A senior care plan for a Seattle-area parent captures current ADL/IADL needs, the services that match those needs, the funding strategy, family roles, and the 12-month trajectory. The 8-step process below produces a workable plan in 1–2 weeks. Most Seattle families discover an hour spent on planning saves six months of trial-and-error.
Step 1: Document current ADLs and IADLs
Spend an honest hour with the framework. For each of the 6 ADLs and 8 IADLs, note: independent, needs reminders, needs significant help, or cannot do alone. The pattern defines the service category needed.
Step 2: Document medical conditions and medications
List all diagnoses, current medications, recent medical events. Note conditions likely to progress (dementia, Parkinson’s, CHF) versus stable. Emerging conditions you suspect deserve doctor follow-up.
Step 3: Document the Seattle home environment
Walk through as an outside observer. Note fall hazards, kitchen safety concerns, bathroom risks, stairs, lighting. The CDC’s STEADI fall prevention resources are a useful checklist.
Step 4: Schedule a geriatric assessment
$300–$500 in Seattle for a Geriatric Care Manager visit. The single highest-return investment in elder care. Produces written needs document, care plan, and 12-month trajectory.
Step 5: Map needs to services
IADL needs → companion or homemaker. ADL needs → personal care (CHHA). Clinical recovery → skilled home health (Medicare). Complex coordination → geriatric care management. End-of-life → hospice.
Step 6: Set the funding strategy
Calculate monthly available cash flow and total available reserves. Map funding paths: private pay, LTC insurance, Washington’s Community First Choice (CFC) and COPES waiver, VA, Medicare home health for recovery. If care exceeds budget, adjust the plan before committing.
Step 7: Align the family
Family meeting in person or video. Include your parent if cognitively able. Cover: needs assessment, recommended services and cost, how costs split, primary local coordinator, everyone else’s role, how to decide when family disagrees.
Step 8: Start with 60-day plan and review quarterly
Write a 60-day plan with specific hours, services, providers, budget. Start. Quarterly reviews (every 90 days) to recalibrate. Annual GCM reassessment.
A geriatric assessment is the right first move for most Seattle families. Talk to an ElderCareServicesNearMe advisor to schedule one — typically within a week.
