According to the Colorado State Demography Office, 2023 marked the first time in Colorado’s history where adults 60+ outnumbered children and youth under 18 years of age.
The awareness of the need to plan for this significant increase in the older adult population prompted the development of an Age-Inclusive Community Strategic Plan.
The Age-Inclusive 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, as well as 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 development of the Strategic Plan includes input from city staff and community partner to address specific issues in the areas of transportation with focus on mobility and access; housing with a focus on affordability, availability, accessibility, and design; community living with a focus on outdoor space design, volunteer opportunities, workforce participation, social participation, and safety and security; and lastly support services which includes safety net and health care services.
The city will also be partnering with Boulder County Area Agency on Aging to support Community Conversations which is an opportunity to hear directly from adults 60+ and their family caregivers about the needs they have to successfully age place or within their community.
The results of these efforts will culminate in a Strategic Plan that will have a series of goals and strategies to ensure that all older adults in Boulder can live and age well in their community.
