EADS was founded in 1983 as East King Options (EKO) to assist people caring for parents or spouses with Alzheimer’s or other age-related disabilities.  Its mission was to help seniors live at home as long as possible by providing family caregivers with respite care and other support services.  Within a few months of opening its doors, EKO was approached by young woman who needed help caring for her husband who’d recently suffered a devastating brain injury.  It responded by expanding its mission to include all adults with acquired disabilities.  Several months later, EKO expanded its mission again in response to requests from families seeking services for adults with developmental disabilities.

In 1993, EKO changed its name to Eastside Adult Day Services.  In 2003—as its services grew beyond the boarders ofSeattle’s eastside—it changed its name to Elder and Adult Day Services (EADS).

EADS currently provides day health and family giver support services at centers located in two King county cities (Bellevue and Des Moines) and one city inKitsap county (Bainbridge Island).  These centers provide 20,000 days of services to over 250 unduplicated clients annually.  In addition, approximately 50 family caregivers annually receive support services such as training and individual counseling.

EADS caregiver support services include individual counseling, training, respite care and advocacy.

EADS day health services include skilled nursing, occupational therapy and recreational and social therapies.

• The skilled nursing includes wound care, tube feedings, medication management, case management and other vital medical services.
• The occupational and functional therapies help people live independently by increasing strength and maintaining range of motion.
• The recreational and social therapies help participants build and maintain meaningful relationships with their peers,      their families and people in their communities.

Three primary populations are served by EADS day health programs:

• 60% of our participants are adults with developmental disabilities; many of these adults are profoundly impacted with complex medical, physical and emotional needs.
• 35% are seniors with age-related disabilities, primarily dementia.
• 5% are adults with other acquired disabilities such as traumatic brain injuries.

EADS is a certified VA provider, so this mix includes both veterans and their dependents.