As we step into 2026, the conversation about aging in Colorado has shifted beyond healthcare appointments and insurance paperwork.
There’s a growing collection of books and resources that are reshaping how we think about – and experience – the aging journey in our mountain communities.
At Vintage, we believe that aging well combines practical support with inspiration and local resources with broader wisdom about what makes life fulfilling at every age.
That’s why we’re excited to share three standout books that offer different lenses on aging well, alongside the practical resources that help Colorado residents turn these ideas into lived reality.
Three Essential Reads for Aging Well
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi is about a mysterious, kind-hearted older man named Theo who moves to the southern city of Golden, where he anonymously buys portraits of residents from a local coffee shop and gifts them to their rightful owners, sparking profound connections, inspiring generosity, and changing lives through simple, meaningful acts of love and attentiveness. The story explores themes of wonder, purpose, creative kindness, and finding beauty in ordinary lives, with Theo’s own mysterious past only revealed at the very end.
Vintage Director, Erin Fisher, recently read Theo of Golden and found it to be moving, thought provoking and at times heartbreaking and laugh-out loud funny. This isn’t an easy book to digest, but an incredibly worthwhile read, no matter your age.
Breaking the Age Code by Becca Levy, PhD
Dr. Becca Levy’s groundbreaking research delivers a powerful message: our beliefs about aging profoundly shape our health outcomes.
Breaking the Age Code presents decades of research linking negative age stereotypes to higher risks of memory loss, hearing decline, and cardiovascular events – while showing how positive age beliefs support healthier, longer lives.
In a culture that celebrates youth and physical prowess, how do we maintain a positive sense of age identity as bodies change? Levy’s work provides both a wake-up call and a roadmap, offering practical tools to challenge ageism at individual and structural levels.
The book’s framework aligns perfectly with Vintage’s holistic approach to aging well. We see daily how mindset affects everything from willingness to try new technologies to engagement with community programs.
Breaking the Age Code works beautifully in workshop settings, caregiver education programs, and senior center discussions throughout Colorado. Vintage’s case management providers incorporate these principles into their work, helping clients reframe challenges and recognize strengths.
The Blue Zones Cookbook by Dan Buettner
Dan Buettner’s Blue Zones research has captivated audiences worldwide with its simple but profound insight: the world’s longest-lived people share common lifestyle patterns, particularly around food.
The Blue Zones Cookbook brings this research into your kitchen with recipes from communities where people routinely live past 100 in good health. The cookbook emphasizes beans, whole grains, vegetables, and simple home cooking – practical approaches that work whether you’re cooking in Aspen or Kremmling.
Vintage provided funding to local providers who delivered thousands of congregate and home-delivered meals across our region in 2024, with nutrition consistently ranking among our most utilized services.
The Blue Zones approach aligns with what we know works: regular, nutritious meals that bring people together while supporting physical health.
Connecting Books to Colorado Resources
Physical Health and Prevention
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) emphasizes that physical health and prevention form the foundation of aging well.
The Blue Zones Cookbook supports this priority by making nutritious eating accessible and appealing, while Breaking the Age Code shows how mindset affects adherence to health recommendations and risk management.
Vintage’s approach mirrors this integration. Our 96% client satisfaction rate stems partly from recognizing that preventing institutional placement requires addressing multiple dimensions simultaneously: nutrition, transportation to medical appointments, medication management, and the positive outlook that keeps people engaged with their health.
Brain, Mental, and Social Health
NCOA highlights brain health, memory care, and mental health as distinct pillars of aging well. Breaking the Age Code intersects directly with this emphasis by demonstrating how positive age beliefs support cognitive and emotional well-being while offering tools to counter internalized ageism.
In Colorado’s mountain communities, where winter isolation can exacerbate depression and social disconnection, these mental health dimensions become even more critical.
Financial, Work, and Independence
NCOA’s resources on money management, housing assistance, Medicare, and work & retirement recognize that financial security underlies aging well and aging in place.
Breaking the Age Code‘s critique of structural ageism connects to these practical concerns, highlighting how workplace discrimination and societal attitudes affect older adults’ economic prospects.
Vintage’s case management services help translate these broader concerns into individual solutions. We understand that aging well requires both mindset shifts and practical supporting accessing the resources that enable independence.
Your 2026 Action Plan for Aging Well in Colorado
Start with Reading and Reflection
Pick one of these three books based on what resonates most: celebrating wonder and interconnectedness (Theo of Golden), mindset and health (Breaking the Age Code), or nutrition and longevity (The Blue Zones Cookbook). Better yet, start a book club with friends or through your local senior center.
Connect with Local Resources
Vintage serves Eagle, Grand, Jackson, Pitkin, Routt, and Summit counties with comprehensive aging services.
Whether you need transportation assistance, nutrition support, Medicare counseling, or simply information about available resources, we’re your starting point.
Our partnerships with senior centers throughout the region create access points in every community. These centers often host book clubs, cooking classes, and wellness programs that bring these concepts to life.
Take One Practical Step
Choose one action from these books: challenge a negative belief about aging, try a Blue Zones recipe, or reflect on your relationship with your Colorado community. Small steps compound into meaningful change.
At Vintage, we believe aging well combines practical support with inspiration, evidence with compassion, and individual solutions with community connection. These books provide the framework; we provide the on-the-ground support to make aging well a reality in Colorado’s mountain communities.
Ready to explore aging resources in your area? Visit us online or call 970-455-1067 to connect with services, programs, and support throughout northwest Colorado. Because aging well isn’t just about growing older – it’s about living fully in the place you love.