Every May, communities across the country pause to recognize older Americans. We reflect on and celebrate their contributions, their resilience, and work hard to promote the resources available to help them thrive.
This year’s theme, chosen by the US Administration for Community Living, is “Champion Your Health.
This mission hits close to home for anyone living and aging in the mountain communities of Northwest Colorado. We’re a hearty and resilient community – and we’re proud to be champions of people from all walks and stages of life.
This year’s theme is a call to take an active role in your own well-being: get the preventive care you need, stay connected to your community, and reach out for support before a small problem becomes a big one.
What Does “Championing Your Health” Look Like at Colorado’s Altitude?
Living well in Eagle, Grand, Jackson, Pitkin, Routt, or Summit County comes with a specific set of realities:
- The distances between towns are longer – and often more treacherous – than in many other places across the country.
- Our winters are long, and accessing needed resources can be challenging.
- Getting to a specialist might mean a two-hour drive on a mountain pass.
For older adults here, championing your health isn’t just about willpower—it’s about knowing which resources are available and using them.
That’s where Vintage plays an important role for our community’s champions. As the designated Area Agency on Aging for our six-county region, we’re the compass for older adults and the people who care for them.
We’re connecting people to services and making sure no one navigates the trail alone.
Three Ways to Champion Your Health with Vintage’s Help
1. Get the Preventive Care and Information You Need
Medicare can feel like a second job. It’s confusing, always-changing, and full of fine print. You shouldn’t need a PhD to understand your options.
Our free Medicare counseling helps older adults and caregivers compare coverage options and understand which preventive visits are covered. We can also help you identify which screenings cost nothing out of pocket.
You don’t have to sort through it alone, and you shouldn’t have to.
2. Stay Active and Connected in Your Community
Championing your health can be fun and exciting here in Colorado – if you know where to start.
You can take small, regular steps to get started: a walk on a favorite trail, a community meal, an evidence-based fitness class, or a volunteer shift that gets you out of the house.
Vintage funds and connects people to nutrition programs, group activities, and community resources that help older adults in our region move more, eat well, and stay engaged with the people around them.
3. Ask for Support Before a Small Issue Becomes a Big Crisis
Personal responsibility for your health includes knowing when to ask for help – and then taking the necessary steps to ask!
Need a ride to a medical appointment? Help with in-home tasks? A break from caregiving? Need guidance on legal documents like a healthcare proxy or power of attorney?
One call to Vintage connects you to local providers across all six counties. The goal is always the same: help you stay independent in the home you’ve chosen, for as long as possible.
Join us in Championing the Health of Older Americans Month This May
Throughout May, Vintage will highlight local older adults, share health resources, and point the way to events happening across Northwest Colorado.
Whether you’re an older adult navigating new health questions, a caregiver trying to do right by someone you love, Vintage is here to help. Want to learn more? Call us at 970-455-1067 or visit us online to find free, locally tailored services for eligible adults across our six mountain counties.
This May, let’s champion your health together! Will you join us?