with Tribal Kinship Navigators also serving tribal communities. The program has been designated a Nationally Exemplary Kinship Program.

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of long-term care facilities, protecting and promoting Resident Rights guaranteed under federal and state law. The program receives and responds to complaints, conducts independent research, advocates before the legislature, and monitors state agencies that license and inspect facilities. The state-level office coordinates a statewide network of regional and volunteer ombudsmen, maintains a uniform complaint/reporting system, and protects records confidentiality.

WDVA's Counseling and Wellness Program (often called the PTSD War Trauma Counseling Program) creates community-based mental-health services for veterans and their families through a network of licensed mental-health professional contractors. Services include individual, couples, family, and group counseling for veterans and families. Some contractors offer group services specific to women veterans and spouses of veterans. Veterans may be referred to specialized inpatient or outpatient treatment offered by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers or Vet Centers in Washington. The program also provides in-service training and consultation to college and university counseling centers about military and veteran cultural awareness. Confidentiality is preserved at the highest level possible. WDVA also publishes a searchable Find-a-Counselor directory (~48 contracted clinicians, filterable by all 39 WA counties).

WDVA's Veterans Service Offices and statewide referral service are staffed with qualified Service Officers who help veterans, family members, and survivors access benefits, including VA Disability Compensation, VA Pension or Widow's Pension, Aid & Attendance, healthcare benefits, and other federal/state/county benefits. Service Officers represent veterans in cases adjudicated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Seattle. Outreach services are available where there is no nearby field office. The Olympia Service Center received approximately 8,646 calls and 2,335 visitors and filed 595 claims in FY24-25; the WDVA Field Services Network filed 17,541 VA disability comp & pension claims with a 76% approval rating, generating an estimated $313.2 million in awarded benefits.

Telephone reassurance/wellness check service for isolated seniors in Thurston and Mason counties operated by Senior Services for South Sound.

Wisdom Warriors adapts the Stanford CDSMP curriculum for tribal elders, with culturally relevant content, food, and activities. The program was developed by Northwest Regional Council in partnership with Washington tribes and Title VI nutrition programs. Participants meet for six weekly sessions to learn self-management skills (medication, exercise, nutrition, communication with providers, problem-solving), then continue in alumni groups that meet monthly or quarterly to maintain practices and stay connected.

The Elder Law Section of the WSBA serves attorneys representing older adults in matters such as retirement and estate planning, powers of attorney, guardianship and conservatorship, substitute decision-making, private and public long-term care, healthcare financing, and abuse of vulnerable adults. The Section provides member benefits via CLE seminars (e.g., the Spring Elder Law CLE), an active list-serve, and policy advocacy. It also funds the Greenfield Elder Law Scholarship and a paid summer Greenfield Elder Law Internship at Northwest Justice Project, supporting law students working on behalf of low-income seniors.