October 2023 PAFC News - Loveland Outreach, Generations Living Together, Our Latest Blog, and MORE!

Colorado Gives Day EARLY GIVING Starts November 1st!

PAFC News and Views

October 2023

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 thrilled to share 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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Family Connections

by Cherrie Thornton

In a previous blog I wrote at the end, “My challenge is to make the time for what I believe now is the most precious thing and that is in connecting through relationships, with family, friends, co-volunteers. Especially family”.

When looking at my current family members, I see my sons and their families and others as well, but what I am now recognizing is that these people are all younger than me. The other day I had a memory of a trip to Scotland (looking for ancestors - more family). I thought “Oh, I must call David” (my brother and travel companion) and talk about this with him. Then I realized that he died in 2015, almost 10 years ago. Where has the time gone?

I am now the oldest person in my branch of my family, and it feels a little lonely. There are so many years of memories that I enjoyed sharing with my contemporaries, and while talking about these now is fun, it is not the same as sharing them with someone who was there.

Enter my youngest brother, Scott. When he was born, I was in high school. We had moved from upstate New York to Florida when I started 10th grade; he was 10 weeks old. Soon, I would attend college, marry, and then be gone from his life. So, our childhoods were in very different environments, and we were never close while he was growing up.

Over the years we were in and out of each other’s lives, but I still never felt as close to him as to David. Last January when we got together while I was visiting Florida, we rekindled a friendship. I was so happy about reconnecting. We are continuing conversations via Zoom and enjoying getting to know each other better.

Our relationship is different from my relationship with David, and that is OK. I am learning that a lot is different in my life, change happens whether I like it or not, but I still have family. And I am grateful for that.

After several years as a stay at home mother, Cherrie began a career in computer programming first at Oklahoma State University and then at Kodak Colorado Division. Later after earning her Masters in Counseling Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado in 1994, she changed her career path to mental health and social work with older adults. Since retirement, she has enjoyed family and friends, travel, painting, and volunteering. She is the mother of two sons and grandmother of four grandsons.

A Message from our Newsletter Sponsor,

Andrea Chirich:

The Rise of Multi-generational Living

As I work with Buyers and Sellers, I am hearing more people interested in multi-generational homes! Whether they are younger people looking for their first home, or older people talking with me about selling their existing home, often the goal is to move to a multi-generational living situation.

Multi-generational living is one where more than one generation of adults live together in the same household. It can be older parents with their adult children, siblings, and maybe even their grandchildren and they all live together under one roof. According to a recent study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the top two reasons people are opting for multi-generational homes center around affordability.

Cost Savings: By pooling resources and sharing a household with parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. multi-generational living provides savings. Rather than these family members all keeping and

maintaining separate households, they have one household. This allows for savings on mortgage costs, insurance, property taxes and even maintenance. It allows for division of labor on basic activities such as housework, yard maintenance and grocery shopping, potentially bringing additional savings by being able to do the work and not hire someone to have it done.

More square footage: Again, by pooling resources, a larger home and/or acreage may be possible. Especially for first time home buyers with the increase in home prices and associated costs, multi-

generational living may allow for a bigger home with more amenities than what they could afford on their own. For older people, a larger home could afford the room for aging in place and other family

members to live in the home to help with care, maintenance, keeping up with the home, and keeping up with the needs of aging individuals.

Young families can benefit from having family members to help with childcare, and older people can benefit from having support for all situations as they age. Everyone benefits from the pooling of

resources for acquiring the size of home and land desired, and covering the costs associated with home ownership.

Multi-generational living can be a win-win for all members of the household. If you’d like to learn more or look at how that may work for your family let’s connect! I am happy to be a resource for all things real estate, and ensure you have the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family members.

Have a question for Andrea?

PAFC Joins Loveland Chamber of Commerce!

PAFC is excited to take an important step forward in our efforts to better serve the Loveland community, by expanding our outreach to include membership in the Loveland Chamber of Commerce! Our Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held the afternoon of Tuesday, October 24th. We are truly grateful for this new partnership, and for the warm welcome the Chamber provided, and are looking forward to getting to know other Loveland Chamber members. Enjoy these pictures below from our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

Thank you Loveland Chamber of Commerce!

Learn more about the Loveland Chamber of Commerce HERE!

We Need YOU December 5th!

December 5th is Colorado Gives Day, but did you know you can give early?

Colorado Gives Day's early giving starts November 1st! Why wait?

Be the first person in your circle to choose to GIVE this year and help us move forward with our mission of creating a Larimer County where people of ALL ages thrive!

It takes just a few seconds to donate to PAFC this giving season, and when you donate you know you are helping us generate brand new programs and resources, like Senior Access Points, Sound Affects, PAFC Tech Buddies, and more!

Click Here to Donate Early!

Are You 55 or Better and Looking for WORK?

Are you age 55 or better and looking to re-enter the workforce, increase your hours to full time, or make a career switch? Are you eager to explore new job opportunities, but not sure where to start? Let's connect!

If you were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, our workforce program may be able to help. Our comprehensive program will equip you with the tools you need to successfully navigate your job campaign and find meaningful opportunities that match your skills and experience.

Learn more below and contact us today!

www.PAFCLarimer.org

info@pafclarimer.org

Donate HERE!