The Distinguished Pioneer in Aging Award recognizes those individuals who have been working continuously in the field of aging making contributions at the federal, state, and local level for 30 years or more. Past recipients of the Distinguished Pioneer Award include Arlene Miles of Colorado Health Care Association (2013), Sara Honn Qualls, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (2014), M Kent Olsen, Olsen Traeger & Ursery, LLP (2015), Donald J Murphy, MD (2016), and Bernard A Poskus, JD (2018), Janice Blanchard (2020), Therese Ellery (2021), Nancy Schwalm (2022), and Teri Romero (2023).
Meet the 2024 Distinguished Pioneer in Aging Award recipients:
Liz came to aging from the field 38 years ago from broadcasting. Her professional experience includes:
- 1986-1996 – Public Relations, Sunny Acres Villa
- 1998 – Merged Northglenn/Thornton Aging Network and Adams County Aging Network, Chaired ACAN until 2005
- 2005-1010 – Director, Colorado Senior Health Insurance Counseling Program
- 2000 – Colorado Delegate to the White House Conference on Aging
- 2010-2014 – SHIP Medicare Counselor, Centura Health (now Common Spirit)
- 2014-2024 – Insurance broker for Medicare products
In 2025, Liz is looking forward to retirement in Las Cruz, N.M.
Karen is the owner for the past 25 years of Elderlink Home Care, a licensed home care registry with the Colorado Department of Public Health. Karen has worked at the local, state, and national level to create standards for home care placement agencies.
For the past 37 years, Elderlink has placed caregivers in older adults’ homes to help them age in place. Caregivers work for the older adult, but are supported by Elderlink to make sure the older adult’s needs are met. Older adults pay a referral fee, but manage the care and services that are needed for them to remain in their own home.
Karen lives in awe of the dedicated caregivers who make the difference in the lives of older adults.
She recently helped develop new nursing home policy as part of the State of Colorado Health Care Policy and Financing division.