Before touring a single community, families can get free, neutral guidance from their local Area Agency on Aging. Here is what these offices do and how to reach the right one in the Puget Sound region.
By Marcus Reyes, LSW · October 05, 2026
Every county in Washington is served by an Area Agency on Aging, usually shortened to AAA. These are public or nonprofit organizations created under the federal Older Americans Act and funded in part through the state Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA), part of DSHS. Their job is to help older adults and family caregivers find services, whether or not the person ever qualifies for Medicaid.
In the Puget Sound region the three you will hear about most are Aging and Disability Services (ADS), which serves Seattle and King County; Homage, which serves Snohomish County; and Aging and Disability Resources, which serves Pierce County. Each runs an information and assistance line staffed by people trained to ask about the situation, explain options and make referrals. The call is free, and nobody is selling a bed.
Information and assistance staff can explain home-delivered meals, adult day programs, transportation, home modification help, and in-home care options, and they can tell you which are free, sliding-scale or private pay. They can also explain how to apply for Apple Health long-term services and supports, including the COPES waiver, which is handled through your local DSHS Home and Community Services (HCS) office.
Each AAA also administers the Family Caregiver Support Program. Depending on the county, it can include caregiver education, counseling, support groups, respite funding and sometimes supplemental items such as incontinence supplies. Eligibility is generally based on caring for someone age 60 or older, and for people with dementia, age rules are often more flexible, so ask directly.
Many offices also have staff who are familiar with Medicare. For unbiased insurance questions, Washington's Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program, run through the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, offers free Medicare counseling, often with local volunteers.
Start with the county where your parent lives, not where you live. If Mom is in Everett but you are in Bellevue, Homage is the relevant agency. The statewide Washington Access line (1-855-567-0252) can route you to the correct local office if you are unsure, and the national Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) does the same from the federal side. Both also work for out-of-state adult children arranging care from a distance.
Before you call, jot down a few basics: your parent's age, diagnoses in plain terms, who lives with them, what daily tasks are getting hard, and whether they have a veteran's discharge, a long-term care policy or Medicare. You do not need financial paperwork on the first call, though staff may mention income limits for specific programs.
An Area Agency on Aging is a navigator, not a placement service. It generally will not tour communities with you, negotiate rates or help with the day-to-day logistics of a move. It also cannot guarantee a program slot, since some, such as respite funds and meal routes, have waitlists or funding limits.
That is where private advisors and geriatric care managers fit in. Many Puget Sound families use both: the AAA for public benefits and caregiver support, and a local advisor for narrowing down adult family homes, assisted living or memory care and arranging tours. If your parent may need Apple Health coverage, mention that early so the search focuses on providers who accept it.
One practical tip: ask for the name of the person you spoke with and a callback number. Information and assistance staff can follow up, and having a consistent contact makes a stressful stretch easier.
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