Seniors

Seniors should able to live in their existing homes as long as possible and stay in Routt County in the event they can no longer live at home. There should be a well-planned, graduated tier of housing options as seniors move through different phases of aging.



Possible interest groups/stewards

Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurses Association; Routt County Council on Aging; state agencies; AARP; governmental agencies; Yampa Valley Medical Center

• Live at home independently as long as possible.

• Live independently in affordable senior housing.

• Live with support from family, but needs an additional level of care:
  
  
  • Live-in assisted care facilities;
  • Live in nursing facilities;
  • Live in respite and palliative care facilities.

Seniors must have access to adequate transportation services where in a large, mountainous geographical area with severe weather, transportation becomes a critical lifeline for many rural seniors.

Seniors need to be able to get out of their homes to do necessary chores or to make connections with their community, contributing to their quality of life.



Possible interest groups/stewards

Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurses Association (e.g. Aging Well; Haven; Rollingstone; Hospice); Routt County Council on Aging; State agencies; AARP; Governmental agencies; YV Medical Center; for-profit and non-profit entities

• Keep existing free bus service in Steamboat Springs.

• Continue low-cost transportation from outlying areas such as Hayden and Craig.

• Expand low-cost transportation from North and South Routt.

• Create sliding scale payment for seniors.

• Increase services for frail and disabled seniors.

Continue to enhance existing senior programs and services in Routt County while developing new programs and services to meet the demands of the future.



Possible interest groups/stewards

Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurses Association (e.g. Aging Well; Haven; Rollingstone; Hospice); Routt County Council on Aging; state agencies; AARP; governmental agencies; Yampa Valley Medical Center; for-profit and non-profit entities; businesses; schools

• Continue and support existing programs.

• Create new programs for volunteers, connecting businesses in need of help with seniors willing to give their time and expertise.

• Create new programs that integrate seniors with younger generations as a way to share their incredible wealth of knowledge and wisdom.

• Encourage private businesses, such as Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp, Old Town Hot Springs, Strings and retail stores, to provide discount days or other programs to help seniors participate in community amenities they may not be able to afford.

Ensure that future generations of seniors will have the same opportunity to retire and live in Routt County for as long as they desire.




Possible interest groups/stewards

Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurses Association (e.g. Aging Well; Haven; Rollingstone; Hospice); Routt County Council on Aging; citizens

• Create a belief system that values seniors.

• Secure funding and provide incentives for senior services.