DRCOG’s Boomer Bond
Brad Calvert - Senior Planner
November 2013
DRCOG Overview

Non-profit, public agency dedicating
to serving local governments

Local officials working together to
address the region's challenges

Each community has voice in
regional decision-making

Program areas:
 Advocacy
 Aging Services
 Environment
 Regional growth and development
 Shared services
 Transportation and traffic
operations
• Colorado’s growth in 65+ population
4th fastest nationally (2000 – 2010)
• 85+ fastest growing among that group
• 2010-2020 growth rate will be nearly
twice as much 2000-2010
• Growth in older adult population will
outpace other age groups for the next
20 years
% of Population 60 and Older
25%
2006: 1st Boomers
turn 60
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
2030
Source: 2010 Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults (CASOA) –
National Research Center
How likely are you to remain in the
community throughout retirement?
61%
25%
Very likely
Somewhat
likely
7%
7%
Somewhat
unlikely
Very unlikely
53% have lived in their community for more than 20 years
80,000
74,529
70,000
60,000
56,208
55,579
50,000
40,803
40,000
30,000
28,682
27,830
20,000
15510
10,000
8483
0
Less
than
$15K
7770
8242
$15K to $30K to $45K to $60K to $75K to $100K to $125K to $150K to $200K+
$30K
$45K
$60K
$75K
$100K $125K $150K $200K
Outlook on Life
mental health
self-efficacy
valued by community
spirituality
Physical Health
physical activity
nutrition/food
security
activities of daily
living
Aging
Well
Connection
practical support
social support
engagement in life
hobby
• Communities can facilitate or create
barriers to successful aging
• Promote physical activity and community
engagement
• Reduced burden on caregivers
• Age-friendly communities benefit all ages
• Boomer Bond will support local efforts
1. A community assessment tool to
facilitate local dialogue and
identify priorities
2. A comprehensive set of policies,
strategies and tools for local
governments to consider
3. A voluntary recognition program
to highlight local efforts
4. A voluntary regional agreement
to meet the growing needs of an
older adult population
Topic Area
Brief Description
Community design for
active aging
Promote local strategies that integrate physical
activity into daily routines
Community engagement
and education
Identify opportunities that embrace the potential
contributions of older adults
Housing
Develop strategies to assist communities in providing
affordable, accessible housing options
Mobility and access
Ensure older adults have safe and convenient
transportation options
Safety and security
Document strategies to make older adults
comfortable in navigating their surroundings
Support systems
Maximize capacity of local governments and partners
to support independent aging

Neighborhood environment has
greatest impact on older adults

Nearly 50% report difficulty
crossing main roads

Walking is most common form
of physical activity

Almost half of older adult falls
occur outside the home ($9K
per fall)

Understanding of what
community engagement
means at the local level

Communicating opportunities
for engagement, particularly
to isolated persons

Managing volunteers and
volunteer activities

Difficulty reentering workforce

Older adults prefer to remain in
their homes and communities

Consumer demand for agefriendly design often comes
when there is an immediate
need

Lack of range of housing
options in many communities

Lack of affordable housing
alternatives
 One-third spend too much on housing

Current system is auto- dominated

Nationally 21% of 65+ do not drive

Limited public transportation
options/cost of specialized transit

Men outlive their driving years by 7
years, women by 10

Older adults with disabilities
remaining in communities

Many older adults lack
confidence to leave home to
complete daily tasks

Increasingly targeted for
consumer fraud

Personal safety identified as key
barrier preventing transit trips

Effectively leveraging existing
programs
Older adults prefer to remain in
their homes and communities
 Wide array of groups providing
community-based support
 Status quo for assisting
seniors is unsustainable
 Efforts to slow growth in
Medicaid spending will add
pressure to community-based
networks

• Significant outreach to
community leaders
• Community Assessment tool
 25+ meetings with multi-disciplinary teams
to develop and review
 Working “professional” version
• Pilot communities (3)
• Selected TCHD to further
program development
http://www.lyonsfightsback.org
Key Inputs
• Previous feedback
from Project Teams
• Pilot community
experience and
debrief session
• TCHD experience
with similar tools
• “Conversation starter” at the local level
(including partners)
• Provide structure to what might be an
otherwise overwhelming conversation
• Resource for local staff leading initiative
• First step in defining “problem statement”
and/or local priorities for action

Easy transition from assessment
to action (think of documents as a
pair)

Helps with “what next” questions

Turning a “NO” to “YES”

Expandable, current, and locally
relevant

Your input is needed to ensure a
quality/useful project

Learn what happened after the Project Teams
completed the first version of the assessment
tool

Share inputs into the reorganization of the tool

Learn from your experiences

Develop common understanding of toolkit
purpose and what’s important to the group

Provide feedback on initial toolkit concepts
DRCOG’s Boomer Bond
Brad Calvert - Senior Planner
November 2013