Aging

Colorado’s rapidly aging population is reshaping the state, impacting the workforce, Medicaid, caregiving, housing, and the state budget.

Data gaps significantly limit our understanding of economic security for all older adults, including our understanding of this demographic’s financial realities and our ability to create policies that meet their diverse needs.

As federal and state budget cuts loom, maintaining and building upon the progress Colorado has made to support older adults will require more intentionality and dedication to creating an inclusive state where everyone has the ability to age in the way they’d prefer.

Current public funding levels fall significantly short in adequately supporting caregivers of older adults in Colorado. Investing in both paid and unpaid care will support older adults in need of care and support those who dedicate themselves to caregiving, creating a more sustainable and effective care ecosystem.

The Bell has developed a Home Care Cost Model for older adults, an important tool for researchers, advocates, and decision makers, as they strive to understand the implications of policy choices on the care economy, its workers, and the older Coloradans who rely upon it.

Colorado is one of the fastest aging states, and 70 percent of older adults will need some form of direct care to help with activities of daily living. What this means is that direct care for older adults will become ever more important.

Financial empowerment among caregivers is a critical issue that determines the well-being of informal caregivers in Colorado who provide care across the lifespan to the young and older Coloradans.

SecureSavings, the retirement plan for Coloradans who don’t have an employer option, is off to a great start with 50,000 accounts.

With the close of the 2024 Colorado legislative session, we took stock of our state’s progress on issues key to economic mobility.