“Your Living Options as a Senior in Northern Colorado” By Nicole Duggan for The Coloradoan
This not-so-affectionate term is used by experts to refer to the aging population of Baby Boomers, who began turning 65 in 2011. The Boomer population is expected to reach 83.7 million by 2050.
Northern Colorado is a recognized destination for Boomers.
With the aging tide comes challenges for local communities, including significant demand on resources for housing, transportation and medical services.
We’ll also see impacts to tax revenue and land-use procedures, as the majority of Boomers expect to age in place, avoiding traditional long-term care facilities for their own homes and communities.
The future will bring lots of questions about navigating the system for both older adults and their families. The Larimer County Office of Aging hopes to make connections and help folks determine what their options look like.
Need is rising
Linda Rumney, Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado (ADRC) coordinator, said she aims to help aging adults create an action plan and obtain their goals.
“We get a lot of calls from people being priced out of their apartments,” Rumney said, “especially from those who are living on a fixed income.”
Options facing those needing to leave their home include:
- Traditional facilities: From independent to assisted and nursing facilities, Northern Colorado has a vast network of care available for those wishing to leave their homes. Originally based in Fort Collins, Columbine Health Systems has campuses in Fort Collins, Windsor and Loveland. These traditional facilities can be costly, however, leaving many with lower incomes priced out.
- Affordable housing: Some housing units are being built to focus exclusively on elderly and disabled individuals with a low fixed income. One such complex is the Century III Apartments in Windsor. However getting into these units can take time. Century III, which has 72 units available, has a waitlist.
