Community Digest Emergency Preparedness Group » Boulder County Area Agency on Aging

Boulder County Area Agency on Aging

Posted on: September 10th, 2020

“Hello Gold Hill!
I’m attaching this month’s edition of the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging’s Age Well in Boulder County Newsletter. I’m really excited about the virtual offerings for programming coming up. These opportunities would not have been so accessible to folks in our mountain communities due to timely and cumbersome travel. There’s plenty of info here for folks 60+ as well as caregivers and anyone else interested! If you’d like to receive our newsletter on an ongoing basis, please email bcaaa@nullbouldercounty.org.

Cut and paste this for the Newsletter, or see below
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/COBOULDER/bulletins/29ac4fb?fbclid=IwAR0DCnbiwBawzORnYelbTsFC6HUT-TdM-R9KlzPcYaO6IkIlpWj4W88j4sw”

Colleen

cid:image005.png@null01D21598.4FECB190
Colleen Sinclair | Mountain Resource Specialist
Boulder County Area Agency on Aging | Community Services Department
303-258-3068 (office) | Resource Line: 303-441-1617
Resources: BoulderCountyHelp.org | Sign up: Age Well Newsletter

September Edition – Aging Well Newsletter
Boulder County Colorado sent this bulletin at 09/04/2020 03:12 PM MDT
Subscribe | AAA Home | Contact Us | Community Resources | Facebook
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
SPRING
Issue 59 | “We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Learn more about how to make font size bigger or smaller on your screen by following this link.
Older Adults of Boulder County – Juana Mendoza
mendoza
-When Juana Mendoza was fifteen years old, spending parts of weekends with a teacher’s aide who offered to help her and other students learn English, she thought to herself, “Someday I’ll be a helper for those in need.” A volunteer at her church and an employee for Boulder County Housing & Human Services for going on 32 years, Juana has made good on her promise.

At Boulder County, Juana works in early intervention, helping families stay together by offering resources in areas ranging from Medicaid to transportation. Warm, friendly, and genuine, she quickly puts one at ease, and it’s easy to see how Juana gains trust: while no family is required to work with her, 75% of the families to whom she reaches out choose to do so. It’s also easy to see what a tireless advocate Juana is. She’s talked directly to employers who owed her clients backpay, attended Social Security and housing hearings, and gone with clients to their chemotherapy appointments to provide emotional support. “Sometimes families just need a little push up,” Juana says. “Then turn them loose and they can make it on their own.” As a recipient of a Habitat for Humanity house, Juana knows this firsthand, and she’s still grateful.

The pandemic has seen increased family needs, keeping Juana busy, although she misses seeing clients in-person. Her family is her big support; she misses once-regular family get-togethers, including monthly outings to the movies she used to enjoy with her grandchildren. Still, she says, “I can go to bed thanking God I can help people. Be who you can be today, because tomorrow, who knows?”

Ending Ageism Together: Yes, we can!
ctn
We have been working with Changing the Narrative, a strategic communications and awareness campaign that works to increase understanding of ageism (stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination based on age) and shift thinking in Colorado. Research shows that ageism is alive and well and harms not only individuals but our communities. At the BCAAA, to help combat ageism, we are creating an internal style guide to help AAA staff and volunteers communicate more effectively about aging and older adults, teaching our advisory council about such “reframing aging” principles, and have additional trainings scheduled for the fall. We have also been busy telling stories to help illustrate what we already know: older adults are assets to the community.

Interested in learning more about ageism and how you can help end it? See below for an interactive workshop opportunity.

Ending Ageism Together: Yes, we can! Changing the Narrative’s Online Workshop

Sept. 17, noon – 1 p.m.

AARP Colorado would like to inform you of this online workshop hosted by Changing the Narrative. Changing the Narrative is a campaign to change the way people think, talk, and act about aging and ageism, and facilitated by Changing the Narrative’s Director, Janine Vanderburg.

From “BoomerRemover” to “weak, vulnerable elderly” to calls for older people to sacrifice ourselves for the economy—it seems like we are surrounded by ageist messages and policies, such as policies that move older adults to the back of the triage line for critical services.

But ageism is not new. And it has harmful effects–on our financial security, on our physical and mental health, and our life span. And for people of color, ageism amplifies a lifetime of experiencing systemic inequities.

The good news? All of us have opportunities to address ageism, defined by the World Health Organization as “prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination based on age.”

In this interactive, online workshop, you’ll learn:

What ageism is, and the harmful effects it has on all of us, our communities and the economy
The benefits of having positive views of aging
Effective strategies for reducing ageism
How changing our language and messages can make a difference in how the general public thinks about older people, and increase support for more age-friendly policies
How words and phrases that we may commonly use (e.g., “having a senior moment”) can have negative consequences that we don’t intend because they reinforce ageist attitudes and prejudicial stereotypes about older people
Specific language and messages we need to avoid, especially during COVID-19
How to “talk back” when you encounter ageism
How you can become a Change AGEnt, and advance the movement to end ageism.
If you or someone you know has experienced ageism, if you’re frustrated by some of the stereotypes you’re seeing in print or digital media, or if you simply want to know more about why this is important—you won’t want to miss this. Together, we can make a difference.

Questions? Contact Kris Geerken

*This is not an AARP event. Any information you provide the host organization will be governed by its privacy policy.

Feel Confident Using Smartphone Apps that Help You Get Around!
m4a tech
Join Mobility for All and together we will learn how apps have changed the way we get around. M4A is offering a series of virtual workshops on how to access transportation options using your smartphone in English and Spanish. In these virtual workshops, you’ll get an introduction to Google Maps, Accessing RTD, Uber and Lyft and a demonstration of how to use them.

Workshops in Spanish

Sept. 14 – Lyft (Free $50 Lyft credits)
Sept. 28 – Uber (Free $50 Uber credits)
Workshops in English

Sept. 10 – Lyft (Free $50 Lyft credits)
Sept. 24 – Uber (Free $50 Uber credits)
Learn more and register for these virtual events at the Mobility for All Eventbrite webpage!

Boulder Pridefest: 50+ LGBTQ Mixer
mixer
Boulder Pridefest, sponsored by Out Boulder County kicks off on Sept. 8 with a week full of activities!

Highlights include, two in-person events, Carpool Cinema and Pridefest Motorcade, and of course the LGBTQ+ 50+ Mixer!

After a successful virtual get-together for Longmont Pride’s 50+ Mixer, we are excited to cosponsor the Boulder Pride 50+ Mixer through Zoom on Thursday, Sept. 10 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Join us to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride as we gather to engage in conversation and connect with others.

To RSVP, email Juan Moreno (he/him) at jmoreno@nulloutboulder.org.

For a complete list of Boulder Pride’s week of activities, visit Out Boulder County.

We Are Seeking RFPs for Services!
logo
We are seeking proposals from qualified organizations interested in contracting with us to provide the services to older adults and family and informal caregivers. The Request for Proposals (RFP) was delayed for six months due to the direct response to the pandemic.

Up to $330,000 in Older Americans Act & State Funds for Older Adult Services will be awarded to organizations that provide the following services or programs from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2021, in the following categories:

Assistive Technology Education
Caregiver Respite
Chores
Legal Assistance
Mental Health Counseling
Transportation
Transportation – Assisted
Services to assist older adults who are blind or visually impaired
The official Request for Proposal will be released and available for completion beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 and will close on Oct. 30, 2020. To access the official RFP, please visit www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado or https://bouldercountyaaa.oaa-sys.com/rfp/public/.

An optional pre-proposal meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, from 9 – 11 a.m. The meeting will take place via a webinar using the GoToWebinar platform.

The mission of the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging is to deliver, fund, and advocate for services that promote well-being, independence, and dignity for older adults, people living with disabilities, family and informal caregivers, and veterans in Boulder County.

Learn more here!

Share our RFP flyer with your network here!

Questions about the bidding process will need to be directed to purchasing@nullbouldercounty.org. More information about the BCAAA can be directed to Carlene Okiyama at cokiyama@nullbouldercounty.org or 303-441-1598.

bcaaa
We will continue to provide online and phone services for residents and clients, with limited, in-person appointments available to help meet critical needs. Our staff is available to answer calls and emails from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Following Boulder County guidelines, we will implement a staggered opening with county policies in place for staff and all in-person office visits. Learn more here.

Boulder County Public Health has updated the Boulder County Facial Covering Order to align with the Colorado Face Covering Order by adopting the face covering requirement in all public indoor spaces for every person over 10 years of age at all times and continuing to require face covering outdoors when social distancing cannot be maintained. The Order does not have an end date and will remain in place until it is rescinded.

Read more here.

Check out the city’s website for information on the COVID-19 closure.

laf

The City of Lafayette Senior Services Resource Coordinator can help you access resources, support, and services, often free or low cost:

Short term financial assistance for when you get in a money pinch
Home health services and grants
Dental, vision & hearing aid grants
Food, meals & shopping resources
Mental health, addiction & counseling referrals
Completing various forms & applications
Advocacy & problem solving help
…and much more!
Email: lafayetteseniorservices@nullgmail.com

Phone: 303-472-4806

Upcoming Courses from Lafayette Senior Services

Virtual Book Clubs

Option 1:

Book Club – Meet once a month on the second Friday, 9-10 a.m. via Zoom.

Option 2:

Mystery Book Club – Meet once a month on the first Friday, 10-11 a.m. via Zoom.

Email barrowman.lafayette@nullgmail.com to register and for further information.

Virtual Social Hour

Every Thursday beginning at 1 p.m. Email danabellomy.lafayette@nullgmail.com to register or for further information.

An Open-Ended Conversation About Open Space (and other things about the great outdoors in Lafayette)

Join naturalist, Martin Ogle, for a conversation about getting outdoors in Lafayette on Thursday, Sept, 24 from 10-11:30 a.m. Email seniorservices.lafayette@nullgmail.com to register or for more information.

Aging Solo: Finding Your Voice
conversation project
The Conversation Project in Boulder County and Grace Commons present this free, expert panel presentation offering discussion and guidance on how to find and prepare decision makers. This virtual presentation will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 12:30-2 p.m.

50% of us will be unable to make healthcare decisions at the end-of-life. Many people have limited or no family who can come to the bedside. We help you identify your values; what is important to you and will provide guidance on how to choose a decision-maker (either a professional, family member or friend). Most importantly, we will help you prepare “your person”.

Learn more and register here. Learn more and register here.

Alzheimer’s Association – Virtual Early Stage Programs
If you or someone you know has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, mile cognitive impairment, or another type of dementia and is living in the early stages, please join the Alzheimer’s Association for these programs. All programs are free. Please register prior to attending. To register mmdonahue@nullalz.org or call Meghan at 720-699-9289 ext. 9642 or email Dawn Simmons or call Dawn at 970-387-6123.

Social Hour

Third Wednesday of Each Month, 5-6 p.m.

A welcoming gathering place where people living with memory loss and their care partner can come to socialize with others and enjoy a cup of coffee, an activity, or a presentation.

Early Stage Support Group for Care Partner

First and Third Thursday of Each Month, 11 a.m.-noon

Early stage support groups are offered to individuals who care for someone with early memory loss, who have been diagnosed with mile cognitive impairment, early stage Alzheimer’s, or a related disorder.

Early Stage Support Group for Person Living With Dementia

First and Third Thursday of Each Month, 2-3 p.m.

Early stage support groups are offered to individuals with early memory loss, who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, early stage Alzheimer’s, or a related disorder.

Check out more events from the Alzheimer’s Association here.

Service Connection in the Mountains
Mountain Communities

Email: infoADRC@nullbouldercounty.org

Phone – English: 303-441-1617

Phone – Spanish: 303-441-3867

Website: www.bouldercountyhelp.org

Staying Well
We’ve been posting many great resources on self-care and connection to mental health assistance during this time. The feature below this article shares how our staff are taking time to take care. Here are a few of our featured posts on Facebook from the past week.

Mini Meditation for the “Sunday Scaries”
Your Healthiest Self: Wellness Toolkits
4-7-8 Breathing Method
Illustrated Guide to Showing Up For Yourself
Mental Health Resources

Mental Health Partners has changed their services and are providing telehealth appointments, including for new clients. Check out their COVID-19 response here.

Click here for information on crisis services. You can call Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255.

The Suicide Prevention Hotline has folks available to provide free and confidential support 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8355.

SLD
Boulder County Senior Law Day offers older adults, their family and caregivers and professionals the opportunity to learn about the legal complications that impact us as we age. Boulder County Senior Law Day is presenting a series of free virtual sessions that will inform attendees about a variety of topics. All of the presentations will be from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays through Oct. 1. Other resources will also be available including information about local services providers and legal clinics for more personalized consultation.

To see detailed information on registration, check out the program!

The schedule of sessions includes:

Sept. 8 – Keynote with District Attorney Michael Dougherty

2020 Lessons on Safety and Justice: How can our justice system best serve Boulder County and our older population during the pandemic and beyond?

Sept. 10 – Protect Yourself from Scams & Fraud

Sept. 15 – Access to Courts During COVID-19

Sept. 17 – Guardianship and Conservatorship in the Time of COVID-19

Sept. 22 – Fiduciaries’ Roles & Responsibilities

Sept. 24 – Long-Term Care Medicaid: Learning the Basics, and Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Sept. 29 – Navigating Social Security

Oct. 1 – Estate Planning 101

Oct. 1 – Bonus Presentation at 1:15 p.m. – Train Wreck in Estates and How to Prevent Those Trains

Please see the website for more details and registration: www.BoulderCountySeniorLawDay.org.

Getting to Know You: Our Veterans Services Officers
Our Veterans Services Officers are our featured team members for September! We took some time to see what’s going on in their world and what they’re looking forward to in the coming months.

Learn more about our resources and upcoming events from Veterans Services here.

karen townsend
Meet Karen Townsend!

Why does this work excite you? I have the opportunity to assist a veteran obtain the benefits they deserve. The maze is so complicated and intricate that navigating through it is mind boggling. Veterans deserve every benefit they can obtain because they have devoted themselves to providing us with the freedoms that we all enjoy. It is a privilege to be a servant that guides them through it all!

Describe a typical day in your role with us. A typical day for me is logging and returning emails, logging and returning phone calls, setting up appointments, answering questions, and gathering evidence and doing paperwork for claims submission. I work with veterans experiencing homelessness and veterans needing direct assistance. I partner with other agencies to maximize benefits for each one. There are lots of meetings with county and Veterans Services staff. I like to support local efforts for veterans such as the Veterans Community Project Village you’ll hear about later in this column. I enjoy serving on the Veterans Fund sponsored by the Community Foundation Boulder County.

What are your looking forward to this fall and winter? I’m looking forward to our Veterans Benefits Webinar Series (more below!), taking a much needed vacation, and spending the holidays with my family.

What do you like to do outside of work? I love to spend time with my family. Golf is a passion – both playing and watching. I enjoy live music. My husband plays in a band, so I love to support him!

Check out Karen’s interview with Ricardo Cabrera from The Latino Chamber.

jp brown
Meet J.P. Brown!

Why does this work excite you? I find serving veterans and their families to be a fulfilling and honorable profession.

Describe a typical day in your role with us. A typical day includes receiving and answering requests for assistance for veterans and their family members, working closely with Karen (featured above) to best serve the public, preparing and submitting claims for Veterans/Survivor Benefits, guiding the public to accessing potential resources, and then prioritizing tasks for the following day.

What are your looking forward to this fall and winter? Professionally, I’m looking forward to further developing an alternative approach to a common VA Disability Compensation claim. On the personal side, I’m looking forward to completing a children’s book I have been writing and then starting a non-fiction writing project.

What do you like to do outside of work? Outside of work I like to spend quality time with my family, live my religious faith, listen to vinyl records while reading and writing, and experiencing the outdoors.

Is there something you’d like to share that I haven’t asked? 810 AM is my favorite radio station to listen to when driving. The radio is turned off when I leave the 810 AM range. Give 810 AM a listen here!

vet svcs
Join JP and Karen for a series of presentations on benefits available to veterans, including:

Medical Benefits

Tuesday, Oct. 6, noon-1 p.m.

Service-Connected Disability

Wednesday, Oct. 21, noon-1 p.m.

Veterans Pension

Wednesday, Nov. 18, noon-1 p.m.

Survivors Benefits

Tuesday, Nov. 24, noon-1 p.m.

Suicide Prevention

Tuesday, Dec. 8, noon-1 p.m.

Learn more and register for these upcoming sessions here!

A New Start for Those Who Served
vets photo
The following article was written by Karen Townsend, one of our Veterans Services Officers. Picture above is the groundbreaking at Veterans Community Project Village in Longmont.

Being a Veterans Service Officer in Boulder County for the last 38 years, I have advocated for creative ways to meet the needs of homeless veterans in our community. In March of 2018, I was asked to serve on a committee to make the vision of housing for local veterans experiencing homelessness a reality. The committee discussed designs and explored similar developments across the US. Kevin Mulshine, from HSC Development, donated the land for the project and visited the Veterans Community Project (VCP) in Kansas City, MO as an example of how to move the project forward locally. VCP’s vision is to end homelessness for any person who took the oath to defend and protect our nation, regardless of the nature of their discharge from service. VCP is expanding their footprint across the nation with the inclusion of ‘VCP Village’ in Longmont. VCP Village will be located on two acres in Longmont and will feature 26 tiny homes and a 3,000 square foot community center as a hub for wraparound supports and an area of connection for veterans experiencing homelessness. After many months of delays due to COVID, groundbreaking for VCP Village took place on Thursday, Aug. 27. VCP Village will be ready to welcome veteran residents in the summer of 2021.

I have never been more excited about a project in my 38 years of serving veterans. I am truly proud of our community for embracing the initiative to make a profound difference in the lives of those that took the oath to defend our nation. We truly owe them our freedom. Learn more about Longmont’s VCP Village here.

fpw
Falls Prevention Week 2020 features a collaboration of virtual activities organized by agencies, organizations, and individuals to help folks on ways to reduce their changes on falling, while having some fun in the process. A virtual Falls Prevention Week will be held this year from Sept. 21-25.

We will be updating BoulderCountyFallsPrevention.org with more information over the coming week. If you would like a notification with the final programming list for Falls Prevention Week 2020, please email us at infohealthyaging@nullbouldercounty.org or give us a call at 303-441-4583.

Programs on Monday, Sept. 21

Falls-Free Checkup

This interactive questionnaire helps assess your fall risk and provides you with a printable file to share with your healthcare provider and follow-up resources.

What is this and how do I use it? Home Safety and Assistive Device Demo

Join an experienced Physical Therapist to discuss proper fit and usage of a variety of assistive devices. Learn how these devices can provide support and allow you to move around more freely.

“GET UP, get up.”

We’ll show you several variations on how to get down on the floor and back up safely.

Programs on Tuesday, Sept. 22

Hearing Loss and the Higher Risk of Falling

Learn about how age-related hearing loss can increase your risk of falls and how you can work to reduce the risk.

Bone Health

Learn some nutrition and lifestyle basics to support bone growth and maintenance and how to avoid bone breakdown as we age.

Programs on Wednesday, Sept. 23

Tai Chi for Health

Enjoy the benefits of Tai Chi forms, including preventing falls, boosting immunity, decreasing stress, and improving quality of life.

Pharmacy Talk: Medications and Bone Health

Listen in to this live discussion sponsored by the National Council on Aging.

Programs on Thursday, Sept. 24

Falls Prevention Conversation Guide for Caregivers

This conversation guide has many purposes. Use this guide as a tool of empowerment in your role as a caregiver. Use it if you or your care recipient has had a fall, is experiencing decreased mobility, is unsteady on their feet, or is fearful of falling.

Programs on Friday, Sept. 25

Safe Mobility – Six Steps to Prevent Falls

Don’t let a fall take away your health and independence. Use this simple falls prevention tips to reduce your risk of falling at home and in your community.

Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Oct. 15
medicare oe
Get ready! From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, you can enroll in health and drug plans for 2020. Use these three quick tips to get ready for Medicare Open Enrollment.

Check your mail. You may get important notices from your current plan, Medicare, or Social Security about changes to your coverage. You’ll also get brochures from companies that offer Medicare health and prescription drug plans. Remember – plans aren’t allowed to call or come to your home without an invitation from you.
Review your current coverage. Plans change and so do your needs. Carefully review any materials and changes in costs or coverage that will happen in 2021 and decide if your current Medicare coverage will meet your needs for the year ahead.
Get personalized help! BCAAA Medicare Counselors are here for you! Stay tuned for more information on when and how to reserve your virtual or phone appointment! Or visit org to see the latest information about classes and appointments.
Join us for a Virtual Medicare Basics Class
medicare
Boulder County Area Agency on Aging’s Medicare Counseling program is offering live virtual Medicare Basis Classes. These lively and entertaining classes are designed to provide the necessary information to older adults when getting ready to apply for Medicare. Participants will learn about how and when to enroll, the different parts of Medicare, what is covered and what is not, Medicare fraud, and other information related to Medicare.

Interested participants will need internet, a computer, tablet, or phone, and the appropriate application for the class. Please click on any one of the class times below to register. Once registered, participants will receive instruction on how to join the class from their computer, tablet, or phone. Online courses will be using the Microsoft Teams platform.

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1:30-3 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1:30-3 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 21, 10-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 24, 1-2:30 p.m. (en español)
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2-3:30 p.m.
For more information, or to set up an appointment, please call 303-441-1546.

Upcoming Healthy Aging Courses!
logo
The AAA supports and encourages all older adults in making healthy lifestyle choices. Our Healthy Aging Team is dedicated to helping you learn how to take control of your personal health and wellbeing. Learn how to manage chronic health problems like heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain and diabetes; reduce the fear of falling; eat healthier; and increase your physical activity.

Learn more about our Healthy Aging Programs here.

Diabetes Support and Education Group

This group is for Boulder County residents (60+) with a diabetes diagnosis or those caring for someone with a diabetes diagnosis. Join us on Monday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to noon for this month’s topic, “Effects of Artificial Sweeteners and Alcohol on Your Blood Sugar!” This program is conducted by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who is also a Certified Diabetes Educator. Please email us with your contact information. A link to the virtual meeting and handouts will be sent to you. If phone is preferred, we can call you to let you know of the phone number to call in.

Diabetes Prevention Program

Left untreated, prediabetes can raise your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The Diabetes Prevention Program provides a proven behavior change program and a trained lifestyle coach to provide support and guidance to the group. This is a year-long program with weekly meetings for six months and once or twice monthly for the second six months. The next program begins on Wednesday, Sept. 16! To find out if you qualify, please call 303-441-4710 or email us at InfoHealthyAging@nullbouldercounty.org.

From Our Dietitian: Malnutrition
malnutrition
Malnutrition occurs when the body doesn’t get the right balance of calories and nutrients that it needs. This can include not getting enough calories or nutrients, consuming too many calories, or too much of certain nutrients. People who are at any weight can be malnourished. The most common signs someone is malnourished are sudden, unintended weight loss or a loss of appetite and decrease in food intake. Below are some common reasons malnutrition may occur.

Physical Changes, such as a loss in muscle and an increase in body fat is one. These can occur even if your overall body weight remains steady. Older adults also require more of certain nutrients.

Dental/Oral Problems – Tooth loss, tooth pain, dry mouth, and other issues may limit food choices and lead to a limited diet.

Sensory Changes – Altered sense of taste, smell, and vision can affect what you choose to eat.

Social Isolation – Eating meals alone may lead to decreased intake and more monotonous food choices.

Financial Barriers – Not enough money to purchase nutritious food, food money runs out before the end of the month. Choices between medication and groceries.

Chronic Diseases – Can cause a decrease in appetite, make shopping cooking and eating more difficult. Can affect digestion.

Medications – Some types of medications may decrease appetite.

Hospitalizations – Surgeries and procedures, illness, worry and stress over being in the hospital.

Some of the most common problems associated with malnutrition are: a weakened immune system, increased risk of infection, slower recovery time from illness, increased risk of falls, fatigue, and anemia.

This checklist can be used to assess if you or someone you know is at risk for malnutrition.

For more information about this topic, or for questions related to nutrition and food, please feel free to reach out to our Dietian Patti Murphy by email or by phone at 303-441-4710.

Resource Connection & Volunteer Opportunities
Boulder County COVID-19 Resources

Boulder County is working with community partners to help those impacted by COVID-19. Check out this webpage for resources on accessing emergency assistance.

BCAAA Ombudsmen Are Here to Serve

If you or a loved one lives in an assisted living or nursing home, you know that COVID-19 has dramatically impacted these homes, the people who live there, and their loved ones. Those of us who live in long term care are much more isolated. The BCAAA Long Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO) program is still active and a resource to residents and loved ones of residents in long-term care. While LTCO are not physically in nursing homes and assisted livings, we are maintaining regular contact with those we serve, following all orders and regulations in place.

Know your rights – LTCO help residents resolve problems and ensure quality care and services. You can reach email us or give us a call at 303-441-1173 with any questions or concerns.

COVID-19 Updates

Boulder County Public Health is continuing to closely monitor the COVID-19 outbreak and is in close and regular contact with public health partners. Check out local, updated information on COVID-19.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is sharing status updates on the outbreak. Click here to learn more about risk, to access fact sheets, and status updates.

Volunteer and Donation Opportunities

Help those affected by volunteering or donating with HelpColoradoNow.org. Boulder County staff are monitoring local volunteer sign-ups through this site. Clinical volunteers are also needed for the Boulder County Medical Reserve Corps – learn more and sign up to volunteer.

Working From Home: Meeting Community Needs with Poise, Collaboration, and The Grateful Dead
The change in how we are doing our work at the BCAAA has been dramatic, and we’re not alone. This month, we’re hearing from Colleen Sinclair, one of our Mountain Options Counselors.

mtns
I’ve been reflecting on the past few months in the foothills of Boulder County and wondering how to share the experiences of our older mountain residents. Typically, the mountains can be a resource desert that requires creative case management and continuous advocacy “down below” to best serve clients. During this time, I have seen community members and partners come together to provide some comfort and connection for our folks. I’m proud to work for the BCAAA as one of the few full-time county employees in the mountains along with my colleague, Lynette Anderson, and the compassionate and helpful mountain deputies of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. As a mountain resident, I value my privacy, space, independence, and solitude. Yet, during this time of complete isolation, even the most introverted find peace in a little social connection.

When the gravity of this situation started to sink in mid-March, the human service providers along the Peak to Peak corridor acted quickly. Nicole Cavalino, Director of Nederland Area Seniors/Mountain Peak Life, swiftly shifted the congregate meal program to home-delivered fresh and frozen meals every week. The meal program receives most of their funding from the BCAAA. Today this program provides over 1,500 meals to 125 older adults each month across the Peak to Peak, from Jamestown to Black Hawk and all the towns and canyons in between. Teresa DeAnni, BCAAA’s Healthy Aging Programs Manager, quickly completed a contract with and rolled out Mom’s Meals to older folks in the mountains. Mom’s Meals provides frozen meals delivered by FedEx and UPS to older adults living in some of the most remote areas in Boulder County. The Nederland Food Pantry quickly coordinated with the Ward Food Box and Mountain Food Rescue to get pop-up food pantries in Gold Hill, Four Mile Canyon, and Jamestown with optional food box delivery and drive-through for our older mountain residents. In addition to all these services, Patti Murphy, a BCAAA Dietitian, worked with Teresa to set up a restaurant gift card program providing mountain residents with $50 per week to use at their favorite local restaurant. The program met a need for older adults and helped support local businesses, a true win-win. A mountain resident initially volunteered to coordinate the plethora of volunteers who wanted to do anything to support our higher risk population to stay safe. Eventually this position became grant-funded and helped me to connect every older adult in the Nederland, Ward, Gold Hill, and Coal Creek communities with a volunteer who’d make trips to Boulder and beyond to pick up medications, groceries, and other supplies within 24 hours. Besides getting the physical supplies and food to my wonderful mountain clients, these volunteers connected with older adults in their communities to provide socially distant support in more ways than could have been imagined.

Mountain residents, especially those who have built and contributed to this place over the past several decades, are not strangers to disasters. Their resilience shines bright in the face of adversity and it hasn’t been any different this time around. Of course, there have been hiccups and a collective anxiety felt in these hills. Having the honor of serving Boulder County and being a part of coordinating these efforts alongside EFAA, Teens Inc., the Nederland Presbyterian Church, the Nederland Food Pantry, and many others gives me a strong sense of pride and connection to these communities we call home. I look forward to my work as a Boulder County Cultural Broker in our recovery efforts to help continue to build resiliency in my community.

I wanted to share one last story to close to help illustrate the support we’ve offered to our mountain residents. I received a panicked phone call last week from an older adult in her 80s. She’s been very concerned about the possibility of she or her husband falling ill and how they will get the care they need. After a 30 minute check-in, sharing stories of connections with friends, and being grateful for the new opportunities to get to know neighbors and slow life down a bit, she told me she found an old Grateful Dead cassette tape and she and her husband danced for nearly an hour that evening. Sometimes just a listening ear and a promise that you’re there to offer whatever you can is enough to find joy during an especially difficult time.

If you need a dance break, I recommend ‘Eyes of the World’ by Grateful Dead.

Upcoming Classes, Some Entertainment, and Resources
Rainbow Elders of Boulder County will be hosting a Virtual Tea Time on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 7-8 p.m. Learn more about this opportunity by emailing our LGBTQ+ Program Specialist, Michael Chifalo. Check out additional upcoming opportunities from Rainbow Elders of Boulder County on Facebook!

The mission of Active Minds is to expand lives and minds by providing outstanding educational programs. They believe in lifelong learning and fostering active minds for life. To learn more about any of the programs listed below, please visit the Active Minds website.

Thursday, Sept. 10, 3-4 p.m. – History of the Atomic Bomb
Thursday, Sept. 17, 2-4 p.m. – Italy
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1-2 p.m. – Artificial Intelligence
Monday, Sept. 28, 3-4 p.m. – Prohibition
==

The dementia journey can be very lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. We are fortunate to live in an area that has many resources available to offer support to all those living with this disease and their family or informal caregivers. Check out the types of resources provided by the Alzheimer’s Association at no cost to the community below. You may also be interested in information about changing caregiver needs as dementia progresses here.

Education classes are presented throughout the region and provide an excellent opportunity to receive accurate information from a reliable source.
Care consultations provide assistance in creating a written action plan that helps a family or informal caregiver know what steps they need to take next.
Support groups are available across the region at various dates and times to make it as easy as possible for family and informal caregivers of someone living with dementia to attend.
24/7 helpline is available any time you need to talk. Call 1-800-272-3900.
==

Every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m., Boomers Leading Change gather together around their favorite mug for great conversation and company. Upcoming discussions include “What is your favorite season ans why?” on Sept. 9, “What is the most out-of-character thing you’ve ever done? on Sept. 16, “What is the most useful advice you’ve received” on Sept. 23, and “What was the first concert you went to and what was the last concert you attended?” on Sept. 30. Register here.

Boomers Leading Change introduces new resources that support older adults who want to make friendly connections. Sign up to participate in their pen pal, email pal, and phone tree opportunities on their webpage. You can also join their new Garden Club or the Recipe Club.

It’s not the passage of time that makes it so hard to get older. It’s ageism, a prejudice that pits us against our future selves — and each other. Ashton Applewhite urges us to dismantle the dread and mobilize against the last socially acceptable prejudice. “Aging is not a problem to be fixed or a disease to be cured,” she says. “It is a natural, powerful, lifelong process that unites us all.” Welcome to Ashton Applewhite’s TED Talk.

Senior Planet created a series of ‘Stuck-at-Home Guides’ to walk folks through online grocery shopping, filling prescriptions, online games, and even ballet.

Senior Planet has a Virtual & Phone Tech Helpline. The Colorado Hotline is 303-218-7320.

Here’s a quick primer from Senior Planet on finding easy online puzzles and games.

You can sign up for their newsletters here.

Well Connected is a telephone-based national program that offers free weekly activities, education, friendly conversation, classes, support groups, and presentations to individuals 60 years or older anywhere in the United States for English and Spanish speakers. Activities occur throughout the day, every day, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., depending on the day. Sessions run between 30 minutes to one hour. Well Connected offers a program called Social Call, in which volunteers call participants for a weekly phone visit. For more information, email coviaconnections@nullcovia.org or call 877-797-7299. For more information or to register for Well Connected programs go to https://covia.org/services/well-connected/ or call 1-877-797-7299.

CBS Sunday Morning features clips at the end of each show through their Sunday Morning Nature series. There are hours of these one to two minute clips available on their Facebook page. In addition, they offer their Rise and Shine Series featuring their gorgeous theme song played by folks from around the world, the Sunday Matinee, and latest clips from the show on their Facebook Watch page. Enjoy!

Take a Virtual Walking Tour on YouTube!

Check out these local opportunities to help from home at Zooniverse. You can help Boulder County Parks & Open Space biologists with the colossal task of of tagging wildlife photos. Check out more opportunities here.

Activity Recommendations from our Healthy Aging Team

Before beginning any exercise program, remember to exercise at a level that is appropriate for your current physical ability, stay close to a chair or other form of support and use as needed, modify the exercise itself for your level (i.e. sit rather than stand, if needed), modify the number of repetitions or amount of time as needed, stop if breathing becomes difficult or you have pain, and always follow your doctor of physical therapist’s guidelines.

Check out weekly Health and Wellness Tips from our team in English and Spanish.

National Institutes of Aging – Exercise and Physical Activity

National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability – In addition to physical activity videos, check out their meditation videos. Check out this strength and cardio video tailored for exercising at home.

Arthritis Foundation – Walk with Ease Exercises

Check out these free yoga and mindfulness videos from Yoga with Adriene.

Gold Hill, Colorado

Join Email List

Visitor Info

Community Info

Boulder County Area Agency on Aging