June 28, 2024 – Seattle, WA — Full Life Care, a Transforming Age affiliate and an integral community partner dedicated to providing vital home and community based services for our region’s vulnerable older adults and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, announces the grand opening of their new headquarters and expanded services. The new headquarters located in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood features a 20,000 sq ft space for therapy, wellness services and one of our Region’s few remaining Adult Day Health Programs, which provides sanctuary for participants and respite for family caregivers.
April Hamilton, Director of the Adult Day Health program, envisions unbounded potential to change lives. During a recent celebration showcasing the enhanced amenities and fresh finishes of their new space, she shared, “This team makes an incredible impact. For many of our clients, Adult Day Health is their only opportunity to engage and connect with peers. Together we challenge minds, keep our people moving, and lift spirits.”
Full Life Care’s programs support at-risk adults residing in King and Snohomish counties of Washington state. 97% of program participants are low-income and Medicaid recipients, with 76% living below the poverty line. Life changes such as aging, living with a disability, or rehabilitation following an injury can challenge an individual’s ability to continue living at home. Without support, many people can find themselves unable to remain at home and forced into institutionalized in nursing homes, admitted to a hospital, or even homeless. Full Life Care’s Adult Day Health program helps equip clients and their families for continued successful home living by providing specialized services designed to foster both independence and improved quality of day-to-day life. Supporting an individual’s ability to remain at home and outside of a nursing home saves tax payers millions in Medicaid reimbursement rates.
At Full Life Care’s Adult Day Health program, a multidisciplinary team partners with clients and families to develop individualized plans of care designed to promote holistic health and wellness for the participant while offering vitally important respite time for caregivers. Skilled rehabilitation therapists lead groups designed to improve clients’ physical, social, and cognitive functioning. Nursing services provided by an RN or LPN include diabetes management and diabetic foot care, tube feeding, catheter and colostomy care, medication administration and management, wound care, and more. Social work assessments, referrals, and advocacy round out the overall case management needs. Transportation to and from the Adult Day Health program is also included and is arranged through King County Metro ACCESS paratransit. Adult Day Health team members collaborate with all providers involved in the person’s care.
Supporting Caregivers
As our nation faces shifting age demographics combined with increased lifespans, many spouses and children find themselves in the challenging position of serving as un-paid caregivers to family members coping with long-term debilitating diseases. Adult Day Health programs serve as a critical resource to sustaining this care network by providing much needed respite. Marilyn, whose husband James is living with dementia and has been attending the Adult Day Health program for almost two years, is grateful for the opportunity for her husband to be in a safe environment and engage with peers in meaningful activities. The program also enables Marilyn to enjoy her retirement and take care of her own health. “I can see my old friends and be around the kids, which gives me great joy. It’s just a blessing to be able to have the flexibility to be able to do what I need and want to do.” Marilyn’s greatest happiness, however, comes from seeing the positive changes in her husband as he continues the daily ritual of attending Adult Day Health services. “He loves going,” Marilyn says, “When he gets there, he’s so happy, he sings a little tune. Even though he can’t verbalize his happiness in words, his body language and his actions speak to how he feels.”
The Challenge Ahead
Washington’s 65-and-older population increased by a whopping 63% from 2010 to 2022. ( to 1.35 million). In contrast, the overall population saw a 17% growth rate during this period. And the number of homeless elders more than doubled from 2016 to 2022. Because of the continued and growing strain on older adults’ adults finances and challenges with access to critical services and healthcare, the Medicaid Long Term Services and Supports delivery system, of which Full Life Care is a major partner, has become an increasingly important resource for not just healthcare, but housing support in the wake of our housing crisis. Holistic organizations like Full Life Care are tackling this problem head on. Moreover, Washington tax payers can see it in the bottom line. DSHS estimates that the rebalancing of long-term services and supports away from nursing homes by funding home and community-based services like Full Life Care, has saved the state $7.5 Billion Dollars since 1999. It is estimated that Full Life Care is saving the state of WA about $50M a year through its programs, especially Health Homes program where which serves 500 people.
Celebrating Impact
At the Grand Opening Celebration many were present to learn about the Full Life Care’s programs. Nora Gibson, the visionary that founded the organization back in 1976 was present to celebrate the new space and major milestone. Transforming Age President and CEO spoke to the crowd with heartfelt remarks, “Your heart and soul have fueled this critical mission for the past 50 years to provide new services and enhance the quality of life for our region’s most vulnerable adults. And the great news is, we’re still at the very beginning of this incredible journey and I feel grateful and humbled to be part of it.”