COSMB Cares: Serving Our Community’s Senior Citizens

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National Senior Citizens Day

This observance day is on August 21st. President Ronald Reagan established the day in 1988 to raise awareness of supporting senior citizens with social, health, and economic issues. The day also recognizes the achievements of those who have made positive contributions in their community.

In Colorado Springs, several great non-profit organizations serve the senior citizen community. Click on the name of each organization (highlighted in purple) below for more information. 

Silver Key

Founded in 1970, Silver Key serves in partnership with stakeholders to support quality of life for seniors. The goal is to allow them the choice of safely aging in place with dignity and independence. Some of services they provide include home delivered meals, the Silver Connections Café, Reserve & Ride transportation services, and vital Senior Assistance services.

Volunteers are vital to many areas of their organization. Here is how you can become involved.

Colorado Springs Senior Center

In partnership with the YMCA, their mission is to offer quality of life experiences to adults 55 years of age and older. This center offers many art, exercise, lifelong learning, and technology classes, as well as special events throughout the year. They also partner with Silver Key to offer the Silver Key Connections Café a place for adults 60 plus to gather and share a donation-based lunch together. Additionally, Colorado Springs Senior Center offers nutritional classes.

Volunteers are needed to help set up, serve and clean up at the café. Please contact Silver Key at 719.884.2300 to volunteer or for more information.

Senior Resource of Colorado

Senior Resource Of Colorado is a Website Referral List, Radio Show, and Consumer Help Center for Seniors and Caregivers. This resource thoroughly conducts background checks and recommends only the most trusted, qualified, and reputable businesses in Colorado.

Other Ways to Help our Seniors

Chances are with the current booming senior citizens population, you know people 65 years or older. Here are some suggested ways to make a difference in their lives:

Ensure that they have reliable transportation.

Access to transportation helps seniors to feel less lonely and helpless. Offer to drive them to run errands, to doctor appointments and to social gatherings. Or help them to navigate the public transportation system. You could even volunteer to drive for a local organization.

Encourage them to become and active part of their community.

Senior citizens can provide a vital contribution to schools, libraries, community organizations and places of worship. The elderly receive the benefit of feeling needed while the organizations receive wisdom and mentorship for the people they serve.

Assist them in making exercise and their health a priority in their lives.

Make a plan to walk together or to take a class together. If they live far way, connect them with their local Senior Citizen Center or help them to find the resources to meet their medical and mental needs.

Contact your local nursing home or senior residency facility to become involved in an Adopt a Grandparent program with your children.

Involvement can be as simple as sending a card, or visiting a resident who doesn’t have anyone nearby to care for them. Or plan a playdate at one of these places with your friends and little ones. Arrange with the program coordinator to help the residents create a simple art project or simply visit.

Be friendly with your neighbors. Offer to help them with household chores or yard work. Be aware of suspicious activity. And check on them if have not seen them in a few days. Your vigilance can make a huge difference in an emergency situation.

COSMB Cares Series

If you liked this post and are interested in finding other ways to give back in Colorado Springs, please read other posts in our series here

Colorado Springs Moms Blog cares deeply about our community. To that end, we are running monthly series called "COSMB Cares." In these posts, we will highlight a national or international cause and one or more of the local organizations working to improve that situation. This eighth installment of "COSMB Cares" highlights local resources for senior citizens.
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Adrienne, Senior Writer
Adrienne is a Colorado native and would not want to live anywhere else! She spends her days juggling the many demands of three sons, and her school-age daughter. When she is not busy deciphering the perplexing young boy brain, or trying to please her diva daughter, you will most likely find her nose in a book, or writing. She loves encouraging her fellow parents in their journey. Recently she has begun a new career as a Real Estate Broker with Colorado Home Finder Realty and is definitely enjoying the roller coaster ride. She also loves finding great happy hour places with her husband, Shawn, and acting young and sometimes crazy with friends! She does not spend enough time outdoors (unless forced to) and comes up with any excuse to put off cleaning her chaotic house. She is very grateful for her completely imperfect life.

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