What one Colorado researcher calls a “habit of silence” can have damaging impacts on older people’s physical and mental health
assisted living
Posted inHealth, News
In Colorado, one of the fastest aging states, one county had no home health or hospice provider for eight months
KREMMLING — Alta Sue Hawkins’ room is filled with what she calls her most important things. The sewing machine she likes to make aprons on. Dozens of books. A wall of family photos. It’s been her home for the last three years, tucked inside Grand County’s only assisted living facility. And it’s the place where […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, COVID, Health, News
Too many empty beds at Colorado nursing homes leave the industry in financial distress
State health officials are worried about the future of a handful of Colorado nursing homes with “severe financial concerns” after a bruising pandemic year that resulted in too many empty beds. Two major nursing home operators, meanwhile, are making plans to back out of Colorado or at least decrease operations after occupancy has been reduced […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Police: 95-year-old Colorado man shot assisted living worker to stop “thievery”
By COLLEEN SLEVIN, The Associated Press A 95-year-old Colorado man accused of shooting and killing a maintenance worker at his assisted living center told police he was tired of staffers stealing money from him and decided to shoot the man to make the thefts stop, according to a court document released Thursday. Okey Payne was […]
Posted inCOVID, Health, News
At Colorado’s rural edges, vaccines help assisted-living facilities reopen their doors
Bingo is back in the dining room. In-person visits have returned, too, though with masks and plexiglass. The Haven Assisted Living Facility’s residents are even planning a field trip for a private movie screening once they’ve all gotten their second round of COVID-19 vaccines. Such changes are small but meaningful to residents in the Hayden, […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Seniors deserve better than what they’re getting — and need your help
By now, you have heard it many times, from the governor to the news media to local and state public health officials: COVID-19 cases in Colorado are on a dramatic rise. It is up to everyone to help get this pandemic under control before the vaccine is available in order for it to be most […]
Posted inSun Investigation
Coronavirus-related deaths among Colorado nursing home, senior-care center residents rise to at least 64
The number of residents of Colorado nursing homes and senior care centers who have died because of the coronavirus rose to at least 64 on Wednesday, up from 32 last week, according to a count by The Colorado Sun. The state health department is not releasing the data — despite media requests and Gov. Jared […]
Posted inOpinion, Write On, Colorado
Stunned by youthful disregard while a loved one died in assisted living, I wrote this poem
For a Corona We May Die While beautiful young idiots drink beerAnd play outside in sun and sand and sea,Their elders hide indoors and gasp in fear. Chief Propagandist drones, “It won’t come here.We’re safe. Go work. The best economy.”So beautiful young idiots drink beer. Physicians, COVID experts make it clear:This bat contagion is no […]