Whether shopping at IGA or Thriftway, walking in Island Center Forest, or eating lunch at the Senior Center, it’s easy to see that Vashon is a graying community. Our median age is 52, and 55% of our population is older than age 55.

But the 2021 closing of Vashon Community Care, which provided assisted living and memory care, has left a gap in care for our seniors that has not been filled. This service vacuum is an ongoing challenge for both island caregivers and their loved ones, who often face health challenges that keep them isolated at home and dependent on family and friends as unpaid caregivers.

As costs for private caregivers — even for several hours a week — continue to rise, many islanders must provide 24/7 care to their loved ones. Over time, the emotional, physical and mental toll of that care can become overwhelming. In a survey conducted in May 2024, 81% of 33 Vashon family caregiver respondents identified supervised adult social respite as their highest priority.

In response to this need, the Vashon Senior Center and Vashon Care Network, in partnership with the Presbyterian Church, are launching the Vashon Old Friends Club, a daytime program for adults with dementia or cognitive decline. The mission of the club is to empower the community to cultivate joy in the lives of adults with cognitive challenges and nourish the well-being of family caregivers.

The club will provide reliable, scheduled relief to those caring for a friend or family member living with dementia. It will be a place of friendship and belonging, offering conversation, music, art, games, exercise, and a meal. While members enjoy the club, caregivers have reliable respite — practical chunks of time to recharge and tend to other needs.

The program will initially be offered five hours a day, one day a week in fall 2025. Participants will pay a fee to cover expenses, and financial assistance will be available.

As a community, Vashon is blessed with an abundance of residents who care about one another and our shared quality of life. The challenges of growing old and living with diminished mental capacity are common concerns. The vision of the Old Friends Club coordinating team is to engage and empower not only residents in cognitive decline and their families, but also to create an intentional age-friendly community.

There will be opportunities to volunteer at the Club, to provide financial support for participants and to lend your open heart to this meaningful work. Your time and generosity will make an incredible difference in nurturing joy and dignity. Together, we can build a caring circle of connection.

Learn more about Vashon Island Old Friends Club from 7-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30 at the Vashon Presbyterian Church, 17708 Vashon Highway, SW,. or attend on Zoom by visiting zoom.us/j/442169680.

For more information, contact Carol Spangler, 206.708.3153, carolspangler80@gmail.com or Lauretta Hyde, 206.794-7769, laurettahyde721@gmail.com.

Carol Spangler is a Vashon Care Network volunteer.