February PAFC Updates - Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, Tribute to a Dear Friend, and more!

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PAFC News and Views

February 2024

Thank you to our Mission Sponsor, Sonders Fort Collins! We appreciate your ongoing dedication to helping us problem-solve challenges older adults face as we work to strengthen our Larimer County communities.

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We are grateful for our newest Mission Sponsor, UCHealth! The team at UCHealth is committed to helping PAFC cultivate communities where people of all ages thrive. THANK YOU UCHealth for your support.

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Get Ready to Celebrate YOU!

Mark your calendars, amazing PAFC volunteers! Join us Tuesday, February 20th - we'll be celebrating YOU and all of the incredible work you do, with a special breakfast from Silver Grill Cafe!

What: Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

When: Tuesday, February 20th from 8:00am to 10:00am

Where: Northside Aztlan Community Center (Eagle Room)

112 East Willow Street, Fort Collins

Click below to RSVP today!

RSVP Here!

In memory of Betty Moseley 1928-2023

by Bonnie Shetler

Betty Ruth Moseley died peacefully at home on December 23, 2023, at the age of 95.

As near as I can recall, I first met Betty Moseley face to face sometime in the early 2000’s over lunch at the Rainbow Restaurant. She had invited me to lunch for no stated reason but, reason or not, I was quite interested in meeting with this woman who by then had become known for her activism on behalf of local elders and their families. As a psychologist in private practice, I shared her interest in promoting efforts to ease the challenges of aging.

It took only a few moments for her to get to her agenda. As chair of the Foundation on Aging (FOA), a non-profit that by then had been supporting programs to address aging issues for almost 20 years, she was seeking new board members. Several of the board who had been with her from the early days of FOA’s existence had begun to experience health issues that required them to resign, leaving seats that had not been open for years.

Having served on non-profit boards prior to this encounter, I was not particularly eager to take on another commitment that involved time, fundraising, and often dreary, predictable, report-filled board meetings. But of course by the end of lunch she had me signed up. And so began an intense 10+ year relationship that was challenging but never boring.

It was during that time that FOA needed to find additional sources of funding. Up until then the Board’s primary income was provided by a sizable bequest left as part of the estate of a friend and colleague of the original board members. But with interest rates dropping dramatically from a fund conservatively invested in bonds and CD’s, it was necessary to begin tapping into principal to continue to serve the purpose of the original behest. FOA’s life expectancy became suddenly finite. This was a board with a history of giving not begging.

And so began a period of heartfelt but often contentious discussion about the future of FOA. Betty and I found ourselves on opposite sides of several issues and I must say the first time we butted heads I was initially stunned by her ferocity when it came to supporting the ideals on which FOA was originally founded. She had always presented as an intelligent, insightful yet soft-spoken advocate who preferred to work within the shadows of the spotlight. But I soon learned she would unflinchingly and fiercely rise to the challenge of defending her vision of what was right.

In 2016 FOA did generously and graciously transform itself into the Partnership for Age-friendly Communities, a program it originally fostered to encourage community partnerships and a cadre of volunteers to address the needs of an aging population in Larimer County. Over the years of getting to that solution Betty and I had several opposing views about the path forward, but we came to respect each other’s opinion and learned to allow our combined voices to establish a clear direction to what we both agreed was the right thing to do. My original concerns about yet another routine board experience were totally unfounded.

FOA was just one of many of Betty’s community projects. How she found the time to do so much is a total mystery to me. I will always have a deep respect for her active commitment to making her community a better place. It is only now that she has passed on that I realize how truly heartfelt that respect has been.

Help Us Expand Solo Ager Networks

The Solo Agers Project is chugging along. So far, we’ve:

Conducted online survey and focus group research to determine the needs of Solo Agers (people 50 and older who have no one to depend on as they age);

Formed two pilot networks of Solo Agers: one at The Remington apartments in Old Town Fort Collins and one comprised primarily of folks from the Singles Over Sixty Meetup.com group.

On January 17, Paula Stearns and Deb Courtner delivered a presentation on the project to about 20 solo agers at the Chilson Senior Center in Loveland. We explained that we’re interested in creating additional networks of Solo Agers, and we asked the attendees to complete forms with their contact information and connections to existing organizations or housing groups. As a result of the talk, we’re looking into networks involving a women’s monthly lunch group and several Lutheran churches in Loveland, as well as a Unitarian church in Fort Collins. We’re also trying to make contact with board members at the Loveland Village Cooperative. The Chilson Center activity coordinator invited us back to make another presentation this summer.

Although we have a list of about 80 people who want to join networks, we have few leads for existing organizations that might help us create more networks. If you know members of older adult organizations who might be able to help us make inroads with those organizations, please contact Paula Stearns at pstearnsrn@aol.com or Deb Courtner at dcourtner@outlook.com.

Email us to learn more about the Solo Agers project!

A Message from our Newsletter Sponsor,

Andrea Chirich:

Questions About Home Buying to Kick Off the New Year!

This month we are happy to feature a Q & A session with our newsletter sponsor, Andrea Chirich:

Question: I am newer to the area and have been renting for a couple of months while I explore different local neighborhoods. I feel ready to buy, but should I? I am hearing so much about the market being unfavorable for buyers right now, so I'm not sure it's the best decision. What are the real perks of buying over renting?

Renting while you learn a new area and decide on the best location to fit your lifestyle is a great idea. It can shed light on the commute, amenities, and even how the sun setting behind the mountains affects different areas, truly a thing! Once you are comfortable and ready to buy it is certainly time to get started! The #1 perk of buying over renting is the equity you build in a property you own. When you are paying rent, the rent you pay each month is simply gone. It is no longer working for you and you must come up with the rent again next month. Rent is a bill with no residual value. No matter how long you pay rent, you will never have the ability to sell the dwelling and recoup any of the money you have spent.

When you purchase a home, the money you pay each month goes towards building equity in your home. It never really goes away, it is invested in the value of your home. Real estate is one of the best vehicles for growing wealth and historically goes up in value with time. That is not to say we don’t have down markets, but historically real estate recovers and continues to go up. As the equity grows, the money you spent for down payment, and each month on mortgage payments, is working for you! You have something of value to sell and should be able to recoup your initial investment, your payments, and potentially make a little more if equity is growing. Yes interest rates are a bit higher, but the higher interest rates have reduced competition from other buyers. Buy now with less competition and the ability to be thoughtful and negotiate. Then, if rates go down, refinance at the more favorable rate!

Question: I'm looking to buy a home, and I'll need a loan to make it happen. I just turned 65 and am wondering: will lenders see me as a financial risk because of my age? How can I make the best impression on a lender?

Whether you are 25 or 65 or any other age, lenders always assess the risk of lending money. The same things that will make you a good risk for lenders, no matter your age, are:

-a healthy credit score

-low debt compared to savings/investments

-demonstrated income stream or savings to have financial strength to make the monthly payments.

A fantastic first step is to consult a mortgage lender. Lenders are happy to talk about your specific scenario and work with you to determine how much you can borrow. These conversations can start without pulling your credit! Many lenders are happy to inform and educate to help consumers prepare to buy a home.

If you’d like to chat through your specific situation, or you’d like referrals to lenders I know do a fantastic job, let’s connect! I am happy to share information and resources to help you make the best-informed decision for you!

Have a question for Andrea?

Join Our Tech Buddies Team!

If you have even just a bit of tech experience and LIKE tackling tech challenges, WE WANT YOU to join our Tech Buddies Team!

PAFC's Tech Buddies program has helped over 100 residents in Larimer County, and we currently have a wait list of individuals needing our no-cost services. You can make a major difference in your community by joining our Tech Buddies team.

We provide FREE training, and ongoing support to help you make a difference in the lives of others.

BE A PART of this important movement and reach out today to learn more about how to become a PAFC Tech Buddy!

Our next training is April 17th via Zoom! Sign up today!

Email us today to become a Tech Buddy

www.PAFCLarimer.org

info@pafclarimer.org

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