Overview

Healthy Aging

Colorado’s senior population is increasing rapidly. The Colorado Department of Human Services, Division on Aging and Adult Services, reports that by 2015 this population will grow by 47% to nearly 900,000 persons, and by 2030 one out of five people in the state will be 60 or older. The Colorado Trust’s Healthy Aging initiative helps senior-serving organizations meet the needs of the state’s growing aging population.

Through this effort, 20 grantees are working to strengthen their organizational capacity to improve information and referral services for seniors, increase access to senior support services, address senior residential needs, bolster caregiver support services, and promote healthy lifestyles and overall wellness among seniors. Specific areas of focus include:

  • Development of senior-specific wellness programs that include exercise, nutrition, disease management, screening and home modification
  • Meal delivery services and other in-home care
  • Safety-net health services in subsidized senior housing, from monthly health promotion clinics and nursing case management, to support of the visually impaired
  • Transportation options to improve seniors’ access to health and wellness services
  • Expansion of holistic caregiver support services
  • Training for caretakers of seniors with mental health needs.

Evaluation
An independent evaluation is being conducted by the National Research Center, Inc. to determine whether providing technical assistance to build the capacity of grantee organizations helps to improve their ability to serve seniors. Grantees will report program-level outcomes; the evaluation will examine associations between these outcomes and increased organizational capacity.
Erin Caldwell, MSPH, Senior Research Associate, National Research Center, Inc., 303-444-7863
Nancy Csuti, DrPH, Director of Research, Evaluation & Strategic Learning, The Colorado Trust, 303-837-1200

Coordinating Agency
Tri-County Health Department, the largest local health department in Colorado, serves as the statewide coordinating agency for this initiative. The department provides day-to-day management and technical assistance to grantees.
Jana Smith, PhD, Project Director, Tri-County Health Department, 303-846-6243

Grantees

  • Aurora Center for Active Adults
  • Bent County HealthCare Center
  • Catholic Charities and Community Services of Denver
  • Colorado Center for the Blind
  • Gunnison County Public Health Department
  • HealthSET
  • Jefferson Center for Mental Health
  • La Plata County Department of Human Services
  • Larimer County Human Services Department – Office on Aging
  • Lutheran Family Services of Colorado
  • Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association
  • Pikes Peak Library District Foundation
  • Rebuilding Together Metro Denver
  • Senior Resource Development Agency
  • South Central Council of Governments
  • SouthWest Improvement Council, Inc.
  • Spellbinders
  • The Center for African American Health
  • Tri-County Health Department
  • Visiting Nurse Corporation of Colorado
  • Volunteers of America, Inc.

Learn more about each grantee.

Counties
This is a statewide initiative.

GRANT TIMEFRAME: 2006-2011
GRANT AMOUNT: $6,500,000
CONTACT: CHRIS ARMIJO