Helping Older Adults Thrive

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. The 2023 theme is Aging Unbound, which offers an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how communities can combat stereotypes.

Older Americans Month (OAM) is a time to honor, acknowledge and value older adults as they contribute their time, wisdom and experience to our community. It is a time to emphasize the many positive aspects of aging, to push past traditional boundaries of aging stereotypes, and to embrace our community’s diversity. At the May 18 Boulder City Council meeting, council will read a declaration declaring May 2023 Older Americans Month.

Throughout the year, the city’s Older Adult Services division inspires and empowers older adults to age well through community connection, learning and play.

Older Adult Services (OAS) offers all adults 60 and over a safe and welcoming environment. Programs and services are delivered in Age Well Centers which honor the needs and desires of older adults.

Age Well Centers

• West Age Well: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• East Age Well: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Programs and Services

OAS is committed to supporting an age-friendly community through their work on anti-ageism, Lifelong Boulder, mitigating social isolation and encouraging community engagement. Staff provides a continuum of services from health, wellness and lifelong learning to case management and supportive services.

Programs and services are available to adults 60+ and their caregivers. Program and service topics include:

• Case Management: Case managers assist City of Boulder residents 60+ and their caregivers with referrals to community resources, counseling on available services, case management and financial support for eligible clients. Call 303-441-4388 to connect with a case manager.

• Health and Wellness: A variety of classes that offer information about mental, physical and emotional health and well-being. View health and wellness offerings in the latest program guide.

• Lifelong Learning: An offering of various classes focused on technology, aging and creative pursuits. View all lifelong learning offerings in the latest program guide.

• Special Interest Groups: Topics include discussion, creativity, games, writing, books, photography, biking, table tennis and more. View group descriptions and information.

• Support Groups: Groups are available for family or friends who are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. View support group offerings in the latest program guide.

• Trips and Travel: OAS partners with Collette Travel to offer domestic and international trips. Find more information on the city’s website.

The online Let's Age Well Program Guide includes details on registering for programs and making appointments. Information is also available by calling 303-441-3148.

Colorado is one of the fastest aging states in the nation and our state demography office projects that Coloradans aged 60+ will outnumber those aged 18 and younger as soon as 2023. “Now is not the time to balk at this emerging reality, but it is a time to plan, prepare, and invest in our communities, so that quality of life is retained across the entire lifespan,” shared Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

Lifelong Boulder is part of a statewide initiative called Lifelong Colorado which aims to ensure all Coloradans will be able to live and fully participate in their communities for as long as possible.

A community that is well adapted for aging is one where all individuals can thrive. Age-friendly communities foster economic growth and make for happier, healthier community members. Many cities across the nation are taking steps to ensure their communities are age-friendly and Boulder is no exception.

In 2020 the Housing and Human Services Department convened a workgroup of staff members from various city departments and other stakeholders to create a set of recommendations to ensure Boulder can truly be an age-friendly community.

These recommendations, which will guide the city’s work for years to come, cover four main areas:

• Mobility and Access

• Housing

• Community Living

• Support Services

Learn more about Lifelong Boulder on the city’s website.

Featuring delicious food at great prices, the Meals on Wheels Eat Well Café is located at 909 Arapahoe Avenue inside the West Age Well Center in Boulder. The café is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For $6.99 (plus tax) you can enjoy a choice of two entrees, a side salad or cup of soup, dessert and beverage.

Additional options include:

• Custom paninis, sandwiches and wraps

• Create your own entrée salads

• Side salads, soups, and wonderful desserts

Learn more and find the most recent menu on the Meals on Wheels website.

In 2022, OAS distributed:

• $96,887 for assistance with basic needs (food/rent/transportation/utilities/healthcare, etc.)

• $7,223 for eye exams and glasses through the Hynd Fund (countywide)

• $268 in program scholarships

To learn more about the financial assistance available to older adults, connect with a case manager by calling 303-441-4388.

Food Tax Rebate Program

The city’s Food Tax Rebate program provides rebates to help compensate residents with lower incomes for the city sales tax they pay on food.

Rebates for 2023 will be $99 for individuals and $302 for families. The 2023 application period is now open and will close on June 30, 2023. 

Learn more about eligibility and find application information on the city’s website.

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Be a safety maker! Have a great time making memories and experiences for our community this summer.

The city’s Parks and Recreation department is recruiting for various positions including lifeguards, camp counselors, park operations and more.

Learn more and apply at BPRjobs.org.

• Dance for Parkinson’s - A dance class for people living with Parkinson’s Disease or other mobility consideration in collaboration with 3rd Law Dance/Theater.

• Accessing Digital Resources – A collaboration between Boulder Public Library and OAS where students will learn how to access their favorite library books, magazines or movies from anywhere with internet access or directly from the comfort of their home for free.

• Wildflower Hike – In collaboration with OSMP, OAS offers this spring hike for older adults led by an OSMP volunteer naturalist.

• The city’s Boulder Walks Program is being reinitiated to include various sub-groups such as older adults. On May 24 the West Age Well Center is hosting a Boulder Walks Older Adult Walk Leader Training.

• OAS is partnering with Tech Pals to offer monthly and quarterly technology classes in-person and online. Two online classes will be held in May.

Learn more about all Older Adult Services events on the city’s website or by calling 303-441-3148.