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Issue 67 | "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Albert Einstein
Happy Older Americans Month, Boulder County!
This month, we join with municipalities in Boulder County and aging leaders across the nation to celebrate Older Americans Month (OAM). This year's theme, "Communities of Strength," highlights the resilience and strength of communities across America.
In tough times, communities find strength in people—and people find strength in their communities. In the past year, we’ve seen this time and again across Boulder County as friends, neighbors, and businesses have found new ways to support each other.
In our community, older adults are a key source of this strength. Through our experiences, successes, and difficulties, we have built resiliency that helps all of us face new challenges. When communities tap into this, they become stronger too.
Each May, the Administration for Community Living leads the celebration of OAM. This year’s theme is Communities of Strength, recognizing the important role older adults play in fostering the connection and engagement that build strong, resilient communities.
Here are some ways to share and connect during OAM:
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Look for joy in the everyday: Celebrate small moments and ordinary pleasures by taking time to recognize them. Start a gratitude journal and share it with others via social media, or call a friend or family member to share a happy moment or to say thank you.
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Reach out to neighbors: Even if you can’t get together in person right now, you can still connect with your neighbors. Leave a small gift on their doorstep, offer to help with outdoor chores, or deliver a homecooked meal.
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Build new skills: Learning something new allows us to practice overcoming challenges. Take an art course online or try a socially distanced outdoor movement class to enjoy learning with others in your community. Have a skill to share? Find an opportunity to teach someone, even casually.
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Share your story: There’s a reason storytelling is a time-honored activity. Hearing how others experience the world helps us grow. Interviewing family, friends, and neighbors can open up new conversations and strengthen our connections.
When people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and talents share experiences—through action, story, or service—we help build strong communities. And that’s something to celebrate!
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On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners proclaimed the month of May, Older Americans Month. Check out the official proclamation language below.
WHEREAS, Boulder County is home to more than 65,000 older adults who make countless contributions to our community every day; and
WHEREAS, Boulder County is stronger when people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds are included and encouraged to share their stories of resilience; and
WHEREAS, Boulder County residents have come together during this difficult time to protect people of all ages as we fight this pandemic together; and
WHEREAS, we work to communicate about aging and older adults to help foster an age-friendly community that benefits all residents as we age; and
WHEREAS, Boulder County can foster communities of strength by:
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engaging the community in anti-ageist discussion and work;
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creating opportunities to celebrate the resilience of our beautiful community;
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engaging older adults through programming that supports physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being; and
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connecting people across age and social constructs with opportunities to share their time, experience, and talents.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners of Boulder County do hereby proclaim May 2021 to be Older Americans Month, recognizing the national theme, Communities of Strength. We urge every resident to take time during this month to recognize those of us who are older and the people who support older adults as essential contributors to the strength of our community.
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Join us as we continue the ninth annual Age Well Series! This series of presentations is open to the community at no cost. The series includes the following presentations:
Project Visibility: Creating Inclusive Communities for LGBTQ+ Older Adults - Monday, May 10
Dementia: Advanced Care Planning, Directives, and our Future Selves - Thursday, May 20
Dementia Aware Series: The Lobes of the Brain - Wednesday, June 30
…and more to come!
Learn more about and register for 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.
Are you aging solo or growing older without traditional family support? If so, The Front Range Aging Solo Network could be for you. The Conversation Project in Boulder County is gathering solo agers together to form a resource and education group. The goals are to connect solo agers to each other, provide a supportive environment, and offer learning opportunities to members.
The next meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, May 10 at 4 p.m.
Meetings will continue to be held on the second Monday of each month at 4 p.m.
Email amandameier@trucare.org to be added to the invitation list. Join the private Facebook group to connect today and stay up to date with meeting topics and upcoming events!
Boulder County Area Agency on Aging’s Medicare Counseling program offers live virtual Medicare Basics Classes. These lively and entertaining classes are designed to provide the necessary information to older adults, and those caring for 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. This online course uses Zoom.
Check out our website for more information.
For more information, or to set up an appointment, please call 303-441-1546.
Our Medicare Counseling team can help you!
- Local, objective Medicare insurance counseling and assistance
- Medicare Basics Class offered three times a month
- Virtual and phone appointments with counselors
- SHIP (State Health Insurance Programs) Certified
- Assistance available in English and Spanish
- All services provided at no cost
Contact our team at 303-441-1546 (English), 303-678-6113 (en Español), or at medicarecounseling@bouldercounty.org.
La Agencia de Servicios para Adultos Mayores presenta “Medicare Cafecitos” ofrecidos por medio del programa de Medicare del Condado de Boulder.
El “Medicare Cafecito” en línea usará la plataforma de equipos de Microsoft (MS Teams) y por la línea de conferencia. El cafecito ofrece información imparcial y actualizada.
Acompáñenos para conversar sobre sus preguntas del Medicare. Todos son bienvenidos – beneficiarios, familiares, empleados/proveedores de servicios, y miembros de la comunidad.
El próximo Medicare Cafecito se reunirá el lunes 17 de mayo a la 1 p.m.
Estas sesiones se realizan mensualmente. Revise las sesiones para el 2021 en nuestro sitio web a continuación.
Para registrarse: https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/seniors/services/medicare-counseling/
Para información en español llame a Karen Herrera 303-678-6113 o mande un correo electrónico a kherrera@bouldercounty.org
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We 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. We are 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.
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The Boulder County Elder Justice Coalition is working on a collaborative effort to prevent and respond to the growing issue of elder abuse in our community. The first step in understanding the problem is to hear from you. Please click HERE to fill out this quick survey about your thoughts on elder abuse and how we can work on the problem as a community. It's important for the coalition to hear from diverse voices, so please complete the survey so the experiences of LGBTQ+ older adults are represented. Feel free to share the survey link with anyone who can provide valuable information for us as we plan how best to support older adults in our community. Your input is very much appreciated!
Take the survey today!
The Boulder County Area Agency on Aging is recruiting for a Data and Voucher Program Specialist. The specialist will facilitate the processing, payment, and reporting for a variety of grant-funded voucher services. They identify trends in service delivery data and develop analysis reports to support data-driven decision making. Responsibilities include managing the annual voucher services budget, supporting Resource Specialists’ access to and awareness of voucher services, and expansion of voucher service types and providers. The ideal candidate in this position would have excellent data and organizational skills and/or experience, balanced with strengths in creativity, communication, and customer service.
Learn more about the position and apply here!
Do you want to feel more confident using smartphone apps that help you get around?
Call 720-564-2218 for details. Mobility for All is collaborating with community partners throughout Boulder County to offer transportation-related technology workshops to help community members of all ages and abilities feel more comfortable using transportation apps such as: Google Maps, Transit App, Lyft, Uber, and RTD Mobile Tickets.
Virtual workshops can be found at boco.org/M4AEvents
Check our Healthy Aging webpage 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 on Monday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to noon for this month’s topic, “All Things Exercise.” This program is conducted by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who is also a Certified Diabetes Educator. Please email infohealthyaging@bouldercounty.org or call 303-678-6115 for more information about this virtual group.
Fresh Conversations
Fresh Conversations is an evidence-based nutrition education program focused on timely nutrition topics presented monthly. Fresh Conversations is led by Patti Murphy, RDN.
The topic for May is “Know Your Heart Signs” and will focus on nutrition for prevention of heart attack and cardiovascular diseases.
This program will be held on Monday, May 10 from 1-2 p.m. Register here. To learn more, email infohealthyaging@bouldercounty.org.
Conversaciones Frescas
(Fresh Conversations in Spanish)
Cuando: 26 de Mayo, 1-2pm
Conversaciones Frescas es una oportunidad gratuita para vincularse con otros adultos mayores con el fin mantener conversaciones amigables centradas en la educación sobre la nutrición. Acompáñenos desde la comodidad de su hogar para participar en una conversación divertida que lo ayudará a aprender sobre cómo mantener su salud e independencia. Esta conversacion se enfoca en el tema de salud actual y ofrece consejos prácticos y soluciones sensibles a los problemas cotidianos que se interponen en lo que la mayoría de las personas quieren hacer: ¡vivir bien y comer bien!
Contacto: Nina Christensen a 303-441-3774
Para registrarse: https://bit.ly/3gpw8fb
Nutrition Counseling
Individualized counseling and coaching from a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist are available for Boulder County residents. Call 303-678-6115 (English) or 720-930-0223 (en español) with your contact information.
The Aging Mastery Program is a National Council on Aging, evidence-based program that gives you the basic tools and resources to age well. This fun, innovative program empowers you to take key steps to improve your well-being, add stability to your life and strengthen ties to your community. You will learn about:
- Navigating Longer Lives
- Exercise and You
- Sleep
- Healthy Eating and Hydration
- Financial Fitness
- Medicare Management
- Advance Planning
- Healthy Relationships
- Falls Prevention
- Community Engagement
Thursdays, May 20- July 22
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
RSVP by May 17 by emailing infohealthyaging@bouldercounty.org or calling 303-441-4583.
An offering from Boulder Community Health, City of Boulder Older Adult Services, and BCAAA
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