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DRCOG Area Agency on Aging briefs Clear Creek commissioners on older-adult needs and local gaps
Summary
Denver Regional Council of Governments' Area Agency on Aging presented county-specific survey findings showing Clear Creek has an older population with needs around housing, health care access, utilities and information; agency offered to support coordination and service outreach.
Representatives from the Denver Regional Council of Governments(DRCOG) Area Agency on Aging presented a regional community-assessment survey to the Clear Creek County Board of County Commissioners during a May 20 work session, highlighting distinctive needs of older adults in the county and offering coordination support.
Jayla Sanchez Warren, who led the presentation, said Clear Creek has one of the oldest populations in the metropolitan region and that many older residents value remaining in place. The agencysurvey (conducted in fall 2022) found strengths such as perceived overall quality of life and safety, and gaps including affordable quality housing, access to health care, utility cost pressures (including propane and septic concerns), and difficulties accessing information about older-adult services.
Warren described service challenges in rural mountain communities: limited broadband availability or reliability for telehealth and online benefits enrollment, costs for heating and septic repair, and a shrinking workforce to provide long-term care. She said the Area Agency on Aging continues to fund transportation and home-delivered meals in the county and contracts with local providers for handyman services, though hiring challenges have reduced some local capacity.
"We do provide services to older adults to help them stay at home," Warren said, listing transportation, nutrition, caregiving support and legal assistance as examples. She urged the county to "add 'age well'" to the county's "live, work, play" framing and noted the agencycould assist with planning, outreach and resource coordination.
Commissioners and DRCOG staff discussed broadband availability, volunteer networks (including Meals on Wheels) and local volunteer-based repairs. DRCOG staff encouraged leveraging faith-based and community organizations and noted several program areas (home maintenance, fall-prevention, benefits navigation) where the county could identify target support for older residents.
The board asked DRCOG to remain available for follow-up and to support outreach work with local partners; DRCOG staff said they will continue to update the county on regional planning, funding opportunities and survey updates.
