Area Agency on Aging Washington State: Your Local Gateway to Dementia Care

Washington has 13 regional Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) — and they're the single most useful starting point for families navigating dementia care. Instead of trying to decode DSHS's website on your own, your local AAA puts a real person on the phone who knows the programs, the eligibility rules, and the local resources.

What Your Local AAA Actually Does

AAAs operate under the Community Living Connections brand — Washington's statewide information and access network. They serve as the front door to DSHS aging programs without requiring you to navigate the state bureaucracy directly.

Your AAA can:

• Conduct the CARE assessment — the functional evaluation that determines eligibility for CFC, COPES, and other Medicaid-funded care programs
• Enroll you in the Family Caregiver Support Program — respite, training, counseling, and support groups for unpaid family caregivers
• Administer TSOA and MAC — state-funded respite and support programs that don't require Medicaid eligibility
• Run the TCARE assessment — an evaluation focused specifically on your needs and stress level as a caregiver
• Connect you to local services — adult day programs, meals on wheels, transportation, legal aid, and the Alzheimer's Association

Washington's 13 AAA Regions

Washington divides the state into 13 AAA regions, each covering specific counties. Your county determines which AAA serves you. The regions include urban agencies covering King County and the Puget Sound area as well as rural agencies spanning multiple eastern Washington counties.

To find your specific AAA, contact Community Living Connections — the statewide referral line that routes you to the correct regional agency based on your location.

When to Contact Your AAA

Contact your local AAA when:

• Your parent has been diagnosed with dementia and you don't know what help is available
• You need a CARE assessment to determine what state-funded services your parent qualifies for
• You're experiencing caregiver burnout and need respite or support
• Your parent's needs have changed and you need to update their care plan
• You're considering facility placement and want an independent assessment of options (unlike commercial placement services, AAAs don't earn referral commissions)
• You suspect abuse or neglect in a care facility — the AAA can connect you to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman or Adult Protective Services

What AAAs Don't Do

AAAs are information, assessment, and access agencies — not direct care providers. They won't:

• Provide hands-on personal care
• Make legal decisions about guardianship or power of attorney
• Override DSHS eligibility determinations
• Serve as a substitute for an elder law attorney on complex asset protection questions

However, many AAAs maintain lists of local elder law attorneys, geriatric care managers, and other professionals they can refer you to.

Making the Most of Your First Call

When you contact your AAA, have this information ready:

• Your parent's age and county of residence
• General description of their cognitive and physical abilities
• Whether they currently have Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage
• Whether they have a durable power of attorney or other legal documents in place
• What specific help you need most urgently (respite, financial assistance, facility options, safety concerns)

The more specific you are, the faster the AAA can connect you to the right program.

The Washington Dementia & Memory Care Guide includes a complete AAA contact directory organized by region and county, along with step-by-step instructions for requesting a CARE assessment and accessing every program your AAA administers.

See more Washington guides →