Olympia City Council expands CARES Program to support Area Agency on Aging

The Olympia City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a partnership between the Olympia Fire Department and the Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging.

The agreement expands the fire department's Community Assistance Referral and Education Services (CARES) Program to provide post-hospitalization supportive care.

The one-year contract will provide up to $121,887 in funding for the CARES program from July 2025 through June 2026.

The CARES program was developed to support Olympia’s most vulnerable residents following 911 calls, connecting them to services that go beyond immediate emergency response. It focuses on areas, such as housing concerns, chronic illness, physical health, mental health and overall safety.

According to a staff report, CARES bridges the gap between emergency services and supportive care through client-centered planning and community partnership. The goal is to reduce repeat 911 calls for non-acute needs, while improving long-term health outcomes.

Under the new agreement, the fire department will hire one full-time staff member dedicated to working with hospitals to support patients after discharge.

The expansion specifically focuses on:

• Post-hospitalization supportive care for seniors and vulnerable adults
• Reducing hospital readmissions by providing follow-up support
• Preventing unnecessary 911 calls by addressing needs before they become emergencies
• Improving the quality of life for individuals transitioning from hospital to home care

Council member Clark Gilman praised the expansion. He said the program illustrates how the city is building a range of interventions — from the Crisis Response Unit to Familiar Faces and downtown walking patrols — that prevent people from falling into crisis.

Gilman noted the new position is going to give residents alternatives to repeatedly calling 911, while also reducing pressure on the Fire Department and local hospitals.

“I’m grateful this program is standing up,” Gilman said. “I think it is a great extension of the Basic Life Support and CARES programs that we have initiated to help those folks settle back after they are released from a hospital.”

City staff stated the program not only lowers costs for fire and emergency departments, but also improves community health by connecting patients to culturally competent social services and long-term support systems. CARES is offered as a free and voluntary service, with no restrictions on who can participate.