Meghana Santhanam is kind, personable, and dependable—an ideal fit for the Respite & Companion Volunteer Program, in which volunteers provide companionship to older adults and respite for family caregivers. Skilled at connecting with quite different people, Meghana develops mutually rewarding relationships with the older adults with whom she is matched. We’re very fortunate to have her.
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What inspired you to volunteer?
I originally came to Boulder for college and when I graduated and my friends moved away, I wanted to look for a way to give back to Boulder somehow while also making new social connections. Being a companion volunteer seemed like the perfect opportunity to meet new people who may have been feeling just as lonely as I was.
What do you find most rewarding?
Even in these times of quarantine, and maybe even especially during these times, it’s being able to call and hear, “Oh, it’s so good to hear from you!”
Is there anything you’d like to share about your volunteer experience?
My current companion and myself spend a lot of our time together laughing about silly situations we come up with, mainly to do with my pet hermit crabs. We used to joke about me bringing the hermit crab enclosure to our visits when we’d meet in-person, imagining letting them run free. That would always make her laugh, which would in turn make me laugh. We’d then laugh about how if anyone else were listening to our conversations, they’d think we were very odd.
Our outreach to the community has not stopped during this time - whether it's calls to past and current clients, sending service information to those who have previously accessed other county services, or connecting with our friends at The Latino Chamber of Commerce - Boulder County, we are here to serve the community. Ricardo Cabrera, from The Latino Chamber, has talked to staff from across our agency over the past several weeks. Check out the videos at the links below!
If you are interested in a presentation from our staff for your organization or community group, please reach out to us at bcaaa@bouldercounty.org.
 Boulder County Area Agency on Aging’s Medicare Counseling program is offering live virtual Medicare Basis Classes starting in July 2020. 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. There are three classes in July. 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, Aug. 11, 6-7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 13, 1-2:30 p.m. (en español)
- Friday, Aug. 14, 1:30-3 p.m.
- Monday, Aug. 17, 10-11:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Sep. 3, 2-3:30 p.m.
Medicare Open Enrollment begins on Thursday, Oct. 15 and runs through Monday, Dec. 7 for coverage effective in 2021 this year!
For more information, or to set up an appointment, please call 303-441-1546.
Our shift to virtual Medicare Basics Classes was recently featured by the National Association for Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) as a "Grab-and-Go Example from the Field".
Congratulations to our Medicare Team for this prestigious recognition!
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. On Monday, Aug. 17 the group will discuss how to “Keep Your Kidneys Kicking!” The group is facilitated by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, who is also a Certified Diabetes Educator. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Please email us or call the BCAAA Nutrition Line at 303-678-6115 and leave a message with your name, date of birth, address, email, and phone number. Once received, a link to the meeting and handouts will be sent. Please indicate if you prefer to join the meeting by phone or by video conference.
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. 2! To find out if you qualify, please call 303-441-4710 or email us at InfoHealthyAging@bouldercounty.org.
Virtual Career Workshops
Workforce Boulder County offers a variety of FREE workshops to assist you in your job search and career transition. Check out the details below.
Sign up for any of these virtual workshops here.
Questions? Email Workforce Boulder County.
- Career Exploration
- Updating & Tailoring Your Resume
- LinkedIn 101
- LinkedIn 201
- Virtual Job Search
- Interview Preparation
Check out further information here.
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Virtual Computer Training Center
The Self-Directed Lab (SDL) offers CustomGuide tutorial software that allows you to learn Microsoft Office along with several other applications at your own pace. The SDL lab facilitator will help you determine your training needs if you are unsure. Learn the following:
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Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, OneNote, Project, Teams, Office Fundamentals;
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Google Gmail, Docs, Drive, Sheets, Slides
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And... Business Writing, Effective Presentations, Email Etiquette, Zoom
Check our further information here.
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.
The change in how we are doing our work at the BCAAA has been dramatic, and we're not alone. This month, we're taking a look at a few new hobbies our staff have picked up.
Lily Rashida Sinclair, canine companion to the wonderful Colleen, has learned how to fetch sticks. Colleen and her boyfriend are making a point to get out and visit some of their favorite spots they haven't explored around their home in Ned. Here are Lily and Kyle playing with sticks at Lefthand Reservoir a few nights ago.
Kate, our Fiscal and Compliance Specialist, has been learning Spanish this summer with Duolingo. Kate has been watching shows in Spanish to help her ability to pick up Spanish in conversation, including Queen of the South and LA Casa de las Floras. When asked her hopes for the future with her new Spanish language skills, Kate reported, "I'm hoping to communicate with more people in the community. I also look forward to the day I can practice with my Spanish speaking coworkers!"
¡Felicidades, Kate!
Lindsay, our Aging Policy Advocate & Planner and author of this newsletter, reports llama packing for the first time this summer. It was something she never imagined doing, but she was thrilled to have animal partners help her, her husband, their friends, and 13 month old twins up to Thunder Lake in RMNP. Below is Lindsay, picture with Jebediah (known as 'Jebedude') who is staring at her after a pretty decent fall in the pictured stream.
Ali has a new puppy, Macklin (yes, after Burt Macklin, FBI). Ali and her boyfriend are teaching Macklin how to be the best pup with lots of new tricks, including sit, shake, high five, play dead, and put your toys away.
Kudos, Macklin, for being such a good boy!
And kudos to Ali for putting in the hard work!
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