It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Smith Tower gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Seattle, WA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a past client of this provider I worked with Joseph and Maimuna after knee”
“I am a past client of this provider Consistently received quick professional responses from the owner”
“Sarah came and met with our grandmother in advance of her return home from the”
“ABC works well with other provider services such as the VA and home RN healthcare”
“Responsive office, qualified care givers.”
“We have a wonderful experience, with ABCSS. The Team and services are the best.”
“The team at Always Best Care is just phenomenal. We've had nothing but amazing service.”
“Cannot say enough good things about Sarah and Always Best Care! After my step dad”
“ABC Senior Services excels in all aspects. This is a group you can rely on”
“Our family had an extremely positive experience with Always Best Care. During a very”
“Our family had an extremely positive experience with Always Best Care. During a very tough”
“After looking far and wide in Seattle, finally I found Always Best Care - what”
“Sarah at Alway Best Care Senior Services is excellent. She is compassionate and understands”
“This company did a fantastic job caring for my father. I highly recommend them for”
“I cannot praise Sarah and her team enough. My husband had a stroke and was”
“I am a current client of this provider I cannot praise Sarah and her team enough.”
“My experience with Always Best Care was phenomenal! I have never experienced an owner, and her”
“I hired Always Best Care (“ABC”) to provide caregivers for my husband, who has Parkinson’s”
“I am a current client of this provider I hired Always Best Care (“ABC”) to provide”
“I hired Always Best Care (“ABC”) to provide caregivers for my husband, who has Parkinson’s”
“I am so grateful that our dear family member selected ABC at the beginning of”
“This company is hands down the best. Sarah and her staff went above and beyond,”
“I am a past client of this provider I am so grateful that our dear family”
“I am a past client of this provider I worked with Joseph and Maimuna after knee surgery and more than a month in rehab. At first I didn't think I would need help, but I have never been so glad to have it. Both of my helpers were kind and courteous and, as I got to know them, I looked forward to their visits even more. They took care of everything from the smallest detail, to laundry, changing beds, fixing my lunch and supervising showers. I am grateful that I was able to have their care.”
“I am a past client of this provider Consistently received quick professional responses from the owner and other admin staff, always received the care coverage we needed even when needs changed rapidly, and best of all, we were deeply impressed by her care team - each home health aide was thoughtful , thorough, professional, very attentive, and very kind. Our grandmother was well-pampered in the unexpected last month of her life thanks to Sarah and the Always Best team.”
“Sarah came and met with our grandmother in advance of her return home from the hospital after a nasty bout of pneumonia and I was immediately impressed and grateful. She treated our grandmother with respect and care and thoughtfulness. We believed we would only be working with Always Best for a short period of time while our grandmother got back up to speed. we were all incredibly impressed by the attentiveness, professionalism, and genuine care with which Sam Ishmael, Fridah, Tegan and Ima worked with our grandmother. When she declined unexpectedly and rapidly, Sarah, Jacqueline and Kaitlin all put in extra energy to ensure she had the coverage she needed. In the last month and a half of her life, our grandmother had a level of care she’d never received and felt not only cared for but even a little pampered, in the best of ways. I am so grateful Sarah picked up the phone when I called that Sunday in March to find care for our grandmother!”
“ABC works well with other provider services such as the VA and home RN healthcare delivery services. They work to establish a rapport for ease of communication. Workers are consistent and reliable and they have been able to delegate meds and tube feedings well. Very little turnover noted in the last year! We will continue to work with them! Thanks for the ease of communication through your website, ABC!”
“Responsive office, qualified care givers.”
“We have a wonderful experience, with ABCSS. The Team and services are the best. We are very pleased and blessed. Thank you all.”
“The team at Always Best Care is just phenomenal. We've had nothing but amazing service. Everyone in the team is professional, punctual and truly compassionate. If you want top quality care - look no further!”
“Cannot say enough good things about Sarah and Always Best Care! After my step dad had a stroke, Sarah went above and beyond trying to find him the best place for recovery. You can tell she really cares and truly has her heart in it for the right reasons. So thankful to have found Sarah & her team - would recommend them to anyone!”
“ABC Senior Services excels in all aspects. This is a group you can rely on to help in every way. Professional care and scheduling, with compassion and heart.”
“Our family had an extremely positive experience with Always Best Care. During a very tough & emotional time, their skilled caregivers allowed us to lovingly care for our family member at home with reduced stress. We could not have done it without them!!”
“Our family had an extremely positive experience with Always Best Care. During a very tough & emotional time, their skilled caregivers allowed us to lovingly care for our family member at home with reduced stress. We could not have done it without them!!”
“After looking far and wide in Seattle, finally I found Always Best Care - what an immense relief! Sarah Cave has shown us that her range includes not only the actual caregiving itself (absolutely top-notch!) but also her knowledge and advice about senior living situations, long-term care insurance, and other related issues. Initially, I had no idea that this range of resources could be available from one source, certainly not in such a kind and caring context. Sarah and her team at ABC are the "real thing," and my husband (who has Parkinson disease) and I are forever grateful.”
“Sarah at Alway Best Care Senior Services is excellent. She is compassionate and understands what you are trying to accomplish to help your loved one. She explains everything and puts your mind at ease. The whole team is very helpful and the caregivers are top notch! My Dad is a lot happier now that he has a care giver through this team. I feel at peace knowing my Dad is being well taken care of. Julie Taylor”
“This company did a fantastic job caring for my father. I highly recommend them for home care.”
“I cannot praise Sarah and her team enough. My husband had a stroke and was in the hospital over a month before transferring to a physical therapy unit. It has been a scary time for my family and me. Sarah has helped us navigate the complex medical world and given me clear pathways to choose from on what the future might look like for my husband and me. Our hope is that he return home, but if he cannot, Sarah has given me concrete options that would serve our needs and give us peace of mind for the continued care and rehabilitation for my husband. We have toured facilities together and I have appreciated her kindness, intelligence and her attention to the details that I would not have even thought of. She definitely is an expert in her field and her help in our crisis has been immensely appreciated.”
“I am a current client of this provider I cannot praise Sarah and her team enough. My husband had a stroke and was in the hospital over a month before transferring to a physical therapy unit. It has been a scary time for my family and me. Sarah has helped us navigate the complex medical world and given me clear pathways to choose from on what the future might look like for my husband and me. Our hope is that he return home, but if he cannot, Sarah has given me concrete options that would serve our needs and give us peace of mind for the continued care and rehabilitation for my husband. We have toured facilities together and I have appreciated her kindness, intelligence and her attention to the details that I would not have even thought of. She definitely is an expert in her field and her help in our crisis has been immensely appreciated.”
“My experience with Always Best Care was phenomenal! I have never experienced an owner, and her amazing employees, go so far above and beyond to help my family. Sarah Cave (owner of ABC) has a heart of pure gold! She (literally and figuratively) held my sister’s and my hand as we moved through one of the most stressful times of our lives. We were dealing with a dad in serious condition in the hospital and a mom who needed 24/7 care for her Alzheimer’s. Sarah and her angelic crew rallied around us, and helped us support two parents through what felt like an impossible situation They helped care for our mom, they set up care upon my dads return home (dealing with a very unstable version of him with unending grace) and provided countless options on how to help them move forward (assisted living options, in-home care, etc). Sarah gave us all the resources we needed along the way. The degree in which she and her team showed up was truly astounding, and we will be forever grateful. They saved us during a time that felt dire. I am forever indebted to this phenomenal team. It doesn’t get better than Always Best Care!!!”
“I hired Always Best Care (“ABC”) to provide caregivers for my husband, who has Parkinson’s and dementia. Communication with ABC was excellent. Sarah and Kaitlin worked tirelessly to find the perfect fit for my husband’s needs, and his caregivers, Surminda and Amina, were wonderful. When it eventually became apparent that I needed to move my husband into memory care, Sarah was with me every step of the way. Her knowledge and connections with the local senior care communities were invaluable, and I was so thankful to have her help in finding the best place for my husband. ABC eased the stress and burden of managing my husband’s care and I can’t thank Sarah, Kaitlin, and the ABC staff enough. They are truly the Best.”
“I am a current client of this provider I hired Always Best Care (“ABC”) to provide caregivers for my husband, who has Parkinson’s and dementia. Communication with ABC was excellent. Sarah and Kaitlin worked tirelessly to find the perfect fit for my husband’s needs, and his caregivers, Surminda and Amina, were wonderful. When it eventually became apparent that I needed to move my husband into memory care, Sarah was with me every step of the way. Her knowledge and connections with the local senior care communities were invaluable, and I was so thankful to have her help in finding the best place for my husband. ABC eased the stress and burden of managing my husband’s care and I can’t thank Sarah, Kaitlin, and the ABC staff enough. They are truly the Best.”
“I hired Always Best Care (“ABC”) to provide caregivers for my husband, who has Parkinson’s and dementia. Communication with ABC was excellent. Sarah and Kaitlin worked tirelessly to find the perfect fit for my husband’s needs, and his caregivers, Surminda and Amina, were wonderful. When it eventually became apparent that I needed to move my husband into memory care, Sarah was with me every step of the way. Her knowledge and connections with the local senior care communities were invaluable, and I was so thankful to have her help in finding the best place for my husband. ABC eased the stress and burden of managing my husband’s care and I can’t thank Sarah, Kaitlin, and the ABC staff enough. They are truly the Best.”
“I am so grateful that our dear family member selected ABC at the beginning of her illness. Her disease progressed quickly after that and having done her research earlier allowed us to execute her plan at a critical time. It was a great comfort to her to be home in her final days, and the ABC care plan allowed the safe discharge that was necessary in order for her to go home. The expertise provided by Sarah in navigating the complex healthcare system during a difficult time was invaluable. If fact, it probably wouldn’t have happened without ABC. The caregivers were compassionate and attentive to her needs. There was always communication at the time of shift changes. All the staff at ABC considered the whole family situation while interacting with us.”
“This company is hands down the best. Sarah and her staff went above and beyond, and I mean beyond, for my parents and family. I couldn’t ask for a more committed team. They made an impossible situation possible. Thank you Sarah and staff.”
“I am a past client of this provider I am so grateful that our dear family member selected ABC at the beginning of her illness. Her disease progressed quickly after that and having done her research earlier allowed us to execute her plan at a critical time. It was a great comfort to her to be home in her final days, and the ABC care plan allowed the safe discharge that was necessary in order for her to go home. The expertise provided by Sarah in navigating the complex health care system during a difficult time was invaluable. in fact, it probably wouldn't have happened without ABC. The caregivers were compassionate and attentive to her needs. There was always communication at the time of shift changes. All the staff at ABC considered the whole family situation while interacting with us.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Kerry Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Canlis or visit National Building, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Seattle, WA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Seattle, WA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Seattle, WA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
WASHINGTON - Several new laws in Washington state will go into effect in 2025, impacting general workers and health care.Key changes include stronger protection for health care workers, including a ban on mandatory overtime in certain settings, expanded rights for app-based workers and a new paid sick leave law. Fines for ...
WASHINGTON - Several new laws in Washington state will go into effect in 2025, impacting general workers and health care.
Key changes include stronger protection for health care workers, including a ban on mandatory overtime in certain settings, expanded rights for app-based workers and a new paid sick leave law. Fines for covered license plates also go into effect in 2025, and the state’s minimum wage is set to increase as well.
Keep reading to learn more about the new laws going into effect in Washington in January 2025, and how they may impact you.
Washington's new Paid Sick Leave law (SB 5793) takes effect on Jan. 1, and means that workers, including drivers for transportation companies, will have access to paid sick leave and will be protected from discrimination or retaliation when exercising their rights. Here's a more in depth breakdown:
Employers must provide at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked. Employees can use this leave for personal or family illness, medical treatment, preventive care or in emergencies like school or business closures.
The leave is available after 90 days of employment and can be carried over, up to 40 hours annually. Employers must also maintain transparency regarding the sick leave balance.
For absences over three days, employers may ask for verification, but it must not cause undue burden. Employers are not required to pay out unused sick leave when an employee leaves, except for certain construction workers. Rehired employees within 12 months will have their unused leave reinstated.
New paid sick leave rules will apply to drivers of companies like Uber or Lyft. They must accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked, with the same eligibility requirements.
The compensation for sick leave will be based on average hourly earnings. Drivers can also carry over up to 40 hours of unused sick leave, and must have an accessible system to request it. Drivers will also be protected from retaliation for using sick leave.
Seattle Council Bill No. 120580 goes into effect on Jan. 1, and aims to ensure fairness and transparency in how app-based workers in Seattle are treated by companies, especially regarding deactivation that can impact their livelihoods. Here's a more in-depth breakdown:
A phone is held displaying the Uber app on Dec. 10, 2021.
The law requires network companies (those using algorithms to manage app-based workers) to have clear and reasonable policies for deactivating workers. These policies must be related to safe and efficient operations.
Workers must receive a NOD 14 days before being deactivated, unless there's egregious misconduct. In such cases, the NOD will be provided on the same day as the deactivation.
Before deactivating a worker, companies must conduct an investigation with evidence supporting the decision. The deactivation must be proportionate, consistent and non-discriminatory.
Workers can challenge their deactivation within 90 days of receiving the NOD. Companies must respond to the challenge within 14 days and provide a written statement about their decision. If the challenge is unresolved, the worker can file a complaint with the Office of Labor Standards or pursue legal action.
Workers are entitled to the records used to justify their deactivation. Any new evidence discovered after the NOD must also be shared with the worker.
The law covers companies with 250 or more workers who perform services in Seattle. Workers are covered if they have completed at least 10% of their tasks within the city in the last 180 days.
The OLS will enforce the ordinance. Initial implementation costs are estimated at $1 million annually for staffing, outreach, and translation services.
The law is designed to address disparities faced by historically disadvantaged communities, particularly Black and Latino workers. The notice of rights must be provided in the workers' primary language.
Starting January 1, having a cover over your license plate will result in a fine.
Since June 2024, the law has stated violators will only be given a written warning, with information about the law and further penalties that will begin in 2025.
Some lifesaving surgical procedures require lasers, radio frequency devices and power tools, which can create smoke harmful to surgical staff. Substitute House Bill 1779, effective Jan. 1, requires health care employers in Washington to adopt policies requiring the use of smoke evacuation systems during these procedures.
The systems must capture and neutralize smoke before it contacts the eyes or respiratory tract of anyone in the operating room. The law applies to hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers and allows flexibility in choosing the type of system.
Surgeons at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham conduct an operation on June 14, 2006, in Birmingham, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Hospitals must select a smoke evacuation system based on surgical needs and safety considerations. Compliance will be monitored through inspections by the Department of Labor and Industries. Certain hospitals, including critical access hospitals and those with fewer than 25 beds, will have until Jan. 1, to comply with the requirements.
To support this change, a reimbursement program has been established for eligible hospitals to receive up to $1,000 per operating room for the purchase of smoke evacuation systems. Hospitals must apply to L&I for reimbursement, with funds limited to the amount available in the state’s surgical smoke evacuation account.
Starting Jan. 1, hospitals in Washington will be prohibited from mandating overtime for certain health care workers under a new law.
This policy, issued by L&I in June, restricts mandatory overtime for hospital employees directly involved in patient care, including nurses, surgical technicians and other clinical staff. The law applies to workers who are paid hourly or covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
While most hospitals must comply by January, smaller hospitals and critical access facilities have until July 1. Contract and travel staff are not covered under the new rules.
The law allows for four exceptions where overtime may still be required: in emergency situations, during pre-scheduled on-call time, when staffing shortages occur despite reasonable efforts, and when overtime is necessary to complete a patient care procedure.
Hospitals must document their efforts to avoid overtime; non-compliance may result in civil penalties. Employees can file complaints with L&I, which will investigate violations. Penalties for violations could reach up to $5,000 per infraction.
Hospitals are advised to review their policies and engage legal counsel to ensure compliance.
Beginning January 1, the minimum wage in Washington state will go up to $16.66 per hour, up 2.35% from 2024.
Driver arrested after DUI crash on I-5 near Milton, WA
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A pair of proposals to build wood pellet-manufacturing plants in Hoquiam and Longview would bring a growing but controversial global industry to Washington. Countries including the U.K. and Japan have subsidized the burning of such pellets to produce electricity. That has created new demand in places rich in the raw material: forests, particularly those in North America.The two companies that seek to open in Washington pledge to make pellets from leftover logging and sawmill material — branches, sawdust and other remnants. But o...
A pair of proposals to build wood pellet-manufacturing plants in Hoquiam and Longview would bring a growing but controversial global industry to Washington. Countries including the U.K. and Japan have subsidized the burning of such pellets to produce electricity. That has created new demand in places rich in the raw material: forests, particularly those in North America.
The two companies that seek to open in Washington pledge to make pellets from leftover logging and sawmill material — branches, sawdust and other remnants. But of concern is the industry’s operations elsewhere have revealed the use of whole logs, and even old growth forests in British Columbia, to manufacture them. That track record should galvanize incoming Gov. Bob Ferguson and the state Legislature to ensure Washington has adequate protections to guarantee trees from coveted forestlands aren’t cut to be burned in power plants overseas.
Burning wood in furnaces to generate electricity — particularly within former coal-fired power plants — has become a key scheme for some countries in eliminating fossil fuel energy sources. U.K.-based Drax Global, which uses pellets to create 4% of England’s electricity in a single power plant, is behind the proposal to open a pellet plant in Longview. Both Drax and Massachusetts-based Pacific Northwest Renewable Energy, which aims to open in Hoquiam, aim to export 450,000 tons of pellets per year from Washington, once operational.
Drax says it’s helping solve a long-term problem: what to do with slash piles, or the low-value wood left behind after logging. Company officials argue this form of woody “biomass” is better burned as pellets to generate power than burned on the harvest site, as often happens. Because trees can be replanted, they also support the idea that new growth of trees can offset the emissions when wood is burned as pellets. This is a notion that many climate scientists dispute, arguing instead that burning wood is actually worse than combusting coal for climate change.
Drax and other wood pellet producers in the southeastern U.S. also vowed to use residual materials. But the Southern Environmental Law Center estimates that at least 100,000 acres of trees in the American south have been harvested for wood pellets.
In British Columbia, similar promises were made. But an investigation by CBC’s The Fifth Estate found whole logs — even ones harvested from virgin forests — were being made into pellets.
Pellet manufacturing plants have also faced a backlash from neighbors and environmental groups for the noise and air pollution they produce. The regional air agency regulating Drax’s Longview plant has also stopped development of the project after they found the company had begun construction without permits.
Washington already has rules that include distinguishing biomass from timber. And the high value of timber here should shield it from becoming pellets. But lawmakers should ensure there is sufficient transparency around the process collecting biomass and creating the pellets to safeguard the state’s forests.
The Times editorial board supports active management of working forestlands to improve their health, prevent wildfire and supply critical material for everything from utility poles to affordable housing. And in a world struggling with a buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the 21 million acres of forests around the Evergreen State continue to hoover up carbon, a powerful defense against climate change. But state leaders should be wary of past examples where a precious resource was transported across oceans just to go up in smoke in power plants on the other side of the world.
The Seattle Times editorial board: members are editorial page editor Kate Riley, Frank A. Blethen, Melissa Davis, Josh Farley, Alex Fryer, Claudia Rowe, Carlton Winfrey and William K. Blethen (emeritus).
Investors in an Everett-based water vending machine company are suing Lynnwood-based UniBank, the second bank to be accused of being involved with the company that allegedly bilked them out of millions.Lawyers representing the investors sued WaterStation Technology and its founder Ryan Wear in June for allegedly failing to repay them $130 million. In September, ...
Investors in an Everett-based water vending machine company are suing Lynnwood-based UniBank, the second bank to be accused of being involved with the company that allegedly bilked them out of millions.
Lawyers representing the investors sued WaterStation Technology and its founder Ryan Wear in June for allegedly failing to repay them $130 million. In September, some of the investors sued Port Angeles-based First Fed Bank, alleging the bank and Wear’s company entered a referral agreement and failed to disclose the risks of the business to prospective investors.
Last month, more investors sued UniBank over similar claims, according to documents filed in Snohomish County Superior Court.
WaterStation Technology, founded in 2013, offered investors a simple system for passive income by selling them franchise ownership over water-bottle filling stations at grocery stores and convenience stores.
Wear said installation and upkeep would be handled by the company and would-be investors could expect an annual return of 12% to 20%, according to documents filed in Snohomish County Superior Court in June.
Attorneys accused Wear and his business of perpetuating a Ponzi scheme by pulling in new investors’ money to cover revenue payments owed to older investors.
The November lawsuit claims UniBank issued dozens of loans to WaterStation investors under what lawyers allege were false pretenses between 2019 and 2021. Wear told investors that the vending machines were a turnkey business and monthly revenue would easily cover loan payments, according to court documents.
In the lawsuit from June against Wear and his company, lawyers said roughly 90% of the vending machines WaterStation said it had installed didn’t exist.
The referral agreement between UniBank and WaterStation meant the bank could streamline government-backed small business loans to investors referred by Wear and his business, attorneys said. The referral program was never disclosed to investors.
Court documents include text messages between UniBank representatives and one of Wear’s employees, Kevin Nooney, that set up the structure of the referral agreement. Nooney had similar correspondence with First Fed Bank representatives.
UniBank representatives also toured WaterStation’s facilities in Everett and several executives coached Wear and his employees on how to pitch investors and structure transactions, according to court documents.
Several of the direct accusations lobbed at UniBank include the bank failed to tell investors that vending machine lists provided to it were riddled with overlapping entries and the bank failed to do site visits or independently verify the existence of vending machines and engaged in unfair and deceptive conduct before closing the loans.
In court documents from June, investors said the money coming back to them dried up in 2022.
“Ever since, WaterStation has been actively misleading investors about the nature of the liquidity shortfall and has repeatedly sowed false hope about payments resuming to keep investors at bay,” attorneys for the investors said in the documents.
Court documents filed last month describe some investors failing to make loan payments or taking out loans from other banks to keep UniBank from seizing personal assets they put up as collateral.
Like First Fed Bank, UniBank has sued multiple investors for failing to make loan payments, according to court documents.
“This is just the latest chapter in the tragic WaterStation saga,” said John Bender, a partner at K&L Gates representing the investors since the first lawsuit was filed in June, in an emailed statement. “My clients are being forced to seek court protection given the other side’s refusal to own up to what really went on here.”
UniBank did not respond to a request for comment.
Loans given out to investors ranged from $268,000 to $2.7 million.
Similar to claims made against First Fed, investors’ lawyers accused UniBank of failing to verify money from the loans was used for buying vending machines and paying for the upkeep. The money was simply forwarded to Wear’s business, according to court documents.
UniBank is headquartered in Lynnwood with branches in Bellevue, Federal Way and Lakewood.
The litigation against WaterStation in Snohomish County Superior Court is ongoing and includes claims besides alleging a Ponzi scheme. The lawsuit from June accuses Wear of using some of the investor funds to build a real estate portfolio with more than 30 properties in multiple states worth over $100 million.
Alex Halverson: 206-652-6352 or [email protected].
T&T Supermarket of Richmond, B.C., made its U.S. debut in Bellevue on Thursday with a 76,000-square-foot grocery store and Asian food court that includes a street food booth, a dim sum display case, a noodle stand, a sushi bar and T&T’s famous 300-item bakery/deli.Washington fans of the 37-store grocery chain used to drive hours to British Columbia to hit T&T; no more. T...
T&T Supermarket of Richmond, B.C., made its U.S. debut in Bellevue on Thursday with a 76,000-square-foot grocery store and Asian food court that includes a street food booth, a dim sum display case, a noodle stand, a sushi bar and T&T’s famous 300-item bakery/deli.
Washington fans of the 37-store grocery chain used to drive hours to British Columbia to hit T&T; no more. The Bellevue superstore, located at the Marketplace at Factoria, is the biggest T&T to date, and company leaders say it’s the largest grocery store in Washington state.
Over the decades, T&T CEO Tina Lee noticed many cars with Washington state license plates at her Richmond and Vancouver stores. Those shoppers often bought out a certain item in the bakery or filled up their trunks with groceries. So Lee started to plan her U.S. expansion five years ago. She’s been quite hush-hush about the Bellevue store; trainees were told not to post pictures of the store layout or food before Thursday’s ribbon cutting.
T&T, which will expand to Lynnwood next summer, has a fervent following — people line up for hours when a new T&T debuts. Some camp overnight. Lee won’t say whether she has plans to open an outpost in Seattle or elsewhere in Washington, but T&T recently set up its U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles, signaling further expansion. T&T also plans to open a supermarket in San Jose, Calif., next year.
While T&T’s shelves, stocked with durian and chili crisp condiments, will look familiar to any shopper who has visited Uwajimaya, H Mart, Ranch 99 or Asian Family Market, the sheer volume of products is the lure. Die-hard fans feel like that proverbial kid in the candy store: The Bellevue T&T carries more than 100 different frozen dumplings, from gyoza to xiao long bao, and 200 different instant ramen.
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But the food court is perhaps the biggest reason that Seattleites used to grab their passports to hit this Richmond-based chain.
That commute just got shorter. The Bellevue branch features all of T&T’s greatest hits, including a bakery/deli with 300 different breads, baked goods and desserts, like its popular mango cake, 16-layer Napoleon Portuguese egg tarts and lava mochi puffs.
There’s also a dim sum display case with 20 deep-fried and steamed items, including har gow shrimp dumplings, chicken feet and the signature pork buns. There’s a barbecue carving station with lamb ribs, roasted pork, chicken wings and the bestselling Peking duck. Plus, a 20-item hot bar, a street-food-style booth, a noodle-and-rice station with wonton soup and Taiwanese-style sticky rice rolls, stands with spatchcocked fried chicken and a sushi aisle.
During a media preview on Wednesday afternoon, the T&T CEO extended her arms to show off the hundreds of baked goods and the duck carving station at her store.
“This is what people drive three hours for,” Lee said.
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Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson touted T&T as a “regional destination” and a big addition to the city’s “international food scene.”
In the past three years, Bellevue has welcomed at least two dozen restaurant and dessert chains from Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and Canada. Some have cited Bellevue’s affluent Asian population as a draw to the area; about 40% of Bellevue’s 151,574 residents are of Asian descent, according to 2023 U.S. census data.
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The last big Vancouver-area expansion arrived on the Eastside last spring, when the Sun Sui Wah dim sum palace opened in Bellevue Marketplace. But the new flagship Washington T&T, 6,000 square feet larger than the chain’s swanky superstore in Montreal, trumps Sun Sui Wah in popularity. The T&T brand boasts a bigger fan base than any of the Asian restaurant chains that have expanded to the Eastside of late.
During grand opening festivities this weekend, expect parking congestion similar to a packed Costco. Management suggested waiting until Monday to shop if you want to avoid the madhouse over the next four days.
If you go
T&T Supermarket: 12620 S.E. 41st Place, Bellevue; tntsupermarket.us; 425-818-3260
Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or [email protected]. On Facebook: facebook.com/tanvinh, and on Instagram @tanvinhseattle.
With Washington leaders preparing to tighten spending over the next few years, it’s reasonable to ask the head of each state agency to take a hard look at their programs and squeeze gently, so that no single area bears the brunt. That’s what Gov. Jay Inslee requested of his cabinet members last month — with one major caveat: He explicitly directed that “essential programs” continue.So it’s bewildering that the Department of Children, Youth & Families chose to lower the boom on 178 of the very po...
With Washington leaders preparing to tighten spending over the next few years, it’s reasonable to ask the head of each state agency to take a hard look at their programs and squeeze gently, so that no single area bears the brunt. That’s what Gov. Jay Inslee requested of his cabinet members last month — with one major caveat: He explicitly directed that “essential programs” continue.
So it’s bewildering that the Department of Children, Youth & Families chose to lower the boom on 178 of the very poorest kids by proposing the complete elimination of a program known as Early ECEAP (for Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program).
Think of Early ECEAP as “child-care plus.” It’s preschool for kids from birth to age 3 that also provides food, diapers, basic medical screening and immunizations; plus job coaching and housing assistance for their parents.
With one caregiver for eight babies and toddlers, Early ECEAP is an expensive model, penciling out to about $50,000 per child when all those extra services are figured in. But it is aimed at some of the neediest people in Washington, kids in families scraping by on less than 50% of the median income, many of them homeless.
The entire concept underpinning Early Learning in this state is prevention, the idea that providing solid aid for very young kids will stem more expensive costs in education and social services down the line. In 2021, the Legislature made good on that belief by investing more than $1 billion in its Fair Start for Kids Act, which helps pays for the child care and early learning needs of more than 17,000 children.
Yet now, just as Washington was on the brink of using that money to expand low-income child care — which is only reaching about 28% of eligible kids — budget-crunchers have advised a pause, closing about 1,800 unfilled slots for 3- and 4-year-olds and outright removing 178 younger kids from child care-with-extra-services.
It’s hard to see how this makes sense long-term. Eliminating Early ECEAP would save Washington a negligible $9 million annually — in a budget of $70 billion — while discouraging the parents of those children from entering the workforce in favor of remaining at home to supervise their kids.
And while it is true that ECEAP is under-enrolled, a major reason for that is surely the pay offered to staff. Child care workers can make more at Target or McDonald’s. “It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy,” says Joel Ryan, executive director of the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP.
As well, two-thirds of all children in ECEAP are kids of color. Eliminating 1,800 child care slots would save about $67 million — by far the biggest dollar amount of any proposed cut in DCYF. Talk about disproportionate impact.
This is the definition of cutting off your nose to spite your face. There has got to be a better way.
The Seattle Times editorial board: members are editorial page editor Kate Riley, Frank A. Blethen, Melissa Davis, Josh Farley, Alex Fryer, Claudia Rowe, Carlton Winfrey and William K. Blethen (emeritus).
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