Your Voice Matters: Take the Age- and Dementia-Friendly WA Survey

In 2024, Washington received designation as an Age- and Dementia-Friendly state from AARP and USAging/Dementia-Friendly America. This was the beginning of a process to help Washington build communities that support dignity, independence, and connection for all. Now, the state is looking for your input as it considers what new programs and policies could better support older adults and people living with dementia across the state.

This Age- and Dementia-Friendly Washington initiative is the result of ongoing collaboration between Washington State’s Department of Health, Department of Social and Health Services, and Health Care Authority, along with the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging (W4A), AARP, and UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center. It is supported by an Age- and Dementia-Friendly Advisory Group.

A next step in this important initiative is to develop an Age- and Dementia-Friendly Washington Action Plan by late fall 2026. This Action Plan will enable and empower the state to prepare local communities for the future. The goal is to give every person the confidence to live well as they age and provide them with the resources to lead a healthy lifestyle. 

The Washington State Department of Health is now hosting an online survey to gather input to inform the development of the Action Plan. You can take the survey through the end of November.

*Note: This is not an AARP research study. This research is being conducted by the Washington State Department of Health. If you choose to participate, any information you provide will be governed by (as applicable) the Washington State Department of Health’s privacy policies, informed consent form(s), and/or other notices provided to you by the state. If you are interested in participating in the study, you are encouraged to review the study details independently, seek any clarification needed directly from the Washington State Department of Health and make your own informed decision about whether to participate.

This initiative builds upon efforts of cities like Puyallup, Seattle, Tacoma, Renton, and White Salmon, which have embraced age-friendly projects and initiatives like promoting safe and walkable streets and providing an array of housing options and ways for residents to become and stay involved in the community. Communities like Eastsound (Orcas), Spokane, and Seattle have adopted dementia-friendly practices. For example, Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Lifelong Recreation program includes dementia-friendly recreation opportunities for people living with memory loss including Art in the Park, Memory Loss Zoo Walks, and more.