The negative impact of social isolation on the physical and mental health of older adults is an issue of concern that was greatly exacerbated during the COVID pandemic. PAFC convened community stakeholders, community partners, experts, volunteers and older adults at risk for isolation to examine service gaps, barriers, opportunities and potential solutions and to prioritize areas for action using evidence-based approaches. Click here to read the final report.

Several PAFC projects were enhanced or developed in response to this plan including the Tech Buddy/Seniors in Technology, the Gateways Catalog and the virtual volunteering project. Click here to read the One Year Implementation Plan

In collaboration with Senior Access Points, PAFC members talked with residents of rural rural communities in Larimer County to learn about their needs and issues related to mobility/transportation, awareness of and access to resources and efforts to decrease social isolation. PAFC, together with Red Feather Lakes Library, the North 40 Mountain Alliance and local residents, organized a community meeting to identify local support and develop longer term goals for more sustained community programs. During the pandemic, this Red Feathers community group developed the North Forty Food Pantry to obtain and distribute food.

Sponsored by the CSU Extension in Larimer County. The goals of the program were to make healthy food affordable and accessible, as well as to provide opportunities for social interaction with family, friends, vendors, and community partners by visiting the market. Participants were given $20 vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers’ market vendors. In 2019, the 163 participants in the Market Days! program reported a 35% increase in fruit and vegetable consumption.

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The Senior Access Points team completed a community assessment in 2017 to evaluate the public's awareness about aging-related programs and supports. The assessment highlighted that the most common approaches to searching for aging-related information were not driving people to the “right doors.” The team responded by developing a website (LarimerSeniors.org) designed to be easily accessible and simple to navigate, providing up-to-date information to help older adults, family members and caregivers get started in their resource search. This website is now maintained by Colorado State University Extension.

Older adults in Larimer County who need access to mental health information and/or care can find it difficult to access what they need. This SDVT researched this matter in order to propose a project that could positively impact mental health for older adults in Larimer County. Read the report.

Information on mental health services in Larimer County is available on the Senior Access Points website.

The PFA Hub SDVT was directed to create a detailed list of community contacts in the area of Station 7 for the purpose of scheduling presentations on wildland fire mitigation. The team looked at ways to contact, connect with residents in the area of PFA Fire Station 7.

The first Self Directed Volunteer Team (SDVT) team implemented a survey asking about barriers to walking in Larimer County. Over 300 survey responses were received.

In collaboration with Colorado AARP and the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute (WALC), a SDVT held a walking audit in downtown Loveland, Colorado - assessing for ease of walking, accessibility and safety.