Nov. 2024 Edition - Aging Well Newsletter

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Issue 102

November County Closures

Tuesday, Nov. 5 - Boulder County Government Offices, Except Elections Division

Monday, Nov. 11 - Veterans Day

Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 - Thanksgiving Closures

Join us for an afternoon of fun with food, dancing, and door prizes featuring Miss Jessica as MC and Susie Pringle as DJ at the 24^th Annual Lavender Gala, a celebration for Boulder County’s Rainbow Elders (LGBTQ+/50+) on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 12-3 p.m. at Nissi’s in Lafayette. Tickets can be purchased for $12.51 at boco.org/LavenderGala24.

Willoughby Corner is Leasing

Willoughby Corner, the Boulder County Housing Authority's newest neighborhood of affordable homes in Lafayette, is leasing for adults (55 and over) and multi-family units! For the Willoughby Corner 55-and-over homes, BCHA is seeking applicants that meet the 50% or 60% Area Median Income threshold (for example, earning up to $51,000 to $61,000 for a household of one, or up to $65,000 to $79,000 for a household of three). Visit www.WilloughbyCorner.org for information and to apply.

Willoughby Corner, el vecindario más nuevo de viviendas asequibles de la Autoridad de Vivienda del Condado de Boulder en Lafayette, ¡está ofreciendo arrendamientos para adultos (de 55 años en adelante) y unidades multifamiliares! Para las viviendas de Willoughby Corner para personas de 55 años en adelante, BCHA busca solicitantes que cumplan con el umbral de Ingreso Medio del Área del 50% o 60% (por ejemplo, ganando hasta $51,000 a $61,000 para un hogar de una persona, o hasta $65,000 a $79,000 para un hogar de tres personas). Visite www.WilloughbyCorner.org para obtener información y presentar su solicitud.

Willoughby Corner

Medicare Open Enrollment Runs Through Dec. 7

Boulder County Area Agency on Aging (BCAAA) encourages participating Medicare enrollees to connect with Boulder County’s State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) Medicare Counseling Team to see if you can find lower premiums, extra benefits, or a plan that better fits your health needs.

Each year, from Oct. 15-Dec. 7, people on Medicare can review and change their prescription drug plans (Part D) or Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C). This is the only time of the year you can change your Prescription Part D and Medicare Advantage Plans. These plans can change their costs, coverage, providers, and pharmacies, so it is important to review the current plan and see if there is a better plan for your needs in 2025.

BCAAA’s Medicare Counselors provide quality and unbiased information, assisting in the Open Enrollment Period by reviewing your current plan against other plans. Schedule an appointment by calling Boulder County’s SHIP Medicare Counseling Team at 303-441-1546. This year appointments will be available in person, on Zoom, or over the phone.

Learn more about Medicare Counseling services at boco.org/Medicare.

Join a Medicare Basics Class

Our lively and entertaining Medicare Basics 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. Once registered, participants will receive instruction on how to join the class. This online course uses Zoom.

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 21, 1:30-3 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 6-7:30 p.m.

To register for Medicare Basics or set up an appointment, please visit boco.org/Medicare.

Caregiving Office Hours

Informal caregivers of adults 60+ and caregivers of any age adult with dementia can walk in to our open office hours to meet one on one with a Boulder County Area Agency on Aging Resource Specialist. The resource specialist can provide information and referrals and help caregivers coordinate resources to support their caregiving related needs. Resource specialists can guide caregivers to the next steps in their caregiving journey, help them make a respite plan, give information on end of life and estate planning, and provide resources for wellness and self-care. They can help caregivers locate meaningful support groups and other county and community resources for caregivers.

Option 1 - Lafayette

When: Nov. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where: Boulder County Southeast Hub (1755 S. Public Rd., Lafayette)

Option 2 - Louisville

When: Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where: Louisville Senior Center in the Imperial Room (900 West Via Appia Way, Louisville)

Questions? Please contact us at infoCaregiver@bouldercounty.gov or 303-441-3945.

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is a practice of encouraging attention to the present moment. By allowing for awareness of what is most present now, we develop our capacity for moments of focus, openness, and peace in our lives.

What: Each session will include a guided meditation, with emphasis on bringing purposeful and kind attention to our experience, followed by time for reflections and questions about the practice. Beginners and experienced meditators are welcome.

When: Tuesdays, 10-10:40 a.m.

10-10:05 a.m.—Arriving & Settling In

10:05-10:30 a.m.—Introduction and Guided Meditation

10:30-10:40 a.m.—Group Discussion

Where: Zoom. Please note these are drop-in sessions and you can register at any time to join one, multiple, or all sessions.

Register here.

Kara Traikoff is the Wellness Program Specialist with Boulder County Area Agency on Aging and facilitator of this meditation. She has a background in higher education and community mindfulness, and she specializes in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and adapted mindfulness courses to support healing, growth, and self-compassion. Kara is passionate about encouraging others to experience and live the fullest life possible. She leads and creates wellness opportunities from the heart of her dedicated personal mindfulness practice.

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 and sessions are held on Zoom.

Beating the Silent Killer - A discussion on blood pressure management

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 1-2 p.m.

Know Your Heart Signs - A discussion on heart health and reducing risk of heart attack

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1-2 p.m.

Register here.

Questions? Please email infoHealthyAging@bouldercounty.gov.

Diabetes Education Group

The group provides information, answers to questions, and support from new friends. Each session has a topic. This group is for people 60+ and their caregivers. There is no charge, but donations are appreciated.

Classes are held online from 11 a.m. to noon. Please contact 303-678-6118 to register and ask questions.

Managing Diabetes During the Holidays

Monday, Nov. 18

(No class in December.)

The Boulder County Area Agency on Aging (BCAAA) Caregiver Initiative is focused on empowering and supporting caregivers of older adults. Learn more about what we offer at boco.org/Caregiving.

Upcoming Caregiver Events

2024 Caregiving Summit

Sponsored by WellMed Charitable Foundation

English: Thursday, Nov. 14, 9-11:30 a.m.

Spanish: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 9-11:30 a.m.

Each Summit will have speakers who will talk about the trials and triumphs of being a family caregiver. To register for one or both summits visit Wellmed's site.

If you need assistance in registering, please call Wellmed at 1-866-390-6491 or email at caregiversos@wellmed.net.

If you would like to talk to a Resource Specialist about your situation as a caregiver, please email infoCaregiver@bouldercounty.gov. Tell us your name, contact info, and a few sentences about your caregiving situation.   

Disclaimer: Boulder County Community Services is not a healthcare provider and cannot provide medical advice. This resource is provided for informational purposes only. Individuals should seek medical advice directly from a licensed medical professional.

Ask a Caregiving Expert

Dear BCAAA,

What can I do? My parent was admitted into the hospital and now needs rehab in order to return home. I am being told that Medicare will not cover this cost.

Signed, A Concerned Caregiver

Dear Concerned Caregiver,  

Thank you for reaching out to BCAAA! In collaboration with the Daughterhood.org community (permission granted), we offer this response to an all-too-frequent concern.   

Please note that Boulder County AAA has caregiving professionals available to discuss these issues in full. You can best reach us at 303-441-1617 and by asking for a Caregiving Resource Specialist.

The emails come into our inbox. “Please help,” is usually how they start.

What so often follows is the same story with only slightly different details. A 90-something parent, living on social security, has fallen, gone to the hospital, and now needs rehabilitation to get up and walking again. And Medicare – the health insurance program that covers nearly all older adults – would pay for the skilled rehab care but for one thing. The hospital never admitted the parent as an “inpatient,” despite a multiple night stay. Instead, the patient was admitted under “observation,” which doesn’t count as an inpatient hospitalization. And without three nights of inpatient care, Medicare won’t pay for the subsequent skilled facility services.

In this nightmare situation, the caregiver is left with two bad choices. Spend upwards of $10,000 or more out-of-pocket for the skilled rehabilitative stay, or bring an immobilized parent home. When families hear this news, they feel depressed, frustrated, and angry. But most of all, they feel worried.

Caregiving is hard for a whole bunch of reasons. It takes your money, your time, your ability to work, your friends, your relationships. You have little time to do the things that you love, or to even just take a rest. In addition to handling the day-to-day care needs of your aging parents, you find yourself negotiating challenging family dynamics, balancing demands of work and children alongside a parent’s diminishing capacity, and all the financial stress it all entails.

But there’s another major reason it’s so hard. The overwhelming frustration of trying to protect your parent within a healthcare system that’s rigged against you. A system so dysfunctional that the label a hospital puts on your parent’s visit – can mean the difference between being able to recover the ability to walk … or not.

This brings me to what inevitably comes next in these emails. The question, “What can I DO?” The caregiver has “tried everything,” has pleaded with the hospital, with the skilled nursing facility, and is at the end of their rope, wondering what else to try.

Almost always, the answer is that there’s nothing else to try. This problem of the hospital classifying patients in a manner that deprives them of the Medicare benefits to which they are entitled… this problem is much bigger than any of us. “I am so sorry,” I always type. And then I explain that it’s about conflicting government rules. Rules that have affected tens of thousands of families. Alison Kodjak’s, National Public Radio’s healthcare reporter describes it beautifully writing about her mom’s experience. “Now my mother had paid into Medicare her entire working life, (…) but because of dueling rules and laws that have been well-known to Medicare officials and members of Congress for years, none of that covered my elderly mother when she needed care.”

“I’m so sorry.” I am SO tired of saying it but what else can I say? What do any of us do when there’s no good answer? When your very best effort can’t change a dysfunctional system? Because even though you know it’s not your fault, you can still feel like a failure. The numbing effect that the constant drone of debate about health care almost daily on the news just increases the shock when you realize that the system is REALLY broken and that you and your loved ones are caught right in the middle.

There’s nothing more frustrating and upsetting than the feeling, we’ve all experienced, that your best effort isn’t good enough. When this happens to you, here are three things that you may want to try and keep in mind.

The Personal is Universal

First of all, it’s not you, it’s them. So often in caregiving our loved one’s struggle feels so personal and our inability to improve their situation feels like our failure. But actually, the real problem is that our world isn’t yet ready to support the growing number of people who live into very old age needing a lot of care. We are just missing so many pieces we need: a healthcare system organized to keep people healthy and safe at home, insurance to pay for long-term care, and trustworthy, easy-to-find sources of information to support decision-making.

Families all over the U.S., and the world are struggling to handle everything while we all wait for communities and governments to catch up. Just know that this is the context for your experience. Your frustration is normal. You are not alone in it.

You Aren’t Responsible for Things You Can’t Control

The “observation stay” hospital rules are just among many things you can’t control as a caregiver. For example, your loved one’s illness, your employer’s flexibility, how much money is available to pay for care, whether your sister is mad at you. It’s so important to be careful not to take responsibility for the many things over which you have no control.

What always helps me is that great standby, the Serenity Prayer. Even if you’re not religious, I think you’ll find it as a recipe for sanity. Let me paraphrase. Pick your battles. There are things in your world you can change. Focus on them. There are also things in your world that you have absolutely no control over. Let them go. And when you’re not sure what category a particular problem falls into, turn to those you trust, to your God, your friends, anyone who has your best interests at heart. This practice can help you sleep at night.

You Can Handle This

Also consider, at this VERY moment in your life, you’re standing at the other end of a story you told yourself … about how you couldn’t handle something.

So, obviously you handled it. And, you always will.

Because this myth rings so true in the background of my mind every day, I work very hard to tell my own daughter, particularly when she’s stressed, “You don’t have to worry because you always handle everything so well.” And, when she gets to the other side of whatever it is that is worrying her, I try to point out the following:

It always works out okay and you always make it to the other side. The trick is whether we can use this knowledge more proactively – to lessen the suffering of our journey there.

Don’t believe the nonsense that “living your best life” is something you’re not doing right now. If you’re doing your best, and you’re living, then by definition, there’s nothing else to do. Believe it.

Anne Tumlinson, the Founder of Daughterhood, has dedicated over 25 years to enhancing the way America provides care for our elderly and most vulnerable adults. Through her extensive experience in government, policy research, hospitals, and nursing homes, she has come to understand that nothing, not even expertise, can fully prepare you for the experience of caring for another person. www.Daughterhood.org was born from Anne's deep desire to create a supportive community that empowers individuals to navigate the practical and emotional complexities of caregiving.

The Longmont Senior Center has expanded its hours and is now OPEN Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. Their resource specialists and counselors are now offering home visits and in-person appointments.

Check out classes from City of Longmont Senior Services at www.longmontcolorado.gov/GO.

Email: senior@longmontcolorado.gov

Phone: 303-651-8411

Caregiver Services for friends or family members caring for an older adult in Longmont include:

Caregiver Consultations and Family Meetings: Referrals & information about adult day programs, home health care, long-term care, counseling, caregiver self-care, etc.
Respite & Companion Volunteer Program and Respite Assistance Referrals: Volunteers matched with older adults who live alone or with a family caregiver provide respite, a friendly visit, and a caring connection. Respite Assistance funds can help pay for respite care for a caregiver.
Social Groups and Educational Programs for family caregivers and those living with dementia (options may vary quarterly).
Caregiver Support Groups provide information and support for family caregivers; no registration required:

1st Monday, 6–7:30 p.m. at Longmont Senior Center
2nd Tuesday, noon – 1:30 p.m. (Alzheimer’s Assn. group) at Longmont Senior Center

Questions? Call Kayleigh Schernbeck with City of Longmont Senior Services at 303-774-4497.

Dementia and the Holidays

Please register in advance at 303-651-8411. Registration #485158-24

Saturday, Nov. 9, 10-11 a.m.

The holidays can be a stressful time for your person living with dementia. We'll discuss ways to modify your celebrations so that your person can be successful and ways to educate and empower guests and loved ones to be able to engage effectively with your person. Each participant will have an opportunity to build a plan for their holiday celebrations based on their person's situation. Presented by Brenda Gurung, a credentialed dementia specialist and the founder of Be Growth Dementia Education.

10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's

Please register in advance at 303-651-8411.

Tuesday, Nov 12, 5:30-7 p.m. (Registration #485042-24)

Monday, Dec. 2, 3-4:30 p.m. (Registration #185005-24)

Alzheimer's and other dementias cause changes in memory, thinking, and behavior that interfere with daily life. Join us to learn about 10 common warning signs and what to watch for in yourself and others, typical age-related changes, how to approach someone about memory concerns, early detection, the benefits of a diagnosis and the diagnostic process, and Alzheimer's Association resources. Presented by the Alzheimer's Association.

Coping with the Holidays When You are Grieving

Please register in advance at 303-651-8411. Registration #485095-24

Thursday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m.-Noon

The holidays can present challenges for those who are grieving a loss. Learning to trust your grief, restructure expectations, and understand how grief may be affecting family members can help you navigate what can be a challenging time. In this interactive workshop we will explore the tools necessary to take good care of yourself during the winter holidays. This program is open to the bereaved as well as friends and family. Presented by Joan Hummel and Kathryn Messman of TRU Community Care Hospice.

BeReady Longmont

Please register in advance at 303-651-8411. Registration #184512-24

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 10-11:30 a.m.

Winter storms, flood, and fire are Longmont’s greatest natural hazards. These can result in severe disruptions in utilities and services that we all rely on daily. How would you and your family handle the challenge? Come learn how to prepare yourself, your family, and your neighbors! Presented by Kevin Esmail, City of Longmont Office of Emergency Management.

City of Boulder Older Adult Services offers a variety of Health and Wellness, Lifelong Learning, and Aging in Place programs, as well as Special Interest Groups. Programs are offered online and in person at East and West Age Well Centers.

Case Managers are available to assist City of Boulder residents 60+ and their caregivers with referrals to community resources, options counseling, and financial support for eligible clients. To speak with a Case Manager, please call 303-441-4388.

For a complete list of Nov. programs and services, please visit the website to view the “Let’s Age Well!” program guide. For weekly updates, register online to receive the Age Well e-Newsletter.

Phishing, Smishing and Vishing

West Age Well Center, Monday, Nov. 4, 1:30–3 p.m.

In this presentation, participants will learn the dangers of phishing (fraudulent emails), vishing (fraudulent phone calls); and smishing (deceptive text messages), as well as other common scams. Learn how to spot these scams and how to protect personal information to stay safe in the digital world.

Aging Solo

West Age Well Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 1–2:30 p.m.

An increasing number of older adults consider themselves “solo agers” for a variety of reasons. End-of-life educators and doulas Diane Hullet and Margaret Kane will share research, resources and thoughts on solo aging strategies for planning ahead.

CU Boulder Physiology of Aging Clinical Trials: From Initial Insights to Impact

East Age Well Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 1–3 p.m.

Researchers from CU Boulder’s Integrative Physiology of Aging (IPA) Lab will present findings from past studies that have informed current National Institute of Health funded trials. The IPA Lab researches lifestyle interventions to maintain and improve cardiovascular health throughout the lifespan.

Early Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

East Age Well Center, Thursday, Nov. 14, 10–11 a.m.

Discover the key modifiable lifestyle factors to improving conditions of early dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Learn how factors like plant-based diets, stress reduction, movement, and staying mentally and socially active contribute to improved cognitive functioning. 

Password Managers: A Beginner’s Guide

West Age Well Center, Monday, Nov. 18, 1:30–3 p.m.

In this fun and friendly class, participants will learn how password managers can make online life easier and more secure. No more sticky notes or forgotten passwords. Review the secrets of password managers to safely manage one’s online identity.

West Age Well Center: 909 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder | 303-441-3148

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Meals on Wheels’ Eat Well Café: Monday – Friday, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

East Age Well Center: 5660 Sioux Drive, Boulder | 303-413-7290

Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Town of Erie Parks & Recreation - Active Adults

Erie Active Adults staff are available, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Email: ActiveAdults@erieco.gov

Phone: 303-926-2795

The Town of Erie's Active Adults program provides a Senior Nutrition Lunch Program at the Erie Community Center.

Reservations are required by calling 303-926-2569 or emailing ActiveAdults@erieco.gov prior to the meal date.

Check out upcoming Active Adults programming here.

Veterans Day Celebration

Monday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Erie's Veterans Day Celebration features a flag ceremony, speech, Hometown Hero banner unveiling, the Erie High School Choir, and light refreshments. We honor all our veterans for their service to our country. Past and current members of the military are welcome and encouraged to wear their uniforms. Registration deadline Nov. 5. Sponsored by Oasis Senior Advisors and the Town of Erie.

Bingo (Age 50+)

Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1-2 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1-2 p.m.

Join the fun in this friendly game of BINGO and an afternoon of connecting with friends. Registration is not required. Prizes sponsored by The Bridge at Longmont.

Staying Safe Online

Friday, Nov. 15, 1-2 p.m.

The use of the internet and mobile technologies, such as smart phones, Alexa, and Siri have increased, and so does our potential to become a victim. Join us to hear about these risks of internet and mobile technology use and learn some precautions that will help keep you safe online. Presented by the Boulder District Attorney’s office.

Movies Together

Friday, Nov. 22, 1 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 20, 1 p.m.

The price is $4 for residents and $5 for non-residents.

Enjoy a movie in a small group setting. Movie selections will be posted in Amilia one month in advance of the showing. Drinks and snacks will be included in your registration fee. Registration deadline is on the Monday before the movie. Social time begins at 12:30 p.m. so you can meet and eat. Movie lengths vary.

The Lafayette Senior Center (103 S. Iowa Avenue) is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Lafayette Senior Center will be closed Sept. 30-Oct. 21 for a bathroom remodel. Activities and programs will continue at alternative locations.

Call 303-665-9052 or email olderadults@lafayetteco.gov to register. For more information, visit lafayetteco.gov/seniors.

Louisville Senior Services

Louisville Senior Services at the Recreation & Senior Center offers a variety of trips, classes, and activities, as well as Brooks Café indoor dining and Grab N Go lunch. Senior Resources help in the areas of transportation, housing, legal assistance, financial guidance, and medical equipment loans are also available. For more information, contact Katie Beasley at 303-335-4914 or visit the website at www.louisvillerecreation.com.

Louisville Senior Services are located at 900 W Via Appia Way in Louisville.

Louisville Senior Services Thanksgiving Feast

Wednesday, Nov. 20, noon-1 p.m.

The meal is free with a suggested donation of $4.25. Register with #38041-1 for a non-vegetarian meal and #38041-2 for a vegetarian meal.

Let’s celebrate the holidays together this year with a Thanksgiving Feast! There will be turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry, and a roll. If your last name begins with A-H: please bring a salad, I-P: veggie, Q-Z: dessert. Register at www.louisvillerecreation.com or 303-666-7400.