March 2023
Vol. 1 – Issue 2
March is Women’s History Month
St. Patrick’s Day March 17
Spring begins March 20

INSIDE

• The Job Applications Fairness Act
• Dealing With Stress and Burnout
• Services provided by the Aging Clinic of the Rockies

Are you a caregiver in need of support, someone concerned about your own or a loved one’s memory, or a senior over 60 in need of someone to talk to?
The Aging Clinic of the Rockies provides services to help in these areas.
Call: (970) 491-6795

Community Connections for Older Adults

Larimer County Connections– behavioral health and therapy referrals
(970) 221-5551

Larimer County Office on Aging– Information and referrals to programs, services, and resources for older adults, caregivers, and adults living with a disability
(970) 498-7750

Aging Clinic of the Rockies– Senior peer counseling services, individual counseling for caregivers, and neuropsychological assessments
(970) 491-6795

Colorado Crisis Services– Colorado’s statewide resource for mental health, substance use, or emotional crisis help, information and referrals.
1-844-493-TALK (8255)

Healthy Aging Newsletter

Aging Clinic of the Rockies

The Job Application Fairness Act

by Betsy Ortega

According to a study done by AARP, more than 40% of job applicants are asked job-related questions, and nearly 40% of managers admit to age-bias in hiring. To address age-bias in hiring in Colorado, Senate bill 23-058, the Job Applications Fairness Act, has been introduced in the Colorado Senate this session. The bill, if enacted in July of 2024, will prohibit employers from inquiring about a prospective employee’s age, date of birth, and dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution on an employment application. This bill could help reduce age-bias in the hiring process.
Colorado seniors play an important role in Colorado’s economy. As Colorado’s population ages in the next several years, they will play an even bigger role. According to the Common Sense Institute, by 2050, 41% of the Colorado population will be 50+ and will account for 61 cents of every dollar spent in the state. Colorado is also facing a significant labor shortage that could be addressed by reducing age-bias in the hiring process.
If you would like more information on this bill, you can contact Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, who represents Larimer and Weld Counties on the Colorado Senate Appropriations committee. barbara.kirkmeyer.senate@coleg.gov

Dealing With Stress and Burnout
By Betsy Ortega

Many people believe that by the time we reach our 50s and beyond we will have everything figured out. I remember as a child looking at my grandmother and thinking that she must not have a care in the world since she spent her time reading books and playing canasta with her friends. As we get older, though, we learn that this could not be further from the truth. Though we may think we are removing the biggest stressor from our lives when we retire, we soon discover that aging brings its own stressors. We are faced with health issues, financial concerns, caregiving demands, and the loss of friends and family.
How can we deal with these stressors, so we can enjoy our senior years? Emily and Amelia Nagoski in their book Burnout and How to Complete the Stress Cycle outline the following seven ways to release stress and reduce burnout: do something physical, practice deep breathing, find ways to connect through others, let yourself laugh and cry, give and get hugs, and do something creative.

Senior Peer Counseling– This program seeks to help older adults in Larimer County by connecting them with trained mental health paraprofessionals who are also seniors. This service is provided FREE of charge.
Individual Counseling for Family Caregivers- This program provides FREE individual therapy services to caregivers of individuals 60 and older or who have dementia who reside in Larimer County.

Neuropsychological Assessments– This program provides neuropsychological assessments for those experiencing memory difficulties or those interested in learning more about their cognitive health. These comprehensive and brief assessments are provided on a sliding scale.
General Mental Health and Psychotherapy- This program provides client-centered mental health services for older adults on a sliding scale.
To learn more about these services contact the Aging Clinic of the Rockies-
(970) 491-6795