If you are not a member of Colorado Center for Aging - Join Today! | |
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Colorado Center for Aging is a 501c3 non-profit organization,
born out of the roots of Colorado Senior Lobby (CSL) - LEARN MORE
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August 21, 2022
Plan to attend the Monday, August 22 2022 CCA Advocacy Committee meeting – bring your ideas and wish list!
Special Guest Kara Harvey from 10:30am to 11AM
Director, Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services at CDHS
At this meeting we will discuss:
- CCA Advocacy Subgroups
- How should CCA relate to and coordinate with other older adult advocacy groups (including the new CCOA)
- Organizing a focus group about CCA activities and how to request for volunteers to help organize these future efforts
- Discuss upcoming Aging Assembly/Candidate forum scheduled for early October
As an organization we are very interested in hearing from our members and followers on their ideas for the direction of the Colorado Center for Aging in regard to older adult advocacy at the capitol and our Monday Morning CCA Advocacy Committee Meetings.
Also please review our CCA Advocacy Committee Subgroup list. Summer is when we ramp up our research so please review what groups you are part of and let Andrew know if you need assistance in starting up the summer research.
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Questions about CCA Advocacy Committees
Jeanette Hensley - email - 303-249-5598
Co-Chair of CCA Advocacy Committee
Rich Mauro - email - Direct: 303-480-6778
Co-Chair of CCA Advocacy Committee and Senior Policy and Legislative Analyst Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)
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Questions about joining CCA
Contact our Executive Director or a Board Member:
Andrew Davies - Executive Director - Colorado Center for Aging - email
Work: 720-835-1976 - Cell: 970-217-6761
Colorado Center for Aging Board of Directors - CLICK HERE
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HB22-1055 Sales Tax Exemption Essential Hygiene
Products is in Effect!
Bill, HB22-1055 Sales Tax Exemption Essential Hygiene Products, to exempt diapers, period products, and incontinence products from state sales tax went into effect! A big congratulations to all members of the coalition, sponsors, and Gov. Polis for their hard work and dedication. There is no doubt that advocacy, testifying, lobbying, and behind-the-scenes-effort contributed to this bill’s success. We want to highlight the contribution of Colorado Center for Aging members Fran Maes and Jeanette Hensley for their testimony on this bill. Of note, the bill was initially intended to be implemented beginning on January 1, 2023 but Governor Polis had it amended to begin on August 10, 2022.
Article about the Bill on Rock Mountain PBC
https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/news/no-more-state-taxes-on-diapers-or-menstrual-products/
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Spreading the word about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a Federal Communications Commission program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. This new benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.
Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail in application.
You can learn more about the benefit, including eligibility and enrollment information, by visiting www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877-384-2575.
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Older adults, are you interested in being paired with a CU Anschutz Health Professions students to become phone partners? The COAST-IT program is recruiting older adults who would like to have a weekly phone call, during the academic year, with a CU Anschutz School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, College of Nursing or School of Pharmacy to help them hone their communication skills with older adults so in the future they are more well-informed clinicians in the future. For more information please visit: COAST-IT Program (cuanschutz.edu) or email Joanna Fitzgibbons Joanna.fitzgibbons@cuanschutz.edu. | |
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Survey for employment and application experiences of workers 50 and older
The Older Worker Policy Collaborative (comprised of AARP, Bell Policy Center, Changing the Narrative, Colorado Center on Aging, Colorado Gerontological Society, CU Multidisciplinary Center on Aging, iAging, and others) is trying to gain a better understanding of the employment and application experiences of workers 50 and older. While these Coloradans comprise the fastest growing segment of our workforce, we have minimal information about their experiences, particularly as it relates to issues of age discrimination.
To fill the above-mentioned gap, the Collaborative developed a short 3-minute survey which we’re looking for help in circulating. The survey is anonymous and open until the end of September. We’ll use the results to advocate for more robust policies supportive of Colorado’s mature labor force.
Surveys:
English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2RCHXNS
Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3WD9XPQ
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The CU Anschutz Department of Emergency Medicine is recruiting older adults to participate in a study called Safe at Home online educational resource to help caregivers living with dementia to properly store their firearms.
The population of community-dwelling people with dementia is growing in the United States. About 5.8 million Americans – roughly 10% of all adults aged 65 years or older – are living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. An estimated 33-60% of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias have a firearm in the home, and 38% of their caregivers identify firearms as an issue to address. Caring for someone with dementia can be hard. There are physical, emotional, financial, and life-style changes to face. Making a plan about what to do about firearms in the home can be difficult. In collaboration with caregivers, dementia and firearm organizations, and other experts, the Safe at Home team developed a free online educational resource to help caregivers of persons living with dementia. This resource can help caregivers clarify values and make decisions about firearms access, driving, or take steps to improve safety at home, and then commit to implementing their preferred option.
CU Anschutz Multidisciplinary Center on Aging encourages you to check out this resource to help inform caregivers. To learn more, visit https://www.dementiasafety.org/safe-at-home-aging-english/
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Interesting Articles Focused on Advocacy Issues | |
After Wiping Out $6.7 Billion in Medical Debt, This Nonprofit
Is Just Getting Started
"Soon after giving birth to a daughter two months premature, Terri Logan received a bill from the hospital. She recoiled from the string of numbers separated by commas. Logan, who was a high school math teacher in Georgia, shoved it aside and ignored subsequent bills. She was a single mom who knew she had no way to pay. 'I avoided it like the plague,' she said, but avoidance didn’t keep the bills out of mind. 'The weight of all of that medical debt — oh man, it was tough,' Logan said. 'Every day, I’m thinking about what I owe, how I’m going to get out of this … especially with the money coming in just not being enough..." READ MORE
Source KHN.org
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We Have a Short Time to Fix Long-Term Care
"Policymakers urgently need to address the absence of insurance coverage for the long-term-care needs of our rapidly aging society. Long-term care reform must be at the top of the federal government's policy agenda if we as a society are to allow people to age with dignity and well-being. Reform should emphasize expanding coverage and strengthening connections with the broader health care and public health systems in order to create equity..." READ MORE
Source Nextavenue.org
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The State of the Residential Long-term Care Industry
"A comprehensive look at employment levels, demographics, wages, benefits, and poverty rates of workers in the industry. Employment levels in the long-term care industry have failed to meet demand, and the shortfall is expected to grow. Yet long-term care workers do not receive adequate pay or supports for their work. Many live in poverty or near poverty. If we are to ensure that those who need care receive quality care, we must be able to attract more workers to this profession and ensure that those workers have the pay, benefits, and supports they need..." READ MORE
Source Economic Policy Institute
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Dream of Aging in Place?
This government program could be a game-changer for seniors
"In 2015, the housing authority in Bath, Maine, created the Comfortably Home program after seeing the maintenance challenges that older people and those with disabilities faced in the challenge of continuing to live at home. The small Bath Housing program has worked on about 300 homes in the Maine coastal city of 8,760 residents. The idea has rippled across the state and has been replicated in 14 of Maine’s 16 counties and sparked the idea for a national effort called the Older Adult Home Modification Program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development..."
READ MORE
Source Marketwatch.com
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Colorado Cash Back
On May 23, 2022, Gov. Jared Polis signed a new law (Senate Bill 22-233) to give Coloradans a tax rebate of $750 for individual filers and $1,500 for joint filers this summer. This law will provide immediate relief to Coloradans by sending you a check this summer instead of spring of 2023, and we at the Colorado Department of Revenue are working hard to make sure that you get the right tax refund amount as soon as possible.
If you've already filed your Colorado state income tax return, you're all set! You will receive your Colorado Cash Back check by September 30, 2022.
Don't miss out! To receive your Colorado Cash Back Check, you must file your Colorado state income tax return or apply for a property tax, rent, or heat credit rebate (commonly known as the PTC Rebate) by June 30, 2022. You'll then receive Colorado Cash Back by September 30, 2022. Extended filers who have a deadline of October 17, 2022, will receive the refund by January 31, 2023.
Make sure you have a current and correct address on record with the Department, as the checks will be mailed to your last known address. If you need to update your address, you can either do so by logging into or creating an account on Revenue Online or by submitting a completed Address Change Form (DR 1102).
learn more HERE
Colorado Cash Back Call Center
303-951-4996
Contact the call center for questions about your TABOR refund.
*Your refund status will not be available on the Revenue Online portal.
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August is make a will month
"Make-A-Will Month is the perfect moment to demystify will-making...When you communicate about making a will, you should make it clear that everyone needs one — even if they plan to live to 150...There are many reasons to have a will. Wills can do quite a bit more than just name who gets your money and property. With a will, you can also nominate guardians for your minor children, name caretakers for your pets, leave instructions for digital assets, write your funeral wishes, and more. A will can also save your loved ones the time, money, and stress that comes with lengthy, expensive probate court proceedings..."
LEARN MORE
FREE WILL SERVICE
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Wednesday, August 24, 2022 - 11:30AM – 1:00PM
AgeWise Colorado Presents Keeping Your Balance
– Reducing the Risk of Falling Event via Zoom
Join us to learn what you can do to reduce the risk of falling for you or a loved one, and why fall prevention is so incredibly important. Our panel of experts include: Thomas Johnson, MD & Elizabeth Goldberg MD, Specializing in Geriatric Medicine along with Eric Levitan – Team VIVO, Nathan Estrada – Nymbl Science, and Mark Koenig – #1 Son Handyman Service.
View Event Flyer - CLICK HERE
Register Today – CLICK HERE
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Wednesday, August 24, 2022 - 12PM - 1PM
A conversation with Tracey Gendron, author of Ageism Unmasked,
Dr. Tracey Gendron, Chair of the Department of Gerontology at Virginia Commonwealth University has written a book that takes on, among other things, the "anti-aging" industry, generational stereotypes and more. Some of the things I really enjoyed about the book: How Tracey digs into the history of ageism, how it developed and what we can do about it. On August 24, Changing the Narrative is partnering with Denver Public Library, Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence and NextFifty Initiative to present this virtual event. You can register for this free virtual event HERE.
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Wednesday, August 31, 2022 - 4PM
CCA Membership "Huddle"!
Save the date/time of Wednesday August 31st at 4pm for a CCA Membership "Huddle"! (virtual, and possibly live as well ...)
During this hour and a half we'll be discussing the CCA's take on advocacy for the next year's legislative session. Rallying our troops for the year to come, educating on our retooled Advocacy Committee Meetings and Subgroups, discussing and revealing our legislative priorities, and empowering all to be emissaries of the CCA to develop our ranks and "raise the voices of older Coloradans" far and loud and in great number! More details to come, but save that date, and thanks for being part of this great team...
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Tuesday, September 13, 2022 - Noon - 1PM
Continuing the Becca Levy Book Club conversation
We had a wonderful conversation in June about Dr. Becca Levy's book, Breaking the Age Code. And one thing everyone who attended agreed on: You want to continue. So we've scheduled another book club discussion for September 13. You can sign up here.
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Tuesday, September 13, 2022 –1:00PM – 3:00PM
Audio Information Network of Colorado (AINC) and the City of Thornton Presentation on Resources for Individuals who Experience Barriers to Reading Print Materials
Location: Community Connections
Address: 9471 Dorothy Blvd, Thornton, CO
Audio Information Network of Colorado (AINC) and the City of Thornton invite you to learn more about resources for individuals who experience barriers to reading print materials and other challenges. Ensight Skills Center will be providing a presentation at 2 PM. Bring a friend and get an extra entry for prizes!
View Event Flyer - CLICK HERE
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Wednesday, September 28, 2022 - 9AM - 4PM
Age-Inclusive Management Strategies (AIMS) Conference
Location: History Colorado Center – Denver, CO
1200 No. Broadway, Denver, CO 80203
Join Transamerica Institute and University of Iowa to learn about Colorado employers' successes in adopting age-inclusive management strategies. The one-day conference will feature national aging and work experts, state of Colorado leadership, and employers who are part of the first generation to adopt the AIMS program. This event is free to attend. Contact us at 877-254-4547 or aims-project@uiowa.edu
View Event Flyer - CLICK HERE
Register Today – CLICK HERE
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The CCA eNewsletters that go out on Sunday afternoons are archived on the CCA website. You can find all past newsletters at this link - CLICK HERE | |
CCA Advocacy Committee Meetings in Summer and Fall 2022 | |
We will be meeting the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 9:30AM to 11:30AM from June through November. Upcoming meetings are: | |
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Monday, August 22nd
Monday, September 12th
Monday, September 26th
Monday, October 10th
Monday, October 24th
Monday, November 14th
Monday, November 28th
December - TBD
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