New Homage program delivers grief support for older adults

Across Snohomish County, older adults are struggling with grief, isolation and caregiving stress — often without knowing that free mental health support exists.

May is Mental Health Awareness month.

Homage Senior Services launched a new peer-led grief support group designed specifically for older adults navigating loss. Whether someone’s loss is recent or years behind them, they are welcome.

According to the Older Adult Profile for Snohomish County:

• About 20% of older adults face mental health issues like anxiety and dementia, while about 37% of local senior ER visits are potentially preventable through better community care and support.
• Roughly 14% to 20% of older adults in Washington experience mental health conditions, with factors like chronic illness and loss of loved ones triggering high demand for support.
• Social isolation is a major risk factor, affecting many older adults, particularly those in rural areas of the county with limited services.
• Seniors face significant obstacles, including stigma, ageism, lack of providers accepting Medicare and limited transportation.

For more information on future support group meetings, contact [email protected] or call 425.740.3808.

Homage Senior Services fills a critical gap as one of the only organizations in Snohomish County providing mental health services free of charge, offering counseling, peer support, and grief programs specifically designed for older adults and caregivers.

Founded in 1974, Homage Senior Services serves more than 25,000 older adults and people living with disabilities each year through programs spanning Meals on Wheels, transportation, mental health counseling, minor home repair and social connection.

In 2025, Homage served over 500 clients through its mental health programs alone, and demand has grown every year since.

Snohomish County is the third most populous county in Washington state with an older adult population of 125,000.