PEARLS Helps Older Adults Build Better Days

Older adults in King County often experience challenges with aging such as loss of independence, isolation, feeling down, struggling with medical challenges, and lack of motivation. These struggles are often ignored or dismissed, which then can lead to more challenges with aging.

The PEARLS (Program to Engage Active and Rewarding LiveS) focuses on assisting older adults, 55 years old and above, with symptoms of depression through a short-term intervention. Our program offers eight no-cost sessions that assist and explore with the client tools to reduce symptoms of depression and engage in active lives.

PEARLS provides problem-solving skills, behavioral activation, and support to the client. Problem-solving skills assist the client in exploring and solving challenges that could be contributing to their mood. Behavioral activation involves three elements: social, physical, and pleasant activities. This is an opportunity for the PEARLS counselor and client to explore activities that can increase motivation and decrease symptoms of depression. With the support of the PEARLS counselor, the program is client lead and allows the client to find ways to engage in a better quality of life.

Since 2008, The King County Veterans and Human Services Levy has funded the PEARLS program. PEARLS also receives support from the Seattle City Council to help Seattle-based veterans, veteran spouses, and surviving spouses participate in the program. This funding helps reduce financial barriers such as challenges with rent, groceries, or utility bills, that might otherwise prevent veterans from improving their emotional well-being.

To learn more about the PEARLS program, please contact Suzet Tave, PEARLS counselor with City of Seattle, Human Services Department, Aging and Disability Services Division at 206-276-3614 or by email: Suzet.Tave@seattle.gov.

Contributor Suzet Tave, MSW, LSWAIC, is a PEARLS counselor for the Aging and Disability Services division of the Seattle Human Services Department.