Published February 2004

Agency a resource for seniors, caregivers

Photo courtesy of Senior Services of Snohomish County Senior Services of Snohomish County opened Meadow Park, in a quiet setting near Admiralty Way and Airport Road south of Everett, in May 2000 with 39 one-bedroom, independent-living apartments for low-income seniors.

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

As the years pass, Snohomish County’s increasing senior population is becoming more visible, and so is the quiet, efficient agency that serves them: Senior Services of Snohomish County.

One of the county’s largest private nonprofit agencies, founded in 1973, the organization has assembled an impressive array of services for the elderly community, services most of the 600,000 county residents don’t even know about — until they, or their parents, grow old. Then, for thousands of aging and often frail people, solving the challenges of housing, health care and transportation brings them in touch with Senior Services.

In 2000, there were 55,400 people age 65 or older in the county, representing one of every nine residents. In 2020, that ratio will shift to one in every five residents. To make life even more difficult, for those whose options are restricted by their financial resources, 43 percent of the county’s over-65 population lives with some form of disability.

“That’s why our mission is to advocate for senior and disabled persons and to provide programs and services that assist them in living productively and independently in the years before they need assisted living or nursing homes,” said Christopher Wolfe, the organization’s executive director. “We serve more than 20,000 people each year.”

That mission has grown to include 600 apartments for low-income seniors in 14 buildings, 177,000 meals-on-wheels deliveries, 183,000 transportation trips through Community Transit’s DART van program, 26,000 calls for information and monthly delivery of 16,500 copies of the Third Age newspaper, with its news of senior programs and activities.

Supported financially by such businesses as Frontier Bank, KeyBank, Microsoft and Neuvant Aerospace Corp.; the Boeing Employees Community Fund; plus government grants and rent revenues, Senior Services employs 175 people, operating with an annual budget of more than $10 million, and still the needs grow.

Heading the organization’s board of directors is Randy De Klyen, a Frontier Bank senior vice president.

“We’re striving to attract more corporate and individual donors so we’re not so dependent on grants,” Wolfe said. “We need to keep growing. Today’s baby boomers are looking for services for their parents. In a few more years, they’ll be looking for themselves.”

Grants and Development Director Janet Duncan sees how much more help is needed by the strong demand for the group’s services.

“When we opened a new senior housing facility in Lynnwood two years ago, we sent notices to those who were on the inquiry list. By 6 a.m. the day our rental office opened there was a line around the building. More than 200 people applied, but we only had 39 apartments,” she said.

Program Director Robert Quirk said 45 percent of the phone inquiries received are from family caregivers who need help and resources.

One of the newest programs he’s working on is a “211” calling line for people needing health and human services. Similar to the “911” emergency service, the Federal Communications Commission has approved it for a seamless resource for seniors. He said United Way is involved in the planning, too, and that the Volunteers of America may operate the call center.

Also, Nora Leech has joined Senior Services as fund-development director, a new role at the agency, since “the dollar amounts we’re getting now don’t begin to keep up with meeting the need.”

Of all the challenges facing the organization, however, Wolfe said finding land for senior housing is probably the toughest.

“With growth management controls and the economy, it’s really hard to find affordable land in the right location for seniors — in urban areas, by bus lines, close to shopping and medical facilities. That’s also where the highest-priced land is, unfortunately,” he said.

In the meantime, Senior Services is also stepping up its collaborative partnerships, including an alliance with Volunteers of America. With a $118,000 grant from the Altria Group, the parent company of Kraft Foods, Senior Services and VOA’s Everett Food Bank were able to buy a refrigerated vehicle allowing delivery of fresh produce to shut-in seniors who can’t get to food banks.

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