AARP Washington

The past year was a tumultuous one, with older adults caught in the crosshairs of a global pandemic that laid bare several issues that must be immediately addressed through state legislation. As you read this article, the 2021 90-day legislative session is off to a running start. On behalf of our more than 900,000 members across the state, AARP Washington is committed to improving outcomes in several issue areas important to Washington’s older adults and their families. 

While 2020 was a year filled with uncertainty, municipalities and community organizations across Washington still managed to put older residents’ needs front and center. We welcomed two cities - Tacoma and Renton - to the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, joining our previous cities of Seattle and Puyallup.  Several non-profit agencies also received grants to address crucial pandemic-related issues, such as food insecurity and telehealth.

Facilities must be held accountable as numbers worsen despite millions in state and federal funding

Ballots have arrived, and this year it includes an important measure that we at AARP Washington strongly support. We encourage you to vote to approve ESJR 8212 to secure the Long-Term Care Trust Act for vulnerable Washingtonians.

AARP awards community grants to four Washington State organizations as part of record-breaking year for nationwide program 

The Dementia Action Collaborative started a Dementia Friends program in Washington to raise awareness about the disease and offer support.

By Chris Thomas

AARP’s FREE Online Q&A Has Answers

AARP members Judith and Lee Piper have a special place in their heart and home for older dogs who may be sick, struggling at a shelter, or without a place to stay because their human companions are having difficulty.  After several years of welcoming older dogs to their 5-acre property in Arlington, they stumbled onto an idea.  Let’s recruit loving families that are willing and able to care for elder canines over 8 years old AND we’ll start a non-profit, Old Dog Haven, to raise money to help pay for any medical costs that might be needed.

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