Aging Well in Boulder County | Issue 2 | November 17, 2015

We applied for the Linkage Lab because we are anticipating growing opportunities to partner with the health sector, as we already contribute to improving health outcomes and medical cost savings by focusing on the social determinants of health. This work comes at a critical time in health care, as the Affordable Care Act has created new care financing and delivery opportunities, including Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Medical/Health Homes, Community-based Care Transition Programs, Dual Eligible Integration Pilots, and more.

Boulder County is one of the better places to age well in the United States. Did you know that the Area Agency on Aging has a non-profit partner that helps us fund additional services in Boulder County's communities? The Aging Services Foundation (ASF) was established as a 501(c)(3) in 1999 to help support our proven and effective services that keep older adults in the community and support family caregivers. Each year, the ASF contributes to quality services like information about resources, care coordination, caregiver support, and financial assistance for dentures, hearing aids, and rent.

The ASF could use your help to ensure these valuable services continue! Consider making a gift to the ASF today through the Colorado Gives Day campaign - by post-dating your gift for or making your gift on Colorado Gives Day, December 8th, when contributions will go even further!

Learn more about the ASF

Calls into our Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) help line are increasing. Outreach and engagement efforts with the public and our network of health and service providers, paired with a growing public need for resource assistance in our communities have contributed to this growth. We are receiving nearly twice as many calls this year.

Erica Corson became our new Elder Rights Manager last month, after serving the BCAAA as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman. She will now oversee the Long-term Care Ombudsman work, Project Visibility and elder LGBT outreach, the Respite and Companion Volunteer Program, and elder rights promotion. She will represent BCAAA on the countywide Elder Justice Coalition and work on other efforts to address and prevent elder abuse.

Erica replaces Janet Ibanez, who retired from the position after 13 years. Janet was lauded by colleagues and community partners for leading the work of the elder rights program staff with the heart of an advocate and from a place of respect and kindness.

Our #EldersofBoulderCounty project was a hit! Thanks to all those who followed along or participated! If you missed it, you can still see it over on our Facebook page.

Based on the estimated national average of adult family caregivers in the US (13.6%, Family Caregiver Alliance), there are an estimated 42,162 people in Boulder County providing an average of 20 hours of care per week to a family member. That’s 843,240 hours per week, or 43,848,480 hours per year, of unpaid care! Valued at a conservative $10/hour, that same care would cost roughly $438,484,800 in paid services! (note that many people providing care do not self-identify as family caregivers, so these numbers are modest estimates.)

November is National Family Caregivers Month and the theme for 2015 is Respite: Care for Caregivers. Respite is the chance to take a breather, the opportunity to re-energize, and is crucial for family caregivers. Respite protects caregiver health, strengthens family relationships, and prevents burn-out.

Learn more about our Respite Services

Join us for the annual celebration for all Boulder County LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people aged 60 and better – allies, friends and family are welcome too! Entertainment will include jazz singer Faye Nepon with collaborative pianist Deborah Schmidt-Lobis; dance tunes by DJ Susie Pringle; and the ever-gorgeous and hilarious Ms. Eda Bagel as our emcee.

Light hors d'oeuvres and soft drinks are included and a cash bar is offered. There are door prizes and Broncos on TV, and festive attire is encouraged. Because of a generous grant from the Open Door Fund, we ask only $10 (including fees) in advance by Wed. Dec. 2, or $15 at the door. No one will be turned away for lack of funds!

Our Options Counselors are working with a Medicaid program called Colorado Choice Transitions (CCT). This program is designed to provide information and assistance to nursing home residents who wish to return to the community.

The national survey of the program evaluates six quality-of-life domains: Quality of and access to care, being treated well by providers, a sense of autonomy, satisfaction with living arrangements, community involvement, and health and wellbeing.

Would you like to meet and visit with an older adult in your community? We are in need of volunteers in Boulder and Longmont who can visit with older adults who are experiencing isolation or some form of compromised health. These adults either live alone or with a family caregiver, there is no hands-on care, and the visit is entirely for socializing.

Volunteers visit two hours a week, must be at least 21 years old and are asked to make a six-month commitment to the program. To learn more, watch this video describing our Respite & Companion Volunteer Program, or contact Katie at

infoRespite@bouldercounty.org or 303-441-1543.

• Matter of Balance Classes | November | County-wide

• Es Cosa de Equilibrio | Noviembre | Boulder

• Medicare Enrollment | October 15 - December 7 | County-wide

• Lavender Gala | December 6 | Lafayette

• Colorado Gives Day | December 8 | County-wide

• Be Well Classes | Ongoing | County-wide

• Be Well Diabetes Classes | Ongoing | County-wide