Veterans program helps Valley vets, families housing, medical referrals
March 3, 2010
By Laura Geggel
NEW — 1:40 p.m. March 3, 2010
Shannon Barrie, who hadn’t seen her father in years, suddenly found herself taking care of him in his old age.
James Arthur Barrie has dementia, and although he is aware of the present during his lucid periods, his daughter realized she didn’t have the resources to care for him on her own. She called Adult Protective Services. When they learned her father was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, they referred her to Joel Estey, manager of the King County Veterans’ Program.
Every week, Estey makes himself available to veterans and their families, helping connect them with resources, such as medical care or counseling.
King County pays for the program with the 2005 Veterans and Human Services Levy approved by voters, which provides $13 million per year for veterans and their dependents, as well as for needy people not associated with the military.
The levy is about a $12 tax per year for people owning a $300,000 house.
The mayors of Auburn and Enumclaw are credited with starting the program.
“In the earlier part of 2000, they realized veterans who were serving in the military were paying a high price, and they thought they needed more services,” Estey said.
The program targets veterans in rural parts of King County, where people might not know about veteran services.
For Barrie, Estey was a valuable resource for her father.
“He was in the Navy — he did his duty,” said Barrie, manager of the North Bend Motel. “I was trying to place him in a veteran’s home because I was having a hard time taking care of him.”
She met with Estey, and suggests other veterans and their family members do the same.
“Often times, I’m talking to people who are confused by the (Veterans Affairs) system,” Estey said. “I am able to sit down with them and find out what their issues and concerns are.”
As veterans from the Vietnam War age, they may have to deal with medical problems they have put off, Estey said.
Families of Iraq or Afghanistan veterans may find themselves overwhelmed, especially if the veteran is injured, needs counseling or is looking for work.
Estey can help them, or at least refer them to local resource.
“Joel was really helpful,” Barrie said. “He gave me a few options and numbers.”
In the end, her father decided to live by himself in a North Bend apartment, but his daughter said it was nice to know alternatives exist.
Ruth Tolmasoff, director of Mount Si Senior Center, said many seniors use Estey’s services.
“He takes time with them,” Tolmasoff said. “He knows what the resources are. I think it’s a lot easier just to walk in and talk to Joel as a first step than to seek out a more formal kind of service.”
Estey spends the third Thursday of every month from 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Mt Si Senior Center, 411 Main Ave. S., North Bend.
He also visits the Sno-Valley Senior Center from 8-10 a.m. the third Thursday of the month, at 4610 Stephens Ave., Carnation.
Contact Joel Estey
- Office: 206-296-7570
- Cell: 206-612-2816
- joel.estey@kingcounty.gov
Laura Geggel: 392-6434, ext. 221, or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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