Join us for the ninth annual Age Well Series! This series of presentations is open to the community at no cost. The series was planned and organized by a team of Boulder County Area Agency on Aging staff and generous professional volunteers. 

The series includes the following presentations:

Project Visibility: Creating Inclusive Communities for LGBTQ+ Older Adults -  Parts 1 and 2 - Tuesday, Jan. 12 and Thursday, Jan. 14

Supporting and Growing the Direct Care Workforce: Retention, Recruitment, and Ground-Level Opportunities for Colorado - Tuesday, Jan. 19

Reframing Aging: The COVID-19 Edition - Wednesday, Jan 20

Navigating the Levels and Responsibilities of Power of Attorneys, Guardians, and Other Decision Makers - Thursday, Jan. 21

Caregivers' Panel - Tuesday, Jan. 26

Change and Uncertainty: That’s Caregiving! - Wednesday, Jan. 27

Ending Ageism Together - Wednesday, Feb. 3

Preparando Mi Regalo de Paz - Friday, Feb. 12

…and more to come!

Learn more about the Age Well Series here.

We will continue to update this webpage as new presentations are added, so keep checking back with us!

Any questions about the Age Well Series? Please contact us at bcaaa@bouldercounty.org.

Sign up for the RTD LiVE Program!

Good news! RTD has an income-based discount program and you may qualify for a 40% discount on regular fares. To qualify, individuals must be between the ages of 20 and 64, have a gross household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, and live within the RTD service area. Interested riders can apply through Colorado PEAK.

To learn more about RTD's LiVE program, visit the RTD website to watch the LiVE video series at www.rtddenver.com/LiVE.

Boulder County Mobility for All (M4A) is offering 60 FREE RTD LiVE Passes to Boulder County residents who sign up and qualify for RTD LiVE Program. For more details, attend one of the Mobility for All RTD LiVE Workshops by visiting boco.org/RTDLiVEWorkshops.

For questions regarding the Mobility for All pilot, contact the Mobility for All Program at mobilityforall@bouldercounty.org or 720-564-2218.

We will continue to provide online and phone services for clients. Our staff is available to answer calls and emails from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The Boulder County Area Agency on Aging (BCAAA) responds to the needs of older adults (60+) and their family and informal caregivers in our community through advocacy, funding, direct service, planning, and education. The BCAAA works with public and private partners to respond to the unique needs in our community. The BCAAA is currently offering remote services including:

• Information, Referral, or Resources
• Financial Assistance
• Healthy Aging Programs
• Medicare Counseling
• Caregiver Programs
• Veterans Services
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman
• Nutrition Resources

Boulder County residents can connect with BCAAA resources by email at infoADRC@bouldercounty.org, by phone at 303-441-1617, or online at bouldercountyhelp.org.

Service Connection in the Mountains

Mountain Communities

Email: infoADRC@bouldercounty.org

Phone - English or Spanish: 303-441-1617

Website: www.bouldercountyhelp.org

Join us for a Virtual Medicare Basics Class

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 much more!

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. Online courses will be using the Microsoft Teams platform.

• Wednesday, Jan. 13, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 21, 1:30-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 2, 10-11:30 a.m.

Check out our website for more information and a peak at our January classes.

For more information, or to set up an appointment, please call 303-441-1546.

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 serve as 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.

Aging Advisory Council Recruitment is Open!

The Aging Advisory Council (AAC) is recruiting new members through Friday, Jan. 15. The AAC serves in an advisory capacity to the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging. The AAC helps in the administration and planning of the Older Americans Act programs by gathering information and ideas that help to coordinate the delivery of services, and by responding effectively to the strengths and needs of older adults throughout Boulder County. The AAC meets the first Friday of every month from 9 a.m. to noon, except for July and November.

Learn more and apply for the AAC here!

If you have any questions, please contact the AAC Liaison, Lindsay Parsons, at lparsons@bouldercounty.org.

Upcoming Healthy Aging Programs!

Check in with our website to keep up to date on upcoming classes from our Healthy Aging team.

Diabetes Support and Education Group

The ongoing Diabetes Support and Education Group will meet Monday, Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to noon for this month’s topic, “Boosting Your Immune System for the New Year.” This program is conducted by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who is also a Certified Diabetes Educator. Please email infohealthyaging@bouldercounty.org for more information about this virtual group.

Diabetes Self-Management Program

We are offering a virtual opportunity to access the diabetes version of the Healthier Living/Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. This class is designed for people living with diabetes. Participants will gather for weekly virtual meetings on Tuesdays from Jan. 21 through March 4 from 1-3:30 p.m. The first meeting on Jan. 21 is an introductory session. Register at http://bit.ly/35aMUIQ.

AAA Wellness Social Hour

The AAA Wellness Social Hour is a platform that encourages social engagement and ongoing learning that is open to past, current and future wellness program participants. Participants can share experiences, support, and continue expanding on the skills learned in the programs. New or incoming participants connect with the community and meet the Wellness Programs team. The next AAA Wellness Social Hour will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 13 from 11 a.m. to noon. Register at http://bit.ly/2L3V3b3. To learn more, email infohealthyaging@bouldercounty.org.

Nutrition Counseling

Individualized counseling and coaching from a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist are available for Boulder County residents. Call 303-678-6115 (English) or 720-930-9002 (en español) with contact information.

Thank you, Medicare Volunteers!

We want to thank and feature all of our Medicare volunteers this month for their dedication to our program and to the beneficiaries of Boulder County in providing education, information and support.  They have all gone above and beyond to continue volunteering and helping beneficiaries remotely.

Our thanks go to:

Joanne Ashmun, Charles Bailey, Susan Benson, Donna Braun, Donna Burk, Prudence Carter, Kevin Cummings, Trish Devlin, Matt Henderson, Bob Jamieson, Gerra Lewis, Pat Marshall, Claudia Romans, Jan Sdao, Senta Vagle, and Jo Walsh.

We asked the volunteers to pick a question that speaks to them and respond. Below are some responses.

What is most meaningful to you about your work with Medicare and Boulder County beneficiaries?

• Helping Medicare beneficiaries navigate the complexities of the Medicare program. Helping people with their initial Medicare enrollment is particularly meaningful.
• Assisting beneficiaries with information about very important health insurance decisions gives me a sense of accomplishment.
• Helping people through what can be a complicated process. Relieving people's anxiety about Medicare.
• The sense that I am really helping people.
• Getting to know what medical care options are important to them.

What is your favorite thing about volunteering for Boulder County?

• Working with the fabulous staff.
• Level of support and encouragement by Boulder County staff and that volunteers are truly appreciated and valued for our contributions.
• Favorite thing is the teamwork that happens every day. There is always someone available to help or answer questions when needed.
• I absolutely LOVE and count on the Medicare employees (Maggie, Jean and Karen) to help me with so many issues!
• Contributing and assisting folks to understand how to navigate the Medicare quagmire.
• It’s a privilege to be associated with an organization that provides such a valuable service.

Click here to learn more about Medicare Counseling.

Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

Eat Right When Money's Tight

SNAP-Ed programs help people on tight budgets make healthy food choices. By learning tips to save money and get help, people get more food for the same amount of money. These are examples of the resources that SNAP-Ed programs use to make that happen.

• Eat Right When Money's Tight. USDA. Food and Nutrition Service.
• Spend Smart, Eat Smart. SNAP-Ed. Iowa State University Extension.
• Eating Healthy on A Budget. SNAP-Ed New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Learn more here.