Community Corner highlights the work of Seattle Human Services’ community partners in their own words. Our goal is to gather stories and photos that illustrate their amazing work on behalf of the people of Seattle. This post was provided by Faye Chien, Director of Community Wellness and Social Services at Kin On.
What is the role your organization fulfills in your community?
For 40 years, Kin On has provided culturally and linguistically relevant care for Asian elders. From being the first not-for-profit bilingual Chinese-American skilled nursing facility in the Pacific Northwest to expanding to offer home care, assisted living apartments, community wellness activities catering to Asian seniors, and caregiver support services, Kin On has been a trusted pillar for our Asian elder community and families.
Kin On provides a community center that focuses primarily on serving the Asian senior community with preventative services such as health, wellness, and technology classes to help seniors age successfully. More recently, Kin On has been providing dementia support for Asian elders, as well as family caregiver support to help families provide the best care for their loved ones.
How does your partnership with Seattle Human Services (HSD) assist you in that role?
Our partnership with Seattle Human Services has been instrumental in helping Kin On deepen our community impact. HSD funding supports the personnel and materials needed to run our programs effectively, as well as technical support. HSD also provided networking opportunities with partner organizations that foster collaboration, ultimately enabling us to reach more family caregivers, older adults, and individuals who are impacted by dementia conditions.
What is your organization’s origin story?
Kin On was founded in 1985 by a group of Chinese American community leaders who recognized the need for a nursing home in Seattle that could meet the cultural and language needs of their elders. They rallied support to start Kin On—the nation’s first bilingual Chinese-American nursing home catering to the unique cultural and dietary needs of Asian elders. “Kin On” means “health” and “sense of security” in the Chinese language, grounded in our founding belief that everyone deserves to age with dignity, surrounded by the language, culture, and community they call home.
How has your organization grown or developed in recent years?
Since 1985, Kin On has transformed from a single skilled nursing facility into a continuum of care to meet the long-term needs of Asian American elders in the community. Over the years, we expanded services that include assisted living and adult family homes, community-based home care, and social and wellness programs.
Most recently, we relocated our office in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District to better serve our elders where they live. By continually evolving our services and listening to the needs of families, we are redefining what it means to grow older in our community. Our goal is to develop a spectrum of social, wellness, and health programs to empower older adults to age in place.
Why is it important for HSD and City of Seattle taxpayers to invest in community-led work?
Our work is often led by professionals and volunteers who know and have the lived experience of the community they serve, putting them in a unique position to meet community needs effectively. A community-led organization like Kin On is uniquely positioned to build trust, create culturally meaningful programs, and respond swiftly to community needs.
When organizations reflect the people they serve, the impact is deeper and more lasting. Through HSD and City of Seattle taxpayer investment, we can continue to remove barriers, reduce disparities, and ensure that elders in our community have the opportunity to thrive.
How do your programs and services help to reduce the disparities experienced by people of color in our region?
Our bilingual staff provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support, creating an environment that feels like home for many Asian elders. We strive to ensure that language isn’t a barrier to someone getting the help they need. We offer program information in clients’ preferred languages, translation services, and direct advocacy to help navigate complex systems, including public benefits and healthcare access. By meeting people where they are, we reduce disparities and create pathways to vital services that are too often out of reach.
Tell us an example of how an HSD-funded program or service impacted one of your community members.
When a caregiver saw a flyer for Kin On’s health and information workshop at the Chinatown Community Center, she decided to attend with her 90-year-old father—and it turned out to be an incredibly rewarding experience for both of them.
The 10-session workshop provided not only valuable knowledge but also a supportive and welcoming environment. Thanks to the caring and attentive staff who offered Cantonese translation, both she and her father were able to fully engage with the materials. The topics covered were deeply relevant and sparked their interest to further explore and study various aspects of aging and wellness together.
More than just educational, the workshop became a meaningful community connection. The caregiver expressed her deep gratitude for the Kin On staff, who provided helpful, thoughtful experiences for every participant. From clear communication to creating a warm, inclusive atmosphere, the staff went above and beyond—highlighted by the birthday celebration they organized for her father, which made them feel truly embraced by the group.
After the sessions, the family was introduced to additional Kin On services, extending the support they received. The caregiver left the program not only better informed but also feeling empowered and supported in her role.
What motivates your staff or keeps you going?
What keeps our staff going is knowing some of the needs of the community are being met through our work. We receive heartfelt affirmations from the people we serve, expressing their gratitude.
We have a deep sense of community derived from knowing that many of the needs are met through team efforts and collaboration with other community partners. This collective impact gives our team the motivation to continue providing care for the people who need it most.