Honoring Caregivers
Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 6, 2025
Honoring Washington’s unpaid family caregivers: Governor Ferguson proclaims November 2025 as Month of Recognition
Washington Sate recognizes unpaid family and kinship caregivers during November for their invaluable assistance provided to loved ones, friends and neighbors with chronic illness, disabilities and other special needs, More than 820,000 family caregivers of adults in Washington State provided essential services, estimated to be worth over $160 billion and 770 million hours annually.
Washington State is a national leader in providing long-term care services and support, with programs run by the department of social and health services, home and community Living Administration, thirteen Area Agencies on Aging, local partners, and federally recognized Tribes.
The need for family caregivers is increasing with nearly 50,000 children living wit grandparents as the head of household, and many other children living with neither parent, additionaly more kinship caregivers, such as uncles, aunts, cousins and siblings are stepping in to care for children whose parents cannot or will not care for them.
The Dementia Action Collaborative is increasing awareness and availability of resources such as the Dementia Road Map; A Guide fro Family and Care Partners to support more than254,000family members caring for a person with dementia. The DAC recently updated the Washington State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia’s.
Innovative programs such as the Medicaid Transformation Project and WA Cares provide funding to help unpaid family caregivers take a break, learn new skills and access self-care and wellness resources, The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible older adults with an electronic benefit card worth $80 to access fresh unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs at participating farmers markets, farm and roadside stands.
Given the expected increases in the state’s older population, workforce challenges, and population shifts that will decrease the number of available family caregivers, comprehensive support for family caregivers is essential. Governor Bog Ferguson has proclaimed November 2025 as a month to honor and recognize the invaluable contribution of unpaid family and kinship caregivers.
As a community, we should support and celebrate family caregivers who provide essential services to their family and friends. We must also recognize that being and unpaid family caregiver can come at a cost to a person’s mental and physical health and result in lost retirement savings. Let’s ensure that these caregivers have access ti the resources they need to continue their vital work.
