Southeast Washington Aging and Long Term Care promotes and develops a comprehensive and coordinated system of services to help meet the needs of older adults and adults with disabilities and serve as the advocacy and local focal point for older people in our eight county area:
- We advocate for policy that serves the needs of older adults and adults with disabilities and their families
- We identify needs and develop comprehensive community based service delivery systems to meet those needs.
- We administer state, federal and private funds for services and contract and provide direct services to meet needs.
Counties in Southeast Washington that we serve: Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas, Walla Walla, Yakima
Mission Statement: To maximize the degree of independence and quality of service to individuals using, and agencies providing, community-based services. Our responsibility is managing, planning, coordinating, educating and advocating for a comprehensive long-term care system.
Currently, most of our efforts are as Southeast Washington’s Area Agency on Aging (AAA), one of thirteen such agencies in Washington State. We implement state and federal programs for seniors, adults with disabilities and people who need long-term care. These supportive services are referred to as community-based care.
The goal of community-based care is to help seniors and adults with disabilities live in their homes and communities for as long as possible, postponing or eliminating the need for residential or institutional care (such as nursing homes.) Community-based care is overwhelmingly preferred by consumers and caregivers of all ages.
Washington Statewide Average Monthly Costs for Long Term Care Clients
*We can serve 2.77 times the number of people in home and community settings than we can in nursing homes for the same amount of money.
Board of Directors
As an association of county governments, Southeast Washington Aging & Long Term Care – Council of Governments (SE WA ALTC – COG) has been serving people of Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas, Walla Walla and Yakima Counties since 1973. We are a regional governmental agency and are governed by a board of directors that is composed of one elected official from six of our eight designated counties.
Advisory Council
The Older Americans Act of 1965 and its subsequent amendments provide for the establishment of a citizens’ Advisory Council to each Area Agency on Aging (AAA). The purpose of the council is to advise the AAA on all matters relating to the development and implementation of services for older adults, and guide the development and administration of its Area Plan.
If you are considering applying for our Advisory Council, please visit our Advisory Council page for details and application.