LARIMER COUNTY Your Area Agency on Aging (AAA) at Work! ANNUAL REPORT STATE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 Office on Aging (970) 498-7750 Larimer.gov/seniors
Dear valued community members,
This is my first letter to you as Program Manager for the Larimer County Office on Aging (LCOA). I had the privilege of joining this team in 2021, and I am so proud of everything that the Office on Aging has accomplished in the last year. We continue to navigate a changing landscape that requires constant adaptation and innovation to respond to the needs of our community.
In this annual report, you’ll see a snapshot of the impact that our team and network of partners has made for older adults, caregivers, and adults living with disabilities in Larimer County. Each statistic tells a story of the lives touched, connections made, and relationships strengthened in our community. As you peruse these pages, I invite you to see not only the scope of the impact of our services and programs, but the stories of each individual. While our world continues to change, our staff, advisory council, and network of providers will work together to serve our community, and every person who seeks support, in creative and effective ways.
If any of the topics or levels of support mentioned in this annual report interest you, I encourage you to learn more by visiting our website, larimer.gov/seniors, or by calling (970) 498-7750.
Erin Alt Program Manager Larimer County Office on Aging
Mission Statement
LCOA Staff
Erin Alt, Program Manager
Amber Franzel, Regional Ombudsman Program Supervisor
Eliza Piesman, O mbudsman
Kate Poppenhagen, O mbudsman
Kara Marang, O mbudsman
Mark Sleeter, ADRC Program Supervisor
Carolina Quiñonez, C ase Manager
Tori Wimmer, C ase Manager
Wendy Schleppy, C ase Manager
Brittany Goldman, C ase Manager
Carol Seest, C ase Manager
Jennifer Lynn, C ase Manager
Dani DePas, C ase Manager
Nicole Limoges, Program Coordinator
Tiffany Ballew, A dministrative Specialist
SFY 2021–2022
Advisory Council Members
Anita Basham
Royce Boehrs
Elaine Boni
David Born
Colleen Conway
Jill Couch
Sharon Courtney
Myles Crane
Megan Finnerty
Steva Gay
Joe Glomboski
Kirsten Hartman
Lisa Hays
Alexis LaHaie
Margaret Long
Jason Morgan
Jacque Penfold
Ellen Pihlstrom
Janet Seeley
Sharon Thomas
Punkie Whitely
Jody Shadduck-McNally
Desk
From the Director’s
2 | Office on Aging
The Larimer County Office on Aging advocates, plans, coordinates and delivers services for older adults, adults living with disabilities, and caregivers so they may experience their highest quality of life characterized by empowerment, dignity, health and independence.
Funding Participants are not charged for these services, but are encouraged to donate to the programs they use. Donations go back into the program to expand services. Internal LCOA programs received $1,598 in donations, while our funded community partners received $153,181 for a total of $154,779. REVENUE $3,279,951 Federal and State Grant Funding $228,811 Larimer County Funding (match for main grant, Rural SrCenters) $49,148 Other Grant Funding (MIPPA, CCT, ADRC COVID) $3,557,910 TOTAL EXPENSES $1,926,276 Direct Services $493,934 Administration and Operations $702,426 Internal Supportive Services • Application Assistance • Transition Services • Case Management and Options Counseling • Family Caregiver Support Program • Information and Assistance Outreach $339,275 Ombudsman and Elder Rights $36,852 Program Development & Coordination and Advocacy $59,148 Other Grant Funding • (MIPPA, CCT, ADRC COVID, Rural Sr Centers) $3,557,910 TOTAL
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Each statistic tells a story of the lives touched, connections made, and relationships strengthened in our community.
LCOA Internal Programs
Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado (ADRC)
The Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado (ADRC) is a trusted source of information for older adults, persons living with a disability, and their caregivers to obtain assistance in planning for their future long-term service and support needs. The ADRC is designed to empower older adults and persons living with a disability to make informed choices about their services and supports. Staff at the ADRC provide objective information and assistance to help people access private or publicly funded programs.
INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES
Phone calls requesting assistance: Phone: 5,648 total, on average 471 per month
Visits made to Network of Care website: 119,927, on average 9,944 per month
OPTIONS COUNSELING
103 individuals received one-on-one decision-making assistance to access and navigate long-term services and supports.
CHORE VOUCHER PROGRAM
112 individuals received a chore voucher providing financial support with chores around the home that they were unable to perform, equaling a total of $35,255
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
66 individuals received hands-on assistance in completing a Long-Term Care Medicaid or Medicare Savings Program Application.
DENTAL VOUCHER PROGRAM
80 individuals received $51,250 in financial support for dental/oral health services. To make the dental voucher program possible, the LCOA partnered with the Health District of Northern Larimer County to provide dental care services to older adults.
IN-HOME SERVICES VOUCHER PROGRAM
149 individuals received 9,575 hours of homemaker and personal care services. To make the in-home services voucher program possible, the LCOA partnered with the following agencies to provide homemaker and personal care services to older adults: A Little R&R, FirstLight, Homewatch Caregivers, Right at Home, Senior Helpers, Seniors Helping Seniors.
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Staff at the ADRC provide objective information and assistance to help people access private or publicly funded programs.
Family Caregiver Support Program
Family caregivers are the backbone of our long-term care system, and many of them find themselves providing care around the clock. The goal of the family caregiver support program is to lessen the strain experienced by family caregivers by providing consultations, respite assistance, and connection to support groups, counseling, and classes.
CAREGIVER INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE (EMAIL AND PHONE)
555 clients were provided information.
RESPITE VOUCHER
91 caregivers received 6,614 hours of respite support.
CAREGIVER CONSULTATIONS
122 caregivers received individual caregiver consult sessions
EVIDENCE-BASED CAREGIVER CLASSES
23 caregivers participated in the evidence-based classes Powerful Tools for Caregivers and Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers.
Social Isolation Project
The Office on Aging received funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, to implement projects that would improve quality of life for older adults and reduce stress and social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
One project provided a robotic pet, weighted blanket, or both to 151 clients throughout the community. The robotic pets and weighted blankets fostered comfort and companionship and reduced depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, agitation, and loneliness.
A second project funded through the CARES Act grant provided technology to promote social connection and mental stimulation for residents of Larimer County. The LCOA distributed 20 iPads with cases to Housing Catalyst to enable older residents to virtually connect with their social supports. Aspire 3D also received six iPads with cases, 10 Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headsets for cooperative virtual gaming, and two MIDI controllers with keyboard and drums to encourage musical expression for residents.
Thanks to the funding from the CARES grant, LCOA was able to help older adults live richer, more satisfying lives during a challenging time.
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Ombudsman Program
The Ombudsman team protects the rights of individuals living in nursing and assisted living homes. Larimer County has four full-time paid Ombudsmen and one volunteer who serve residents in 49 different long-term care communities.
2,851 individual beds protected by the Ombudsman Program.
1,251 consultations with facilities and 685 consultations with residents.
Cases opened: 636
Complaints investigated: 1,336
Visits made to LTC homes: 902
The LCOA Ombudsman team is a leader in resident advocacy. In 2022, Kara Marang and Eliza Piesman presented at a national conference about the CO-PEER program. In this program, residents of long-term care facilities receive 10 hours of training in self-resolution and advocacy skills to work with facility staff to address resident concerns. Larimer County is the first county outside of Pennsylvania to implement such a program, and the presentation included recommendations on starting similar programs in other communities.
The LCOA Ombudsman team seeks out new ways to effectively advocate for residents of long-term care facilities and help residents advocate for themselves.
Provided 56 sessions of community training and 5 sessions of facility training.
6 | Office on Aging
Creating Awareness in our Community
June 15, 2022 marked the 16th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). The LCOA collaborated with the Adult Protective Services team and other teams across the Larimer County Department of Human Services to recognize WEAAD and promote education on this important topic. Efforts to raise awareness included an official proclamation by the Board of County Commissioners, distributing nearly 85 yard signs, and staff across Human Services wearing WEAAD t-shirts.
“I think elder abuse is less known and less understood than child abuse, but the fact there were 1,800 referrals... that’s a big number,” Kristin Stephens, Larimer County Commissioner, said. “I think it’s really important to value and support our older residents.”
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Funded Community Partners
The LCOA funds services through a network of partner agencies. More than $1.4 million was awarded to or spent on programs and services in partnership with the following community organizations:
A Little R&R Home Care
Aging Clinic of the Rockies (ACOR)
Berthoud Area Transportation Services (BATS)
Colorado Legal Services (CLS)
Elderhaus Adult Day Program, Inc.
Ensight Skills Center
Estes Park Health Home Care
FirstLight Home Care
Health District of Northern Larimer County
Homewatch Caregivers, Inc.
Meals on Wheels of Loveland and Berthoud
Namaqua Center (SummitStone Health Partners)
Right at Home
Rural Alternative for Transportation (RAFT)
Grant Funded Community Programs
ADULT DAY SERVICES
13 individuals received 2,357 hours of supervised personal care, group engagement, and more through adult day programs.
IN-HOME SERVICES IN ESTES PARK
7 individuals received 588 hours of homemaker and personal care services.
NUTRITION SERVICES
763 individuals received
86,219 home delivered meals
416 individuals received 15,992 congregate/grab-n-go meals.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED SERVICES
72 individuals received assessments, screenings, assistive aids, training, and/or education to assist with low vision adaptations.
Senior Alternatives IN Transportation (SAINT)
Senior Helpers
Seniors Helping Seniors of Northern Colorado
UCHealth Aspen Club
VIA Mobility Services
Volunteers of America Colorado
Wellington Senior Resource Center
LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
391 individuals received 650 hours of legal assistance.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
556 individuals received 15,764 rides.
CAREGIVER SERVICES
16 caregivers received 126 sessions of counseling
53 caregivers received 2,030 hours of respite
39 grandparents received 404 sessions of grandfamily support services.
1501 Blue Spruce Drive Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 498-7750
Larimer.gov/seniors
