News

June 3, 2026

Contact: Michelle Fogus, michelle.fogus@dshs.wa.gov, 360.538.8876

Community needs survey now open

Help determine funding priorities for programs that support our community
 
Community members are invited to take a brief (less than 5 minutes) survey to help identify their most pressing needs. Answers will help determine which new and existing programs are funded for the next four years.

Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington (formerly Olympic Area Agency on Aging-O3A) receives state and federal funding to support services for those with the greatest social and economic need. Services are geared towards helping people stay independent and healthy in their homes and community-based settings.

Every four years, AASCW completes an Area Plan that evaluates existing programs and services, identifies service gaps, and outlines how the agency will respond to community needs. You can help by providing input on your own experiences and sharing with others. The more responses the agency receives, the better it can evaluate how people are doing and where the greatest needs are.

To take the survey, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/D3VYCYX. 

May 19, 2026

Contact: Michelle Fogus, michelle.fogus@dshs.wa.gov, 360.538.8876

Celebrating Older Americans Month and 50 Years of Helping Older Adults “Champion Their Health” at Home

Every May, we recognize Older Americans Month, an annual observance that celebrates the contributions and resilience of the 58 million older adults in our country. This year’s theme, Champion Your Health, encourages individuals to take steps—large and small—to support their health and well-being.

Local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) serve as the backbone of the aging network, delivering an array of services and supports to help older adults live better and longer in their own homes and communities. From transportation to medical appointments and assistance with daily activities to home safety improvements, evidence-based programs that help prevent falls and address chronic conditions, these services provide the extra support many older adults need to age well at home and in their communities.

Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington, (formerly Olympic Area Agency on Aging-O3A), has provided those services since 1976 throughout coastal Washington, a region that encompasses Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, and Pacific Counties. In addition to direct services, the agency contracts with providers for nutrition services such as congregate and home-delivered meals, legal services, and much more.

As it marks its 50th anniversary, the agency will enter a new chapter with a broader mission and a new name, Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington, according to Executive Director Laura Cepoi. While the organization remains the primary provider of services for older adults in the region, it is increasingly serving working-age adults as well. The new name reflects a more age-inclusive approach and highlights the unique challenges faced by rural coastal communities, where limited infrastructure and geographic barriers can make delivering services more difficult. Cepoi said much of the organization’s work is focused on developing support systems tailored to the needs of the region.

Health care access remains one of the organization’s primary concerns. Cepoi noted that older adults in rural communities often face higher rates of chronic illness and fewer options for primary and specialty medical care. She said the organization aims to provide residents with tools and resources that help them better manage and improve their own health.

Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington is your connection to care, support, and independence in the community.  The average age of disability onset is 53 years old in Washington and more than one in four of today’s 20-year-olds will experience a long-term disability before reaching retirement age. New programs such as WA Cares, Rural Health-Mobile Assistance, expanded dementia screenings, and Health Related Social Needs will benefit all adults in our service area and will be offered to the public in 2026.

“Championing your health isn’t just about personal choices—it’s also about having access to the community services and supports that make those choices possible,” said Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging, the national organization that represents AAAs and Title IV Native American Aging Programs. “Area Agencies on Aging help bridge that gap by connecting older adults to practical, everyday supports that promote independence and quality of life.”

Through Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington, older adults can access a wide range of supportive services, including:

• Transportation to medical appointments.
• Dementia Services
• Nutrition interventions, including congregate and home-delivered meals, farmers market programs, mobile markets and medically tailored meals.
• Personal care assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing and mobility.
• Home safety modifications, such as grab bars and ramps.
• A range of health and wellness programs.
• Access to companion robots
• Social engagement activities.
• Guidance from case managers who help identify needs and coordinate services.
• Caregiver supports.

Despite the breadth of services available, many older adults and families are not aware of the help that exists in their communities through AAAs. Older Americans Month is an opportunity to change that—by encouraging individuals to explore available community resources that can help older adults take proactive steps to support their health and independence.

To connect with local services, contact Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington at 360.209.8338 or visit www.coastaladultservices.org and click on the Local Offices tab to find the nearest office.

For additional information, visit www.usaging.org/livelongstaystrong. 
 

October 24, 2025

Memory Café Moves to New, Larger Location

The Memory Café—a place for those with memory loss and their care partners—is moving to accommodate the growing number of people attending and to provide a better venue for those with hearing challenges.

The new location at the Highway Twenty Roadhouse will host its first Memory Café Monday, November 3 from 11 a.m. to noon. Local musicians Don Haiman and Cam McMinn will be there to provide entertainment while attendees relax, socialize, and enjoy time together in a welcoming space.

Registration is not required.

Highway Twenty Roadhouse             

2152 W Sims Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368

Phone:(360) 385-7747

* Accessible entrance is at the side of the restaurant; the front entrance has one step

Media contact:

Bri Buchanan
Dementia Outreach Development Coordinator
Brittnie.buchanan@dshs.wa.gov
360.417.8540

September 10, 2025

New Ocean Shores Program Provides Activities for Those Living with Dementia, Respite for Their Caregivers

Ocean Shores Friends is a weekly program that offers engaging activities and lunch for those living with dementia, while giving their caregivers a break and some time for themselves. It began on August 12^th, 2025 and currently operates one day a week on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 2:00 at the United Methodist Church.

“It was great to see the program launch,” said Bri Buchanan, Dementia Outreach Development Coordinator at the Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington, which is helping to fund the start-up of the program. “Our four-county region has a much older population than the state as a whole, and we have several areas like Ocean Shores where the majority of residents are over 60. The need for dementia support services is higher here and expected to keep growing, so we’re working to create more services for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers and families.”

“This community has stepped up,” Buchanan said. “The church responded to our notice of funding availability and worked to get the program running. They’ve recruited quite a few volunteers and gotten them trained. IGA provided lunch on the first day of the program, and we’re hoping that other local restaurants or groups may also be able to donate lunches at times to support the program.” She added that anyone wanting to donate lunch should contact the church.

The respite program is organized by the United Methodist Church in collaboration with Respite for All, a nationwide respite program based in Alabama. While the program is held at the United Methodist Church, attendees do not need to be church members or affiliated with any religious group. Ocean Shores Friends is not a religious program.

During the 4-hour program, “Friends” are involved in various activities that include exercise, crafts, music, and more. Lunch is provided and included in the cost, which is a $40/day donation.

Caregivers are at ease knowing their loved one is carefully watched over by a team of volunteers at a minimum 2-to-1 ratio. Currently, there are 24 trained volunteers and four Friends attending the program.

For more information on the program or to donate lunches, please contact oceanshoresfriends@gmail.com or message them on their Facebook page, Ocean Shores Friends at OSUMC. You can also visit the church at 577 Point Brown Ave NW, Ocean Shores, WA 98569 or call them at 360.289.0201.

Media Contacts:

Bri Buchanan
Dementia Outreach Development Coordinator
Aging & Adult Services of Coastal Washington
Brittanie.buchanan@dshs.wa.gov
360.417.8540

Carla Salter
Program Director
United Methodist Church
360.289.0201