Aging in Rural Colorado
A Naturally Occurring Retirement Region (NORR)
The Livability of Rural Places for Aging Adults
A Program of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association
Not “One Size Fits All”
but
When is ‘small’ TOO small?
or
When is “far” TOO far?”
Whom Do We Serve?
Routt County
•2,368 square miles
Moffat County
•4,836 square miles
•Population of 13,750 in 2005
•2.8 people per square mile
•18% above age 55
Routt & Moffat Counties are about
the size of the State of Connecticut
•Population of 22, 328 in 2007
•9.4 people per square mile
•12% above age 55
What is the Challenge?
Distances are Long
Environment is Harsh
Population is Sparse
There are More Elk than People!
Why was Aging Well created?

To respond to a growing aging population

To improve health and social connection for our elders

To give elders options to stay at home in our rural communities

To address the challenge of growing old in a rural place
“It’s difficult enough for individuals to do all the right things to age well communities cannot afford to let the future suddenly appear.”- CO Dept. of Human Services, Division of Aging & Adult Services
What do we do?

Provide public health services, classes, activities and social spaces in
each of our rural communities

Enable older adults of northwest Colorado to remain at home in their
communities for as long as they wish to stay

Connect older adults to each other and to their communities

Improve the health and social function of our rural-dwelling elders

Encourage our communities to be active participants in improving the
quality of our elders’ lives
Services, Classes and Activities
Blood Pressure Checks
Blood Glucose Reading
Flu & Pneumonia Shots
Medication Review
Nutrition / Weight Assessment
Wellness Checks & Screenings
Evidence-Based Fitness & Nutritional Classes
Foot Care
Community Connection
At Assisted Living
In the Schools
At the Community College
Health improvement and social function
Healthier Living workshop to manage
chronic conditions, Oak Creek, CO
Art Class at Wellness Wednesday, Craig, CO
Community Investment in our elders
Bob, Age 100, walks every day
in Hayden, CO
Nina is 84… at Wellness
Wednesday, Craig, CO
Some of our Aging Well instructors…
What do we hope to accomplish?

For the elders in our communities:
 Improve health outcomes
 Keep our elders at home in our rural mountain communities
 Enable elders to remain healthy, safe and independent for as
long as possible

For our communities:
 Increase local investment in the health and well-being of our elders
 Raise awareness of the need to plan for our communities’ futures
 Foster policy discussion to promote wellness & prevention
A healthy aging community is a healthy community for all.
How do we do it?

Work within our Agency
 Northwest Colorado Community Health Center (FQHC)
 Public health
 Community Health and Outreach

Work with our Communities
 Wellness Day programs and collaboration
 Physician Referrals
 Social Marketing and branding of Aging Well
 Business Support and Participation

Work with our Policy Makers
 Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
 Colorado Health Care Policy and Finance
 Colorado Clinical Guidelines Collaborative
 Consortium for Older Adult Wellness
Aging Well is a Collaborative Effort

Funded by local, state and national foundations
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Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships
The Daniels Fund
Colorado Trust
The Colorado Health Foundation
U.S. Administration on Aging
Yampa Valley Community Foundation
Colorado Grand Charitable Vintage Auto Rally
Aging Well does not receive legislative support for programs
Collaboration at the State and Local Level

Community Partnerships are the Backbone of our Success

Area Agencies on Aging and their regional directors

Community Colleges – CMC and CNCC and CSU Extension

Local newspapers - Steamboat Pilot and Today, Craig Daily Press

Local Businesses – Wal Mart, Sports Authority, Sysco Foods

Consortium for Older Adult Wellness

Colorado Clinical Guidelines Collaborative

Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

The Arthritis Foundation
Dace Carver Kramer, Director of Wellness and Aging Services
Program Director, Aging Well
A program of Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association, Inc.
dkramer@nwcovna.org
Some Questions to Ponder…

How do we define “community” – Not “When is
old age,” but “Where is old age”?

What are we trying to accomplish?

Is the mission of these models the same?

How do we know if we are making a difference?
Questions…

Are the traditional linkages (AAAs, State
Health Departments, etc.) working?

Who is the system established to serve?
Questions…
How do we recognize a genuine shift in…
Individual Health & Community Connection?
Community Culture?
Social Norms Surrounding Aging
Structural elements of support for aging?