Homage Senior Services
Offering love, support, and much needed services to our Older adult community.
An appreciative client thanks one of Homage's drivers for the ride.
I have written about Homage Senior Services and the wonderful work they do before, but this year I was struck by something more. Homage not only changes the lives of those they serve but also of the many employees doing the work. When I asked Juli Rose, Senior Director of Government Funded Programs, what the determining factor was for her getting into this industry, her answer truly encapsulated this.
“In 2008, when my youngest child entered Kindergarten, I was looking to go back to work and saw a position as Program Assistant in the Minor Home Repairs Division of Homage. I got chills reading about it because, while my father was skilled at fixing everything that broke in our home, I knew this wasn’t the case for many and the thought of helping low-income older adults and disabled homeowners with their health and safety home repairs sounded so rewarding.”
After she was hired, Juli quickly noticed beyond every urgent repair need there was a person often in a panic, crying, and ashamed to even ask for help. “I loved being that voice of relief on the other end of the phone and was surrounded by the nicest team of hardworking men and women determined to deliver peace of mind to these clients,” she recalls. “Clients would call back crying again, but this time with joy and relief. I even had a few stop by our office to hug me,” she says. “So that is my ‘why’ for working here—delivering peace of mind in our community alongside my amazing team members.”
Today Juli is in her 15th year at Homage with no plans of leaving. “We serve more than 20,000 older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers each year,” she says proudly. Services are all-encompassing and include:
Minor Home Repair: Our purpose is to enable people to remain in their homes as long as possible by offering plumbing/sewer repair, minor carpentry, limited roof repair, door/window repair, ramp repair, handrails/grab bars, door locks, and smoke alarms/carbon monoxide detectors. Low- and moderate-income homeowners 62 and older or disabled homeowners 18 and older can apply for free labor and either free or at cost materials, depending on income level.
Family Caregiver Program: Our Family Caregiver Support Program helps unpaid caregivers (18 and over) with free consultations that connect them with community resources and support that best fits their situation. Just call 425-513-1900 or email seniorinfo@homage.org.
Transportation Assistance Program. Our rural transportation system offers door-to-door service for older adults who can no longer drive themselves and are outside of the Dial-a-Ride Transit Service area. We offer white glove service for just $1.75/trip, with no added cost for bringing your caregiver. You must be 55 or older or considered low-income (making $67,500/year or less) to access this service. Call 425-423-8517, do their five-minute application, and you can start scheduling rides.
Mental Health Program. We focus on helping older adults suffering from depression or anxiety or trying to adjust to health changes or the passing of friends and partners. Our intake-line counselors receive referrals from anyone in the community. Clients are assessed over the phone and a counselor is sent to their home or senior center. We offer a six-week intervention for clients suffering from depression or anxiety and peer counselors who can do one-on-one, in-home sessions with clients for up to six months. There is no cost and no income qualification for this service.
Nutrition Program. The Meals on Wheels program serves homebound or disabled older adults throughout Snohomish County. Clients receive a weekly delivery of 7 to 14 frozen meals supplemented with fresh produce, bread, shelf-stable milk, and other commodities. The primary criterion is that the individual is homebound with minimal support and difficulty accessing nutritious food and/or preparing meals. Many of Homage’s drivers have been with them for years, and all of them develop relationships with clients, providing social support as well. More ambulatory older adults can go to Homage’s Center for Healthy Living as well as 11 other locations throughout Snohomish County to enjoy their Community Table Dining Program, which serves hot meals to anyone 60 and older.
“Our greatest need will always be funding to serve the increasing number of people who are entering this phase of life where they need help. Making donations marked for ‘the greatest need’ helps us move funding quickly to programs that are experiencing a surge in clients or where funding has unexpectedly fallen short.” Homage receives funding by applying for Government Grants, Foundation Grants, and seeking donations through organizations and individual giving.
Beyond funding, volunteers are crucial to Homage’s success. “You can volunteer for our Thanksgiving meal delivery, for office jobs where you come in one to three times a week, or be trained as a Senior Peer Counselor,” says Juli. “Our Senior Peer Counselors call or meet clients in-person, on a weekly basis and talk with them about transitions, coping with stress, sadness, and other life challenges.” No experience necessary, and training is ongoing. Call Katie at (425) 616-4028 to learn more. The average age of our volunteers is mid-sixties, but even homebound older individuals can help by offering support via weekly phone calls to a client in need. If you’re interested, there is a place for you!
“I love the relationships I’ve developed with our clients over the years,” says Juli. “It’s what I enjoy most and what I am most proud of about working here. When our folks come out, they greet you, check in on you, talk with you, and get to know you in addition to providing the service they are there for. It’s a whole person wraparound service.”
So if you or a loved one are struggling or if you notice an elderly neighbor who could benefit from Homage’s services, go to www.homage.org or call their Aging and Disability Resource Network at 425-513-1900. They will answer your questions and come to the rescue!