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Colorado Gerontological Society – 30 Years of Success
by Eileen Doherty, Executive Director
Senior Answers and Service
and the Colorado Gerontological Society
In the beginning, the Colorado Gerontological Society was a dream of educators and researchers who wanted to bring training conferences, research and policy initiatives to the field of aging in Colorado. Amidst the excitement of the 1980 Governor’s Conference on Aging, more than 100 professionals and seniors clamored to be part of the “mystique” of this exciting, new dynamic organization buying a one year membership for $5. Today our membership is just over 400 individuals and agencies that support our mission.
The Society will be celebrating the past 30 years of service to the community on September 30 from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The cocktail reception will be hosted by Holly Creek Retirement Community, 5500 E Peakview Avenue, Centennial, for members and the community. Remarks and acknowledgements will be made at 5:00 pm.
In 1976, a group of senior citizens came together to form what would become Senior Answers and Services. Before health education, health promotion and prevention were in vogue and health insurance companies demanded behavior changes in their insured members, Senior Answers and Services worked to help seniors to maintain their health and independence. Later Senior Answers and Services began to focus on helping seniors to navigate the complex service delivery system.
In 2008, The Society merged with their sister agency, Senior Answers and Services to create a stronger organization and to be a leading voice for seniors and professionals. Working closely with elected leaders, regulators, advocates, and the senior population the Society influences policy and raises awareness. Recently, former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff said “My leadership on issues of concern to seniors earned me high ratings from … the Colorado Gerontological Society”.
The Society has been a major force in numerous policy initiatives including safeguarding the Old Age Pension grants and health care coverage, authorization and passage of the Older Coloradoans Act, and patient advocacy leadership summits sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline to coordinate health care advocacy.
Four research studies have been conducted to improve the clinical practice and delivery of service. “Improving Coordination and Collaboration in the Private and Public Sector” was the subject of a research study conducted at the request of The Colorado Trust as they were looking for ways to impact service delivery among aging organizations. “A Gerontology Training Program: An Evaluation” was the subject of a program evaluation of the Community College of Denver Gerontology Program. With grants from AstraZeneca two case studies were completed: “Patient Compliance with Prescription Drugs” to improve compliance with medications among older adults and “Mammography Utilization among Medicare Beneficiaries” to make recommendations to health care providers and consumers about the importance of mammography in the later years.
By bringing together theory, practice and policy, the Society has become a leader in the delivery of service to elders. Thirty years ago, theories of aging focused more on disengagement from the world and sitting in your rocking chair. Today’s paradigm has shifted to focus on civic engagement and continued meaningful involvement in the community. “I feel useful and not so depressed when I help, I feel needed”, says 77-year-old Patrocinia McBride, speaking about her volunteer experience at The Society.
In the past thirty years, service delivery has become very specialized and compartmentalized in many organizations. However, the nature of gerontology has forced us to be generalists with a depth of knowledge about a myriad of issues facing seniors. In the spirit of the founders of Senior Answers and Services, Ethlyn Christensen and Mildred Doster, MD, “our goal is not to refer calls to another agency; we must learn all we can about the problem, find a resource to help them, and lend a helping hand when resources do not exist from the informal system looking to neighbors and family”.
Keeping with this mandate, The Society compiles a wealth of information across a broad range of topics to meet the varied professional and community requests for help. One of our most widely requested resources is the Senior Resource Guidebook. A diverse range of supportive personnel like librarians, social workers, and families use the Guidebook to help seniors make major life decisions. Misty Bernal, working with Comfort Keepers, a home care agency serving Grand Junction, Montrose, and Delta requested her personal copy after seeing this “fantastic resource used by a colleague”. The Guidebook is a comprehensive resource on housing, home care, insurance and advance directives, which is available through libraries and other community locations.
Suzie Mueller, a resident services coordinator at a low income housing community, responsible for helping older adults access government benefits says “I can’t be without my “bible”, the Benefits for Seniors Sourcebook. The Benefits book is an in-depth compilation of information on eligibility, documentation requirements, application forms, and tips for practitioners on how to best access and coordinate benefits.
Today, the Society’s message reaches from the eastern plains to western slope of Colorado and from the east coast to the west coast and around the world. Older adults and their families learn from our website at www.senioranswers.org, connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook, and read our monthly articles in newspapers across Colorado.
More than 8000 copies of the STA-Well News, our quarterly newsletter in its’ 35th year of continuous publication, are mailed to seniors’ homes. Readers regularly call for assistance and copies of forms to take advantage of rebates, utility assistance, housing information, and more.
Our most recent article which appeared in the Prime Time for Seniors, 50+ Marketplace News, Life after 50, and Senior Beacon on advance directives such as living wills, medical orders for scope of treatment and financial and general powers of attorney resulted in hundreds of phone calls from older adults for copies of the forms and referrals to attorneys for help with these important life issues.
Frequently local and national media outlets seek our advice and ask for information to share with their listeners, viewers and readers. On Mother’s Day 2010, KCNC CBS4 television ran a story on scammers targeting seniors. Eileen Doherty, Executive Director, gave advice to families on talking to parents or loved ones about the dangerousness of allowing strangers into their home or sharing personal information on the phone. One way is to be very direct. "Say, Mom, I'm really concerned about this, I've heard about this situation. I want you to be aware that this it is happening and I want to make absolutely sure you will under no circumstances allow these individuals into your home." In difficult situations like this we encourage other professionals, families and seniors to call us.
Giving and receiving are an integral part of non-profit organizations, like The Society. Since 1992, more than 8500 grants have been awarded to older adults for vision, hearing and dental services with funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Denver Department of Human Services Veterans Service Office, the Denver Regional Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging and private donations. Frank Gold, DDS, is one of more than 100 private dentists, opticians, and audiologists who regularly provide these discounted services. He participates “because I like giving back to the community and this program is of the ways to do that”.
Helping people to understand Medicare and Medicaid began in 1988 when Susan Hellman joined the staff. In our first year, more than 185 people contacted us for assistance. A statewide initiative, Medicare Monday is an annual public information program with the latest Medicare changes. A highly popular program, seniors Barbara and Bruce Dutton say they come each year “to make sure we know what is new for ourselves and how we can help other people in our church and community.”
In 2006, when Medicare Part D became a major issue, The Society provided information, counseling and training to more than 4000 seniors. Today, Jason Marquez is our dedicated counselor advising and enrolling more than 300 people in various Medicare and Medicaid programs while the rest of the staff provide information to countless others. Much of this work could not be done without support from Pfizer, the Rose Community Foundation and other donors.
Hundreds of volunteers have come together since 1986 to deliver almost 3500 Holiday Baskets to low income seniors who are alone on the Holidays. With support from schools, churches, corporations, and community organizations, each basket is valued at more than $50 each in food stuffs, fresh fruit and vegetables, chickens, bread, paper products and personal items. Each basket is topped with an individually wrapped gift. Gloria Anderberg says “It is the only Christmas present I received”. Others ask the volunteers who deliver baskets to “wait while they open their present”. One gentleman called to say “How did you know that I needed a tube of chap stick?” Another lady called to say “This is so much food. I can invite my friend to have lunch”.
Under the auspices of our motto “Building Leadership in Aging”, hundreds of thousands of professionals have enhanced their skills and expertise through workshops, summits, training programs, issue briefings, and senior forums. “You taught me everything I know about community resources” says Nancy Van Rikxoord, a nursing home and home care social worker. With comprehensive training manuals, our educational efforts serve to advance the knowledge base in the field, to improve skill sets, and meet the training curriculums for state licensure and certification. “Studying with you is a privilege and honor” says Alicja Stawkowski, a University of Colorado graduate student. Monthly, timely topics are discussed at the Senior Issues Briefing, Network North, the Medicare Advantage Work Group, and the Assisted Living Executive Directors Roundtable Breakfast.
As a professional organization dedicated to advancing the field of gerontology, our signature yearly event is the Annual Conference which is attended by members and the community at large. In 1985, more than 425 individuals joined together at a two and a half day conference to meet their continuing education requirements. In 1983, at the Third Annual Conference we presented the Distinguished Pioneer Awards to seven community volunteers who worked to bring aging to the forefront in Colorado.
Awards are now presented annually to the Distinguished Pioneer in Aging, Al Berger Community Service Award, The Young Professional in Aging Award, and the Corporate Award in Aging. Since 1990, we have awarded scholarships to 42 students studying gerontology at matriculated colleges in Colorado.
The Salute to Seniors resource fair, a model which has been implemented by many other community agencies, offers a forum for older adults to meet and learn about products and services in a neutral venue. Kaiser Permanente has had a booth at every Salute since its’ inception 20 years ago and has been the executive sponsor for the past five years. First with support from the Denver Commission on Aging and most recently from the Denver Department of Human Services, the City and County of Denver has hosted this event.
From his hospital bed in 2010, Cliff Dougal continues to solicit support for the Salute to Seniors, the largest senior fair in Colorado that brings together more than 100 exhibitors and 2000 seniors annually to learn more about services and products. “We have to get involved with this dynamic organization to help us stay young and spread the word” say Bette and Joe Peterson, avid volunteers on the planning committee. The Salute has featured entertainment from such celebrities as Alice Faye, Jack LaLanne, Shirley Jones, Peter Yarrow, The Four Lads, Arthur Duncan, Myron Floran, The Four Aces and many more over the past 20 years. The support and participation from the community for this event is phenomenal.
Theories of aging focus on frameworks, flow charts, and outcomes. Our clinical practice has helped us to be better researchers, trainers, and policy influencers. Amid proclamations from the Governor and Mayors of Denver, awards and recognitions, and a dedicated Executive Director Eileen Doherty, the small staff that bring a smile to work every day to answer questions, make grant awards, help seniors, and improve excellence in gerontology are: Eugene Doherty, Janet Weipert, Shewit Phelper Doherty, Jason Marquez, Cliff Dougal, Roger Doherty, and Bernadette Schmeits. On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you for all of your support for the seniors of Colorado.
The 30th Anniversary celebration is free and open to the public. RSVPs are suggested. Call 303-333-3482 for more information and details.
Eileen Doherty, MS is the Executive
Director of Senior Answers and Services and the Colorado Gerontological
Society, 3006 East Colfax, Denver CO 80206. She has more than 30 years of
experience in education and training, clinical practice, research, and public
policy in gerontology. You may reach her at 303-333-3482 or Doherty001@att.net
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