Helping Older Adults Thrive

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. The 2026 theme, Champion Your Health, focuses on prevention, wellness, and personal responsibility as cornerstones of healthy aging. It encourages taking an active role in managing your own health, advocating for yourself, accessing preventive care, and making informed decisions that support independence.

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.

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-inclusive 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. Staff has recently designed a training called Understanding Ageism and is offering it to community stakeholders.

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 Fitness: 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 Meet-ups: A variety of regional bus trips and local meet-ups can be found in the program guide.

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.

Like many states in our country, Colorado’s population is aging. Our state demography office has confirmed that since 2023 Coloradans aged 60+ now outnumber those aged 18 and younger. Additionally, it is estimated that the population of adults 80+ in Boulder County will increase by 202% by 2050.

“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.

OAS is working on an Age-Inclusive Community Strategic Plan that will build on the previous work of Lifelong Boulder to continue to address the needs of older adults in the areas of transportation, housing, community living and support services.

Th Age-Inclusive Community Strategic Plan is an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions made by older adults in our community including participation in the workforce, volunteerism, caregiving, intergenerational exchange, and their contributions to the local economy as consumers and investors. It will also provide a look at the challenges for successful aging in community including living on a fixed-income, housing, transportation, elder abuse, chronic illness, ageism, social isolation, functional limitations associated with aging, and healthcare and long-term care needs.

The awareness of the need to plan for this significant increase in the older adult population has been acknowledged at the federal, state, and regional levels across the country. It is clearly recognized that a community that is well adapted for aging is one where all individuals can thrive. Age-inclusive communities foster economic growth and make for happier, healthier community members.

As part of the OAS goal to prevent isolation and enable connection for older adults, the city invites older adults and community members of all ages to enjoy nutritious, delicious meals at the Eat Well Café provided by Meals on Wheels, Boulder located at 909 Arapahoe Avenue inside the West Age Well Center in Boulder.

Open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Cafe provides meals at $7.99 (plus tax) for a choice of two entrees.

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

For older adults and their family caregivers, case managers work to help reduce cost barriers for food, rent, health care and more, helping them to live independently even as household expenses rise.

In 2025:

• 156 people received financial assistance which helped them continue to age in place.
• $95,677 was distributed for assistance with basic needs like food, rent, transportation, utilities and healthcare.
• $12,119 was distributed for eye exams and glasses through the Hynd Fund.
• Case managers helped secure an additional $13,182 to support clients by applying for funding through other organizations.

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.

This year, rebates will be $108 for individuals and $332 for families. The 2026 application period is now open and will close on June 30, 2026. 

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

Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) offers free, nature-based programs that provide unique opportunities to learn, explore and connect with the outdoors. Through guided hikes and educational experiences led by staff and volunteer naturalists, participants can discover the stories of Boulder’s landscapes, deepen their sense of place and better understand how natural lands are managed. Many programs are well-suited for older adults, offering a welcoming, social way to stay active, learn something new and enjoy the benefits of time in nature.

Find the right program for you at NatureHikes.org.

• Early Childhood Service Corps Workforce Information Session
  • Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. | East Age Well Center: Flagstaff Room
  • The Early Childhood Service Corps (ECSC) is a nonprofit committed to addressing the early childhood education workforce crisis while fostering intergenerational connections and enhancing older adults’ well-being. The program offers individuals 50+ free virtual training and placement in volunteer or paid positions near their location, supporting children aged 0-5 and strengthening community ties. This information session will provide more insight into this opportunity. Presenter: Mikayla Apodaca, ECSC Recruitment Coordinator provides meaningful online and in-person information sessions to connect older adults with this program.
• Mindful Steps - A Falls Prevention Series
  • From May 7 to May 28, 2026 | Thursdays, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. | East Age Well Center
  • This 4-week in-person course offers tools to practice mindfulness through gentle movement and stillness, while cultivating awareness of personal experience and applying evidence-based falls prevention techniques to everyday life. This class is facilitated by injury prevention and mindfulness professionals from Boulder County Area Agency on Aging, Boulder Community Health, and Intermountain Health.
• Fraud and Scam Prevention Presentation
  • Tuesday, May 19, 2026 | 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. | West Age Well Center
  • Older adults lost an estimated $3.4 billion to scams in 2024, and about one in ten people fall victim to scams each year. Learn how to recognize common scams and fraud. The presentation will review elements found in many scams, including urgency, secrecy, and other tactics. Tips for reducing risk through awareness and simple safety steps will be shared. Presented by Steve Conley, Boulder County Sherrif’s Office Volunteer.