Social Services Overview
The Social Services department is a team of Social Workers, Nurses, and Caregiver Specialists who provide education and training, information and resource referral, and counseling and consultation to older adults and their families. Our staff is professionally trained in the fields of aging, mental health, physical health, and counseling. If you or someone you care about is experiencing difficulties – emotional, mental, physical, legal, or financial - we can connect you to helpful programs and services. We also maintain resource referral notebooks and two Caregiver Resource Centers for public use.
Our Programs and Services include:
- Counseling
- Early Stage Memory Loss Programs
- Evergreen Enhance Wellness
- Family Caregiver Support Program
- Meals on Wheels
- Medical Equipment Loan
- PEARLS Depression Management Program
- Support Groups
Our office is staffed Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. For more information contact the Social Services Desk at 425-486-4564 or individual staff members.
- Janet Zielasko, MS, LSW, (425) 286-1035, janetz@seniorservices.org
- Stefanie Bonigut, MSW, (425) 286-1047, stefanieb@seniorservices.org
- Jeannie DeSmet, RN, (425) 286-1029, jeannied@seniorservices.org
- Andrea Parker, MSW, (425) 488-4821, andreap@seniorservices.org
- Georgia Rigler, MSW, (425) 948-7183, georgiar@seniorservices.org
LIVING WELL WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS
Life out of control? Need better coping skills? Want to feel better? This 6-week educational workshop will help you regain self-confidence and better manage your chronic condition so you can LIVE WELL!. Free.
Wednesdays August 25 - September 29
10:00am - noon
Kenmore Senior Center
Register with Kenmore Senior Center
425-489-0707
The Social Services department has played an active role in developing and implementing cutting-edge health and wellness programs. In 1996, the Northshore Senior Center was a test site for the Enhance Wellness Program (formerly known as the Health Enhancement Program). The research showed that participants increased their physical activity, had fewer symptoms of depression, and felt their overall health status had improved. By 2005, Enhance Wellness had won numerous state and national awards for promoting physical activity in older adults.
Social Services staff was also instrumental in testing PEARLS, a depression management program for older adults. The original research project, published in 2003, found that PEARLS participants were more likely to see a reduction in their symptoms of depression or experience complete remission from depression. PEARLS participants also had greater improvements in functional and emotional well-being.
Living Well With Chronic Conditions and Matter of Balance (fall prevention) are two other evidence-based programs offered by Social Services. All Social Services staff members are trained in at least one of these award-winning, evidence-based health management programs.