Welcome to the Spokane Senior Times, your go-to source for all good things related to seniors in our community!
Thank you to our advertisers, contributors, and community!
Welcome to the Spokane Senior Times!
Seniors are not a small or peripheral group in Spokane; they are a defining part of who we are as a community today—and who we are becoming. This is why Spokane Senior Times exists to highlight their contributions and needs.
According to Washington’s Age-Friendly County Profile for Spokane County, there are approximately 123,890 residents age 60 and older. That number is projected to grow significantly over the next decade as people live longer and more adults choose to age in place in the Inland Northwest. Seniors already represent one of the largest and most influential population groups in the region.
Looking more narrowly, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 18% of Spokane County residents are age 65 and older, representing roughly one in every five adults. That translates to more than 100,000 people whose experiences, needs, purchasing power, volunteerism, and wisdom shape Spokane’s economy and civic life every day.
This demographic reality is closely tied to Spokane’s economic identity. According to Washington State Employment Security Department data, health care and social assistance is the largest employment sector in Spokane County. Hospitals, clinics, senior living communities, home-health providers, and social-service organizations employ tens of thousands of people and serve patients from across Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and beyond. Spokane’s role as a regional health-care hub exists in large part because of its aging population.
But numbers alone don’t tell the full story. What matters most is why seniors matter—and what matters to them.
Access to care is a top concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consistent access to primary care, specialists, medications, and preventive services is essential for healthy aging. For many Spokane seniors, access is influenced by transportation availability, provider shortages, wait times, and affordability. Rural seniors in Spokane County face additional barriers simply getting to appointments or services.
Financial security is another major concern. According to AARP, many older adults nationwide live on fixed incomes and are sensitive to rising costs for housing, utilities, food, and health care. In Spokane, where housing costs have increased sharply in recent years, seniors often worry about staying in their homes, affording rent, or finding suitable downsizing options that preserve independence.
Social connection matters deeply. According to the CDC, social isolation and loneliness are associated with higher risks of heart disease, depression, cognitive decline, and premature mortality. Seniors consistently report that community, purpose, and meaningful connection are as important to well-being as medical care. Spokane’s parks, libraries, senior centers, faith communities, volunteer organizations, and neighborhood events play a vital role in keeping older adults engaged and visible.
Dignity, respect, and being heard also matter. Seniors want accurate information, honest conversations, and media that reflects their lives without stereotypes. They care about their families, their neighborhoods, and the future of Spokane. Many are caregivers themselves, volunteers, mentors, donors, and civic leaders.
Seniors are not a niche audience—they are the backbone of Spokane’s past, present, and future. Keeping seniors at the front of the conversation benefits everyone: families, businesses, nonprofits, policymakers, and the next generation who will one day age here too. When Spokane works for its seniors, as highlighted in Spokane Senior Times, it works better for all of us.
Our Passion and our Purpose
Spokane Senior Times exists for one clear purpose: to keep seniors at the forefront of the conversation in Spokane. As one of the fastest-growing and most influential populations in our region, older adults deserve accurate information, thoughtful storytelling, and a publication like Spokane Senior Times that reflects their real lives, concerns, and contributions.
Our plan is intentionally simple and community-centered.
Spokane Senior Times will be a free quarterly print and digital publication serving seniors, their families, caregivers, service providers, and decision-makers throughout Greater Spokane County and the Inland Northwest. The paper will focus on issues that matter most to older adults—health and access to care, housing and aging in place, financial security, community connection, safety, purpose, and quality of life—presented in a factual, respectful, and positive way.
An Invitation to Contributors
We invite local writers, professionals, caregivers, seniors, and subject-matter experts to contribute articles, columns, essays, photography, and community stories to Spokane Senior Times. We are especially interested in voices with lived experience—seniors themselves, family caregivers, healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, and advocates who understand aging in Spokane. Our editorial standard is clear: content must be accurate, non-predatory, respectful, and genuinely useful to seniors and those who support them.
Community & Nonprofit Connection
Community engagement is at the heart of Spokane Senior Times. We actively welcome nonprofits, civic organizations, and community groups whose missions support seniors, caregivers, health access, social connection, safety, education, and dignity. Spokane Senior Times is a platform to highlight good work being done on behalf of older adults, share opportunities for involvement, and connect readers with trusted local resources. We believe strong communities are built when seniors are seen, valued, and included.
Advertising with Purpose
Spokane Senior Times will remain free for seniors. To make that possible, we partner with reputable, ethical advertisers who serve older adults and their families with integrity. Advertising is by invitation and alignment—our advertisers are businesses and organizations that provide real value, clear information, and fair practices. In return, advertisers gain meaningful visibility with a highly engaged, loyal, and influential audience.
A Shared Commitment
This publication is not just about seniors—it is about the future of Spokane. When seniors are informed, connected, and supported, the entire community benefits. We invite contributors, nonprofits, community partners, and responsible advertisers to join us in building a publication that reflects the best of Spokane: thoughtful, inclusive, practical, and deeply rooted in care.
If you support seniors and their causes, there is a place for you here.
Have a Business that is of Interest to Seniors?
We have advertising available for Senior Times, both online and in print, with a distribution that we intend to grow from 2,000 readers to 100,000 in the next year. To inquire about pricing, sample contracts, or discounts on new advertising, please contact sheila@porchlightspokane.com. Become a charter advertiser with Senior Times and grow with us for incredibly good rates while helping us develop our platform!