LARIMER COUNTY Revenue and Competitors

Larimer County's Office on Aging is the lead agency in a partnership that includes Colorado State University's Center on Aging, Elderhaus Adult Day Programs, Inc., Spiritual Health Partnership, and Volunteers of America to receive grants averaging $240,000 over four years in a newly announced Colorado Trust initiative. Colorado Trust last week announced $6.5 Million will go to 20 senior serving organizations throughout the state in a Healthy Aging Initiative, to strengthen services for Colorado seniors. Family caregivers are the underpinning of the nation's long-term care system. About 80% of long-term care in the United States is provided free by family and friends. Over two-thirds of current health care dollars go to treating chronic illness; for older persons the proportion rises to almost 95%. An estimated 44 million Americans age 18 and older provide unpaid assistance and support to older people and adults with disabilities who live in the community. The value of this unpaid labor force is estimated to be at least $306 billion annually. A substantial body of research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. Emotional, mental, and physical health problems arise from complex caregiving situations and the strains of caring for frail and disabled relatives. This new project "Establishing a Continuum of Caregiver Support Services: Using a Community Coalition Approach" will take a multi-pronged approach and provide a continuum of support services to caregivers through the activities of the Larimer County Caregiver Coalition, as well as other community-based service providers. The Coalition's mission is to help family caregivers maintain their health and well-being by supporting them in their caregiving roles and responsibilities. If you would like to know more about this new project and about services to support family caregivers in Larimer County, please contact the Family Caregiver support Proram Coordinator, Lynette McGowan by email or at 970-498-6820, Monday through Friday.