Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities

What Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities does

The Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington (AAADSW) is a public agency established under the federal Older Americans Act of 1965, operating under the oversight of Washington State DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) and governed by the Southwest Washington Council of Governments composed of five elected county officials. The agency provides a comprehensive portfolio of free services to older adults aged 60+, adults with disabilities of any age, family caregivers, and kinship caregivers across a five-county service area (Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania, and Wahkiakum). Core service lines include caregiver support, dementia resources, in-home assistance (personal emergency response, home safety equipment, grab bar installation, case management), Medicare/SHIBA counseling, kinship caregiver programs, Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocacy, WA Cares Fund enrollment support, Senior Oral Health (launched 2013), the RUOK daily telephone check-in program, rapid rehousing for older homeless adults, music therapy at Housing Authority properties, and SHIBA volunteer Medicare counseling. Services are accessed primarily through a centralized Aging & Disability Resource Center that acts as a single entry point, supported by a Primary Care Liaison channel for healthcare provider referrals.

The agency operates on a government funding model rather than a commercial revenue model. Funding sources include federal Title III grants under the Older Americans Act, Washington State appropriations, and Medicaid administrative reimbursements for managing provider networks and delivering Medicaid-funded services under HCLA (Home and Community Services, a DSHS division). Most services are free to eligible residents, with some programs carrying income-based co-pays determined case-by-case through Resource Center intake. The agency manages 83 active contracts with 48 community partner organizations, including home care agencies, meal providers, transportation services, housing organizations, healthcare providers, and fall prevention programs. Five physical offices provide regional presence across the service area.

The technology footprint is intentionally minimal: a standard CMS-based website (helpingelders.org) for service information and resource PDFs, plus a HIPAA-compliant electronic referral portal through Washington Community Living Connections. No proprietary technology platform or mobile application exists. The 2024-2027 Area Plan governs strategic direction. AAADSW currently serves more than 27,500 individuals annually, with an 11-50 employee headcount. Executive Director Mike Reardon served for over 27 years and is being succeeded by Joe Valtierra.

Name

Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities

Legal name

Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington

Website

https://helpingelders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington is a designated public agency under the Older Americans Act providing free caregiver support, in-home assistance, dementia resources, Medicare counseling, and long-term care advocacy to older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers across five Southwest Washington counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aging and Disability Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Aging services coordination
• Disability support programs
• Medicare insurance counseling
• Senior nutrition assistance
• Family caregiver support

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Federal and State): AAADSW is a publicly funded agency operating under federal Older Americans Act (OAAA) mandates and Washington State DSHS oversight. Revenue is derived from federal Title III grants, state appropriations, and Medicaid program reimbursements. No fee-for-service revenue model; services are largely free to eligible residents, with some programs having income-based co-pays.
2. Medicaid Contract Reimbursements: The agency sub-contracts with local providers paid under Medicaid programs and WA Cares funds. AAADSW receives administrative reimbursements for managing provider networks and delivering Medicaid-funded services to older adults and adults with disabilities across its five-county service area.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AAADSW is a public, government-designated agency that connects older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers in Southwest Washington to home- and community-based services. It delivers Medicare insurance counseling (SHIBA), caregiver support, in-home personal care, nutrition programs (congregate and home-delivered meals), long-term care options counseling, and elder rights advocacy at no charge to eligible residents.

Product overview

Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington is a public agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of services for older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers. The organization provides direct service programs including Caregiver Support, Dementia Resources, Education, In-home Assistance, Kinship Caregivers support, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, WA Cares Long-Term Care Fund administration, and Medicare/SHIBA counseling. Additional programs include the RUOK Friendly Caller Program for isolated individuals, volunteer opportunities (Advisory Council, Ombudsman volunteers, SHIBA volunteers), healthcare professional resources, contracted service provider coordination, and an Area Plan for regional service delivery. The agency is governed by a Council of Governments and operates across five Southwest Washington counties (Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania, and Wahkiakum).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medicare Insurance Counseling (SHIBA)

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 27,500+ individuals annually across five counties
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Clark Cowlitz Fire & RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Community Aid Navigation (CAN) Program — addresses fall risk in homes of older adults and individuals with disabilities through fall prevention education, in-home safety assessments, and installation of safety equipment. Goals: reduce injuries, delay or prevent long-term care placement, and help individuals age safely at home.
• CDM Caregiving ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024RUOK Program — free, daily telephone check-ins for isolated individuals living alone in Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania Counties. Personalized call schedule helps identify early medical or safety concerns; serves as a vital connection point for vulnerable isolated residents.
• Council for the HomelesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Rapid Rehousing Project — focuses on Clark County residents aged 60+ or adults with functional disabilities, transitioning individuals from homelessness or unstable housing into permanent living environments. Promotes creative housing-first solutions tailored to older adults.
• Housing Authority of the City of Vancouver (VHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Music Therapy for Social Connection program — delivers group music therapy sessions at 13 VHA housing properties, reducing isolation, improving emotional well-being, and fostering connection. Includes interpretation services for non-English speakers, making it a culturally responsive social inclusion intervention.
• Alzheimer's AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Alzheimer's Association offers a free online series called '(re)think' shared by Advisory Council members with the AAADSW community to support dementia education and caregiver awareness.
• Battleground Health CareminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Clark County partner in the Senior Oral Health Program. Produced a video featuring client Bob's story to highlight the program's impact on oral health access for older adults.
• HCLA (Home and Community Services / Washington Aging LTSs)coreOthers · 1 January 2024HCLA (Home and Community Services, a division of DSHS) oversees AAADSW's Medicaid contracting and service delivery. AAADSW receives Medicaid administrative reimbursements and follows HCLA guidance on 1915(b)(4) client services for the most vulnerable clientele.
• Washington State DSHS (Dept. of Social and Health Services)coreOthersAAADSW operates under a state-mandated structure as an Area Agency on Aging, administered through Washington State DSHS. DSHS provides oversight, funding allocations, and regulatory framework for aging and disability services across Washington.
• Northwest Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Center (NWGWEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWGWEC provides online lecture series led by geriatrics experts for healthcare professionals. AAADSW links healthcare providers to these modules as part of its Primary Care Liaison program. Continuing Education credits available for physicians, nurses, and social workers.
• Washington State Dementia Action CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free tools to help healthcare providers learn about dementia diagnosis and care. AAADSW shares these resources with healthcare professionals through its Health Care Professionals page.
• Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (SHIBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAADSW is the SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) sponsor for Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania, and Wahkiakum Counties. SHIBA provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling through trained volunteer advisors. State OIC provides the program framework, training, and oversight.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eldercare Locator / USAging: National association representing the AAA network and operating the federal Eldercare Locator. A peer in mission and federal mandate, but operating at the national level rather than a single PSA.
• National Council on Aging (NCOA): National nonprofit advocate and capacity-builder for the aging network. Not a direct service competitor, but the leading national body shaping policy, training, and best practices for Area Agencies on Aging including AAADSW.

Direct peers

• Snohomish County Aging & Disability Services: Snohomish County's Area Agency on Aging, providing in-home care, family caregiver support, and Medicaid LTSS administration under the same Washington AAA framework as AAADSW.
• Olympic Area Agency on Aging: Designated AAA serving the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. Operates the same caregiver support, in-home care, and Medicare/SHIBA counseling model across a similarly rural multi-county footprint.
• Aging & Long-Term Care of Eastern Washington: Another designated Area Agency on Aging in Washington State, providing the same federal Older Americans Act-mandated aging and disability services across a comparable multi-county region. Directly comparable in statutory role, service mix, and funding model.
• Southeast Washington Aging & Disabilities: Washington State AAA serving the southeastern region (Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin, Whitman counties). Directly comparable in mandate, service mix, and rural-county operating model.
• Pierce County Aging & Disability Resources: Designated AAA serving Pierce County, Washington. Operates the same Aging & Disability Resource Center model, Medicaid case management, caregiver support, and SHIBA Medicare counseling — a like-for-like public-agency peer.
• King County Aging & Disability Services: The largest AAA in Washington State, providing the same OAAA-mandated services plus a broader urban mix (case management, housing, behavioral health). Same statutory framework, larger scale.
• Aging & Adult Care of Central Washington: Multi-county AAA serving central Washington (Yakima, Kittitas, Klickitat-adjacent areas), offering caregiver support, meals, transportation, and case management comparable to AAADSW's service portfolio.
• Northwest Regional Council: Multi-county AAA serving Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom counties in Northwest Washington. Operates the same Aging & Disability Resource Center, in-home care, and family caregiver programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities