20 Community Care Resources and Care Options to Help You With Dementia Care in Western Washington

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be difficult. Since the disease progresses differently for everyone, it can be hard to determine how to meet your loved one’s needs best. What’s more, you may not have time to parse through resources when you’re already struggling to balance caregiving with other work and family responsibilities.

At Sunrise, we understand what you’re going through and want to make compassionate dementia care as easy as possible. Below, we’ve gathered a list of community care resources to help adults living with dementia and their families throughout Western Washington.

Community Care Resources for Adults Living With Dementia

Sunrise Home Care

Sunrise Home Care Agency provides support and comfort for individuals in their own homes. The program hires and trains caregivers to be the best at their work, and excellence is expected in all aspects of client care. Experienced supervisors manage all client care with attention to detail.

Depending on the individual’s care plan, services may include:

  • Housework and laundry
  • Bathing and personal hygiene
  • Toileting
  • Eating and/or meal preparation
  • Dressing
  • Body care
  • Transferring
  • Housework and laundry
  • Ambulation
  • Self-Medication
  • Supervision
  • Shopping essentials
  • Travel to medical services
  • Other services

Sunrise offers extremely competitive rates when it comes to private pay services. You may also be eligible for Medicaid Personal Care, COPES, or In-Home Respite. Sunrise has contracts with the State of Washington for all of these programs. You can find out your eligibility by contacting Senior Information and Assistance or your DSHS case manager.

Sunrise Adult Family Homes

Sunrise also helps individuals in Western Washington find appropriate Adult Family Homes. These homes are open to any individual. The program devotes special attention to developing individual residents’ interests, time management, and personal activity planning.

Through a Sunrise Adult Family Home, individuals can receive services such as:

  • Care and assistance from professional, compassionate staff with specialized training and Washington State certification
  • Detailed assessments and care planning
  • Support from a dedicated health department, led by Registered Nurse
  • Nurse Delegation in place

Sunrise is experienced in supporting individuals with mental, physical, and cognitive disabilities. Residents often remain with Sunrise for many years, aging in a familiar, comfortable environment in the company of their friends.

Dementia-Friendly Community Care Events

Washington State has a growing number of community events that provide social, arts, fitness, and volunteer opportunities for individuals with dementia or memory loss. Popular programs that may be available in your area include:

  • Alzheimer’s Cafes or Memory Cafes: Monthly, informal social gatherings for people with dementia and their loved ones in community spaces such as cafes, restaurants, or libraries. There have previously been Alzheimer’s Cafe events in cities like Marysville, Everett, Seattle, and Edmonds; there may be new in-person options near you when the COVID-19 pandemic ends.
  • Dementia-Friendly Walking Groups: Neighborhood walking groups that allow seniors and their families to connect socially while getting exercise and enjoying fresh air, such as Seattle Parks and Recreation’s “Out & About” walking group.
  • Museum-based programs: Some Puget Sound communities have free programs that focus on present-moment experiences of the arts in small group settings, such as the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and Cascadia Art Museum’s monthly art walks. During COVID-19, these programs are available via Zoom.
  • Alzheimer’s Association online forum: A forum where people with Alzheimer’s connect virtually, share experiences, and ask other members of their community questions.
  • Dementia Alliance International: A nonprofit network by and for people with a medically confirmed diagnosis of any type of dementia. Dementia Alliance International seeks to represent, support, and educate others living with the disease and the wider dementia community while also advocating for individuals’ rights.
  • 24-hour helpline: Call 1.800.272.3900 for assistance provided by the Alzheimer’s Association.

To learn more about dementia-friendly community events in your area, we encourage you to connect with a local dementia care or senior services provider such as Sunrise.

Community Care Resources for Dementia Care Providers

Communities for Families of Dementia Patients

  • The Alzheimer’s Association provides peer- and professionally-led caregiver support groups for caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. In-person meetings are paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, but support groups are still hosted via phone or video conference.
  • The Alzheimer’s Association provides an online caregiver forum to help family caregivers connect with and learn from other caregivers.
  • The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) provides support groups for caregivers of people with frontotemporal dementia.

Educational Resources

  • The Washington State Dementia Action Collective’s Dementia Road Map provides a basic overview of what family and friends can expect and what can help at every stage of the dementia journey.
  • The HHS Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) offers free educational modules on several dementia topics, including ones targeted for caregivers. You can explore their Training Curriculum: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias to find presentations, references, and continuing education options.
  • The Banner Alzheimer’s Foundation provides online classes with essential information for family members, friends, and professional caregivers caring for someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia.
  • The University of Washington’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center has a section on its website called UW Indigenous Aging Resources with culturally appropriate information for American Indian/Alaska Native communities in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Washington State’s Community Living Connections program offers a variety of resources. You can find detailed information about long-term supports and services, caregiving, medical and safety information, driving, and legal/financial considerations.

Respite Care Resources

  • If you live in Snohomish County, you can receive referrals to respite care through Snohomish County Family Caregiver Resources.
  • Medicare will cover most of the cost of up to 5 days in a row of respite care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility for a person receiving hospice care.
  • The ARCH National Respite Center can help you locate respite care options within a specified distance of your home.

Snohomish County Family Caregiver Resources

In addition to respite care, Snohomish County Family Caregiver Resources provides consultations and referrals to many services that support caregivers. Services include:

  • Peer to Peer Connections Groups (support groups)
  • Counseling
  • Referrals to physical and mental wellness programs to cope with depression and medical issues
  • Training on specific caregiving topics
  • Respite care for family caregivers who need a break
  • Home visits

Alternative Transportation Options in Western Washington

To access many of these resources, people living with dementia and their families may need alternative transportation that enables them to get out in the community without a car. Depending on where you live, there may be plenty of options, such as:

If you don’t see the type of resources you seek, are looking for more ideas, or need help sorting through options, don’t hesitate to reach out to Sunrise Services. We can help you navigate care challenges and find helpful resources to meet your needs.

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