Senior Services Of Island County

Aging & disabilities resources (adr) and case management helped seniors, families, and caregivers in island county access the resources that support their health and well-being including medicare advising, social security programs, veteran assistance, financial programs, energy assistance, medical transportation, adult day programs, nutritional support, assisted/supported living options, respite programs, long-term care planning and case management. Our family caregiver support efforts provided support, education, respite and resources for unpaid caregivers in island county. Services were provided in-person, by phone or in-home as needed. The adr staff connected clients to relevant programs at ssic to ensure their full range of needs were met and monitored. One call opens all ssic program doors. During 2024, ssic responded to 6,165 requests for resources and support. The geographical service breakdown in island county was 53% north whidbey, 41% south whidbey and 6% camano.

Medical transportation: more than 35 volunteers were active in providing transportation for individuals to medical appointments. Many of the trips included trips to seattle area where volunteers waited for the clients for 4 to 8 hours to return them home. The rides also provided valuable human conversation and connection to clients. Other volunteers provided assistance with essential errands. Our volunteers made 1,370 trips, driving 105,140 miles in 2024, primarily to doctor and hospital appointments. In january 2024, we began a paid-ride system with a sliding fee scale to increase the sustainability of this important program.

We implemented the outreach & community education program in 2019 to increase awareness in the community about not only the services we provide, but also a variety of health and wellness topics. Using print media, social media, and an electronic newsletter, we made great inroads into educating, and meeting the increasing needs of, the diverse communities we serve. Print media reached approximately 7,000 households per month. We had over 97,400 visits to our website, which contains valuable resources. Our social media reach was over 574,000 in 2024. The newsletter was opened monthly by 59% of recipients.

Adult day services provided support groups for individuals living with alzheimer's, parkinson's, or other debilitating conditions, as well as for their caregivers. This program has been extremely well-received, as the online format made participation more accessible. In 2024, ssic facilitated 104 support groups, serving a total of 1,384 attendees.

All other programs