Colorado is getting older, rapidly. Are we prepared?
We’re taking a look at how these shifting demographics are affecting housing, the workforce and quality of life, and whether Colorado has the services needed for people to age in place.
Here’s why it matters:
- Colorado is the third-fastest aging state in the country
- More than a quarter of the state’s population will be over the age of 60 by 2050
- Suicide rates among older people are rising faster than any other age category
We’ll have stories over the next few months in our intermittent series, including pieces on the state’s oldest county and a fun and inspiring beauty pageant for seniors. Sign up for updates and join the conversation below.
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IN THIS SERIES
Aging with nowhere to go: Increasing number of people age 65 and older are becoming homeless in Colorado
The number of retirement-aged individuals accessing homeless services in metro Denver has increased 15% since 2023. Service providers are struggling to keep up.
From Brooklyn to Beulah, hippie beginnings to golden years, a retired couple returns to van life
Part of Colorado’s rapidly aging demographic, Dave and Helene Van Manen left their mountain home in Beulah for a more practical future closer to family and medical care.
Back to school: Older Coloradans stimulate intellect, ease transitions through college offerings
Facing challenges of retirement, older Coloradans can go back to school to find socialization, expand their academic horizons — and customize a plan for their next act.
Why are suicide rates among the oldest Coloradans three times higher than teenagers?
As the state ages, mental health efforts focused on older people aren’t keeping up
An elder exchange between Longmont and Wind River puts a new spin on an already groundbreaking Sister Cities concept
First, members of the Northern Arapaho tribe trekked to their ancestral home in Colorado. Then city residents visited Wyoming to cement bonds.
Hot Colorado labor trend alert: Working past 65
65-plus year olds are part of Colorado’s fastest growing age group of workers. “The 70s are the new 60s,” says one 73-year-old worker from Aurora.
Older Coloradans are turning to the “Golden Girls” housing model to fight costs, loneliness
A nonprofit called Sunshine Home Share is helping older homeowners fill up their extra bedrooms with people who want cheaper rent in exchange for doing household chores
With age comes … stuff. Here’s how experts help older Coloradans downsize their possessions.
Advancing years often mean dialing back belongings to fit life changes. There’s a growing industry that guides people through the difficult choices.
A lifetime of family treasures can become a burden, but some things really are priceless
My parents’ deaths sent me on a quest to find a missing heirloom and to look at my own possessions with a more critical eye
Tips and advice for decluttering and downsizing your possessions
Experts weigh in on some of their favorite hacks for making the most of your time and effort
As Colorado ages, seniors are colliding with the housing crisis
Most older residents want to age in place. But experts say Colorado’s housing stock wasn’t built with their needs in mind.
Miss Colorado Senior, a pageant for women over 60, is about more than beauty and ballroom gowns
The pageant is part of a national network that creates social connections and instills a positive outlook on aging in its contestants
Rural Colorado seniors try to grow old in “God’s waiting place.” But funding for services isn’t keeping up.
Residents of Custer County — the oldest county in Colorado — face challenges with transportation and services to age in place
Colorado’s median age is nearing 40 — and getting older. Here’s what that looks like.
After decades of being one of the youngest states, Colorado is now one of the fastest aging. We break down the demographics.
Aging in Colorado: Longtime neighbors growing old on the same Denver street wonder whether to stay
Three households on the same street grapple with aging in their homes — reflecting some common conundrums aging Americans experience
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