Published May 2005

Agency serves county’s
growing senior population

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

Phil Sullivan, the new executive director of Senior Services of Snohomish County, once headed Catholic Community Services’ CYO programs, working with youths. Now he’s providing services for those at the other end of the age spectrum, retirees and elderly who need their own activities, guidance and help.

“I’ve jumped populations, from youths to seniors, but there is so much about being in a nonprofit agency that’s the same. I’ve always had a particular interest in seniors, due to friends, parents and mentors. This is a wonderful opportunity to really dedicate my time to assure that seniors have what they need to have vital and healthy lives, with dignity. It really feels great to be here,” Sullivan said.

Although he feels ready for it, the challenge that Sullivan welcomes is going to be a big one, and he knows it.

“Snohomish County will see such amazing increases in the senior population over the next 10 years. In 2000, there were 55,400 people age 65 or older in the county, 1-in-9 residents. By 2020, this number will grow to a ratio of 1-in-5, and by 2020, seniors will represent 1-in-3 in the county. Many of them will be healthy (and self-sufficient), but others will need help,” he said.

Further, he said, the business community needs to “recognize the changing demographics and take note of the impact seniors will have in marketing, voting and community decisions. … I believe nonprofits like ours will lead the way, and businesses will follow suit in marketing to seniors, hiring them and meeting their needs.”

Last year, the nonprofit agency, with its $8.2 million budget, staff of 175 and volunteers, provided 197,394 Dial-A-Ride trips, 150,496 Meal-On-Wheels deliveries and 1,009 minor home repairs. It assisted with social services, senior information and assistance, and geriatric depression screening and advised 2,502 clients with help on statewide health insurance benefits. The group also publishes the Third Age Newspaper, a 16,500-distribution monthly paper for communicating with seniors in the county.

“We also have a responsibility over the next year to help 70,000 seniors understand and register for the new Medical Part ‘D’ that provides prescription drug assistance. By May 1, 2006, seniors will need to make a decision about that coverage even if they don’t want it right now,” Sullivan said.

Senior Services provides social and health services to more than 20,000 elderly and disabled seniors in the county, but perhaps its best-known service is housing for seniors. Last year, it managed 664 affordable apartments it developed for low-income seniors in the county, with an annual rental value of $4.1 million.

Among the newest challenges is the growing number of foreign-born seniors in the county, which is spurring research for a multi-cultural senior center. Currently, minority seniors represent 16.4 percent of the county population. By 2030, that percentage will increase to 25.4 percent. Many of them are isolated by language and cultural barriers.

“We recently conducted a countywide survey that showed a real need for a multi-cultural center to serve our Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Latino and Vietnamese elders for meals, gathering events and cultural functions,” Sullivan said. “But the survey showed we also don’t have the funding for it, so we’ll be talking to the board about partnerships, perhaps a bond issue and even a new facility that would include a Senior Services headquarters to replace all of our rented facilities.”

Established in 1973, the agency’s long history of service has been possible due to an active, professional staff and the leadership of its executive directors and its board of trustees, currently headed by President Bob Monize, to seek creative, cooperative and cost-effective solutions to meet seniors’ needs.

For more information on Senior Services of Snohomish County, call 425-355-1112 or go online to www.sssc.org.

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