Supporting Family Caregivers in Washington

Every day over 800,000 Washingtonians perform a great labor of love: caring for older parents, spouses, and other loved ones so they can remain at home—where they want to be.

Caring for a family member or close friend is one of the most important roles we are likely to play in our lifetime. Caregiving may start with driving your loved one to get groceries or going to doctor’s appointments. As time goes by, you may help in preparing meals or handling bills, and you may find yourself taking time off from work to help. You may not think of yourself as a caregiver, but if you are helping someone with daily activities like getting dressed, managing medication and providing transportation to and from appointments, then you ARE a caregiver and AARP can help.

No matter where you are in your caregiving journey — starting to plan; taking care of a friend or family member be it in a home, a facility, or from a distance; or managing end-of-life caregiving responsibilities — having the right resources, information and connections can make all the difference.

AARP Washington is here to support caregivers – and the older loved ones who count on them.  We are advocating for more support, services that are community-based or home-based, caregiver training and more. Please check out the many resources AARP has to offer on this page and thank you for joining us in honoring and supporting Washington's caregivers.

SPECIAL EVENT

"Caring for the Caregiver" with Journalist Richard Lui and Dr. Kate Zhong

AARP Washington, BECU, and KING 5 hosted a free event to celebrate and support those who provide care for others at Town Hall Seattle. MSNBC news anchor, filmmaker and author Richard Lui cared for his father with Alzheimers over the last decade and he's become a passionate advocate for family caregivers. Dr. Kate Zhong, geriatric psychiatrist and founder of the Brainnovation Initiative at UNLV gave practical advice and info on the latest in brain research. KING 5 Evening host Jim Dever moderated the discussion. If you missed the program, you can watch a recording of the full event by clicking on the image above. Enjoy!

Personalized Help For Caregivers in Washington State from Your Local Area Agency on Aging



People caring for loved ones often aren't aware of the help that's available from their local Area Agency on Aging. Cathy Knight is the State Director of the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging and in this video, she walks you though the services you can use and how to find them. Help includes adult day services, caregiver support, case management, elder abuse prevention, health maintenance and promotion, information and assistance, legal support, nutrition, senior centers and transportation. Learn more and find your local Area Agency on Aging here.

Documentary Explores Importance of Public Health in COVID and Beyond

Thanks to advances in public health, most of us have safe food to eat and water to drink, and we no longer need to worry about children or grandchildren dying from diseases such as smallpox. Yet despite the profound impact public health has had, most public health officials work in obscurity — until a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic hits.

The Invisible Shield, a new documentary airing on PBS, celebrates the often unseen work of health departments and others in the public health sector and their critical role in keeping us safe from disease. Read More Here.

AARP Washington's "Caring for Caregivers" video podcast series features discussions with local experts, community leaders, and caregivers just like you on a range of topics to help you along your caregiving journey.

This month, AARP State Director Marguerite Ro sat down for a conversation with family caregivers Patty Albert and Margaret Griffiths. They traded stories of their own caregiving journeys – both the good, and the not-so-good. And along the way, they shared their own tips and advice – on everything from finances and family dynamics, to self-care and when to know it’s time to ask for help.

Click here to view the discussion. And be sure to check back often to see new episodes of "Caring for Caregivers" each month.

The AARP Family Caregiving Website provides an easy way to join an online community of other family caregivers, learn about local services, get helpful information, and connect with others who understand caregiving challenges.