As the Snoqualmie Valley continues to grow, it’s important to have resources for residents in all stages of life, including senior citizens.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2020, 12% of Snoqualmie Valley residents are ages 65 and older, and that number could grow as the large “baby boomer” generation ages. According to the National Council on Aging, access to senior programs provides higher levels of health and greater life satisfaction.
“Research shows older adults who participate in senior center programs can learn to manage and delay the onset of chronic disease and experience measurable improvements in their physical, social, spiritual, emotional, mental and economic well-being,” according to the council website.
Read below for a list of senior resources in the Snoqualmie Valley that promote healthy aging, whether physically, mentally or socially.
Activities
Sno-Valley Senior Center in Carnation and Mount Si Senior Center in North Bend offer frequent social, recreational and educational activities.
Sno-Valley Senior Center has multiple weekly programs, including fitness classes, support groups, group trips, games and clubs. For a full calendar, visit snovalleysenior.org/activities.
Mount Si Senior Center offers similar activities, including trips, fitness, games, craft groups and music classes. For a full list, visit mtsiseniorcenter.org/activities.html.
Both senior centers also offer community lunches Monday through Friday. Meals are free if needed, but both centers suggest those ages 60 and older make a $5 donation. Those under age $60 are charged $10 for lunch at Sno-Valley and $8 at Mount Si. For upcoming menus, visit snovalleysenior.org/services/food-and-dining and mtsiseniorcenter.org/lunch.html.
Transportation
Snoqualmie Valley Transportation offers shuttle rides from North Bend to Monroe for $1 per ride. There are four set routes, as well as door-to-door pick-up. The nonprofit also offers a Senior Ride Program in which volunteers will pick up senior citizens and take them to medical appointments. Visit svtbus.org for more information.
Free transportation to seniors is also offered through Sound Generations, an organization that oversees Sno-Valley Senior Center.
The Hyde Shuttle transports those ages 55 and older and adults with disabilities of all ages to hot lunches at community partner sites, senior centers, grocery shopping and other errands within King County. Volunteer Transportation helps older adults ages 60 and over get to medical, dental and other essential healthcare appointments.
For more information on either of these transportation programs and to request a ride, visit soundgenerations.org/our-programs/transportation.
In-home care
Visiting Angels, with an office in Fall City, offers in-home care to every part of the Snoqualmie Valley. Care plans are customized and include transitional care, companion care, dementia care, personal care, palliative care, Alzheimer’s care, social care, end of life care, respite care and more. Call 425-441-8133 or visit visitingangels.com/fallcity/home for more information.
Sno-Valley Senior Center offers some in-home care as well. The Home Sweet Home program helps seniors with household maintenance and repairs. Volunteers from the Homebound Senior Outreach Program can help with small household tasks, transportation, recreation, socialization and more. See Sno-Valley Senior Center for more information.
Accessible healthcare
The nonprofit CarePoint offers free healthcare at its clinic in Fall City, as well as at its mobile clinics around the Valley. Its goal is to serve anyone who needs healthcare, regardless of status or insurance.
CarePoint offers a lot of care, including wellness exams, disease management, acute care and sports physicals. Two to three times a year, CarePoint has dental clinics where patients can receive everything from cleanings to extractions. Twice a month, there are physical therapy clinics.
The brick and mortar clinic is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
A CarePoint nurse also visits Sno-Valley Senior Center the third Monday of each month to provide free foot care services. Call 425-333-4152 to make an appointment.
To schedule an appointment or see where the mobile clinic will be stationed next, visit carepointonline.org.
On the first Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., seniors can receive free basic wellness assessments, footcare, heart health and disease assessment, health education and blood sugar management at the Sno-Valley Senior Center. This service is provided by Seattle nonprofit POCAAN. Call 425-333-4152 to make an appointment.
On the second Friday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., a certified reflexologist visits Sno-Valley Senior Center. Appointments are $40 or $35 for members. Call 425-333-4152 to make an appointment.
On the third Thursday of each month from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., a specialized foot care nurse from Cascade Foot Care will be at Sno-Valley Senior Center. Call 425-835-2874 to schedule an appointment. These appointments are not covered by issuance; contact Sno-Valley Senior Center if cost is an issue.
