|
April 23, 2023
Our next meeting is Monday, April 24, 2023. Our meeting is from 9:30AM to 11:30AM.
| |
We will be very busy at this meeting! | |
After today's meeting we will have two more Monday CCA Advocacy committee meetings before the 2023 Colorado Legislative Session ends on Monday, May 8, 2023. It is crunch time at the Capitol to see if bills we support will get funded. At this Monday meeting Jeanette, Rich and other members of the CCA Capitol Gang will share the status of the bills we are supporting. | |
|
View our meeting agenda to see a list that prioritizes bills for discussion
at the Monday morning meeting. There are new bills to review - CLICK HERE
Our approach is to review the bills one week and then the following week our members vote on whether to monitor, support, strongly support, or oppose but as we enter the last half of the session, bills move more quickly; so we may consider and take a position on a bill at the same meeting. If we keep a bill in our Bill watch account, we need a member to step up as a point of contact.
We ask that those who have volunteered to track a specific bill
be prepared to report to the group on its status.
| |
News from CCA Capitol Gang | |
The past week we sent out emails to legislators, individuals testified on bills, other individuals were at the Capitol talking to legislators and advocating for older adults, and we researched bills. See details below: | |
-
HB23-1243 Hospital Community Benefit - April 24 - Monday - Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole. Our CCA advocate for this outreach is Rich Mauro.
| |
-
SB23-213 Land Use - April 24 - Monday - Senate Appropriations. Our CCA Advocate for this bill is Rich Mauro.
| |
-
HOA Bills - Sara Gagliardi and Jeanette Hensley will give us updates on the HOA Bills.
| |
-
HB23-1065 Local Government Independent Ethics Commission - House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to Appropriations - Support
-
HB23-1090 Limit Metropolitan District Director Conflicts - CCA was Supporting this bill and it has been Postponed Indefinitely (PI’D)
-
HB23-1105 Homeowners' Association And Metropolitan District Homeowners' - April 27 - Thursday - Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government & Housing
-
HB23-1131 Majority of Unit Owner’s Required For Home Owner’s Association Budgets - Postponed Indefinitely (PI’D) on 2-14-23
-
SB23-110 Transparency For Metropolitan Districts - Governor Signed: 04/03/2023
-
SB23-178 Water-wise Landscaping In Homeowners' Association Communities - April 24 - Monday - House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
| |
The week of April 17th the CCA organization sent out Action Alerts to CCA Members, Legislators, and/or specific Committees on SB23-031 and SB23-064. Please watch for more Action Alerts this week. We have three Monday morning CCA Advocacy Committee Meetings remaining. The 2023 Legislative Session ends Monday, May 8th and we will be meeting on May 8th. | |
|
Questions about CCA Advocacy Committee
Jeanette Hensley - email - 303-249-5598
Co-Chair of CCA Advocacy Committee
Rich Mauro - email - Direct: 303-480-6778
Co-Chair of CCA Advocacy Committee and Senior Policy and Legislative Analyst Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)
| |
Zoom Link for Monday's Meeting | |
|
Topic: CCA: Advocacy Committee Meeting
9:30AM - 11:00AM/11:30AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8814815119?pwd=cXJGUFRVQ09kV1RzZ25QVG90RHBOQT09
Meeting ID: 881 481 5119
NEW Passcode: CCA2023#
One tap mobile
+17193594580,,8814815119#,,,,*01201897# US
+12532158782,,8814815119#,,,,*01201897# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location
+1 719 359 4580 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 881 481 5119
Passcode: 01201897
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbZvU5bskJ
| |
News & Highlights from CCA & our Network | |
|
May is Older Americans Month
and We will be Celebrating Older Coloradans Month
Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM). The 2023 theme is Aging Unbound, which offers an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how communities can combat stereotypes. Join us in promoting flexible thinking about aging – and how we all benefit when older adults remain engaged, independent, and included. Colorado Center for Aging will be hosting a series of events in May and June.
More details coming in May!
| |
|
Colorado Commission on Aging Meetings
The Public is welcome to attend
The Colorado Commission on Aging (CCOA) was established under the authority of the Older Coloradans Act Section 26-11-101, C.R.S. to serve as the primary advisory body on all matters affecting older persons. The CCOA is a Governor-appointed, citizen-led, multidisciplinary Commission, comprised of representatives from both the public and private sectors to coordinate and contribute to guiding state programs, services, projects, policies, procedures, and resources in the area of aging and coordinate and guide the implementation of the strategic action plan on aging (Master Plan on Aging). The CCA members interested in aging issues in Colorado are encouraged to attend the committee meetings. All meetings are virtual until further notice. The meetings are:
- CCOA committee meets monthly every 3rd Thursday of the month
- CCOA Executive Subcommittee meets first Tuesday of the month
- CCOA Age-Friendly Subcommittee meets 4th Friday of the month
- CCOA Public Policy Subcommittee 2nd Monday of the month
Find times and Zoom link for the meetings on the CCOA web page -
https://cdhs.colorado.gov/our-services/older-adult-services/state-unit-on-aging/colorado-commission-on-aging
| |
|
CU Program for Low-Income Seniors: Senior Smiles
Patients who are currently participating in the CU Dental Team Care Clinics or those who are accepted through the CU School of Dental Medicine screening process and are age 60+, do not qualify for Medicaid or Old Age Pension Health and Medical Care Program, do not have private dental insurance, and their income is at or below 250% of the most current federal poverty guidelines based on family size, and are a Colorado Resident are eligible for Senior Smiles - LEARN MORE
| |
|
Housing density requirements dramatically pared back
in Colorado governor’s major land-use use bill
"Senate Bill SB23-213 was amended Tuesday (4-18-23) to build more support for the measure among lawmakers and to ensure the legislation’s passage out of its first committee. Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats in the Colorado legislature on Tuesday significantly pared back their major land-use bill ..." - READ MORE
Source https://coloradosun.com
| |
|
Colorado land-use bill survives crucial first vote,
but drops 70% of its upzoning along the way
"A Colorado Senate committee advanced a sprawling proposal late Tuesday night to reform Colorado’s local zoning codes, in order to boost housing production and promote density. The sponsors, however, agreed to several significant revisions to the bill to keep it alive. The centerpiece of the bill when it was introduced last month was an “upzoning” requirement that would have allowed denser development across large swaths of many cities. The idea drew intense opposition from local leaders, including many Democrats, because it overrides existing city laws ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.cpr.org
| |
|
As Colorado considers upzoning,
here’s a look at how it’s gone in other states and cities
"Democrats’ controversial land use bill aims to rewrite what kind of housing gets built in many of Colorado’s fastest-growing communities. But while it’s a new idea for this state, Colorado wouldn’t be the first place in the country to embrace this approach. States like Oregon and cities like Minneapolis have adopted similar laws over the last five years, often in the name of enabling construction and driving down housing costs - the same goals shared by Colorado’s bill ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.cpr.org
| |
|
Here’s how Colorado Democrats want to
protect residents from the next spike in energy bills
"After a record spike in energy costs over the winter, Colorado Democrats have introduced a sprawling new bill they say will help protect ratepayers from future price shocks. The proposal follows an uproar over Colorado’s investor-owned gas and electricity companies. While many residents saw their heating bills double or triple last winter, the state’s largest utilities including Xcel Energy, Black Hills Energy and Atmos Energy earned healthy profits for their shareholders in 2022 ,,," - READ MORE
Source https://www.cpr.org
| |
|
State lawmakers introduce big measure attempting
to rein in Coloradans’ utility bills. Here’s what it does.
"State lawmakers Tuesday unveiled an effort to rein in Coloradans’ rising utility bills following months of investigating how investor-owned electricity and natural gas providers, like Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy, operate and how their finances work. The measure, Senate Bill SB23-291, has three principal goals: limiting the impact of rising natural gas prices on consumers, increasing transparency in electric and gas rate cases ..." - READ MORE
Source https://coloradosun.com
| |
|
What Coloradans need to know about renewing Medicaid
as many face losing their coverage
"Coloradans with health coverage through Medicaid are facing a looming requirement for the first time in three years: Over the coming 12 months, they will need to prove they are still eligible for the program. This wasn’t the case during the height of the COVID pandemic, when the federal government told states not to disenroll anyone from Medicaid. This was done to make sure as many people as possible had health coverage with which to face down the coronavirus. But now that the officially designated federal public health emergency is coming to an end, Medicaid eligibility redeterminations will start back up ..." - READ MORE
Source https://coloradosun.com
| |
|
Housing, energy and food costs push Denver’s inflation
higher than the national rate
"Higher housing, energy and food costs were reasons for the Denver-area’s 5.7% inflation rate increase in March from a year ago. This was higher than the national 5% rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which does not track inflation rates by states. The good news for consumers is that this means prices aren’t rising as fast as they were last year. But this also means that consumer prices are still rising, and that’s on top of March 2022’s 9.1% increase ..." - READ MORE
Source https://coloradosun.com
| |
|
Hospital patients who are homeless connected to housing
"A Kaiser Permanente program connects patients experiencing homelessness to permanent housing and help for life’s problems. Becoming homeless and living in her car while trying to manage stage 3 kidney disease and diabetes was not something that Rosa Williams of Sacramento, California, thought could ever happen to her ... Today, thanks to a new $2 million Kaiser Permanente program in the Sacramento rea called Project Home, Williams has settled into a cozy 1-bedroom apartment in a senior living community ..." - READ MORE
Source https://about.kaiserpermanente.org
| |
|
How to Best 'Navigate This World' With Cognitive Impairment
"Bruce Willis' wife, Emma, recently released an Instagram video asking photographers to stop "yelling" at her husband — diagnosed with dementia — when he's out in public. She also asked other caregivers 'navigating this world' for 'tips or advice on how to get your loved ones out in the world safely' ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.nextavenue.org
| |
|
How the UK Is Supporting Dementia with Social Prescriptions
"It's an approach that aims to improve individuals' health by connecting them with community-based groups and activities. In the northwestern English city of Manchester, someone with dementia might regularly meet a group to play soccer. They might attend seated exercise classes set to reggae or sing with a choir. The United Kingdom is embracing the practice of social prescribing, an approach that aims to improve individuals' health by connecting them with community-based groups and activities. Some involve nature; others focus on art, sports or music .." - READ MORE
Source https://www.nextavenue.org
| |
|
Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care
and Supporting Caregivers - The White House
"This past week, the Biden Administration took historic action to bolster the nation’s 53 million caregivers and improve the way the nation provides care to the older adults, people with disabilities, veterans and others who need it, 'The actions taken by the Biden Administration this week invest in the nation’s caregivers and respond to the needs of millions of older adults, people with disabilities and veterans who rely on services such as in-home assistance, nutrition, case management, transportation and other person-centered services, to live and age well at home and in their communities,' said USAging CEO Sandy Markwood ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.usaging.org
| |
|
Keeping this article resource in for another week ...
Discovering and Developing Missing Middle Housing
"Benefits of Missing Middle Housing The word 'middle' as used in the term 'Missing Middle Housing' principally refers to the midsized housing types that exist between single family homes and large (often high-rise) apartment or condominium buildings. But 'middle' also relates to the home type’s level of affordability ..." - READ MORE
Source https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2022/missing-middle-housing.html
| |
|
April is Stress Awareness Month
(And don't we feel it as the Colorado Legislative Session Winds Down!)
Stress can be debilitating, and it can cause and/or aggravate health problems. Every April, healthcare professionals from across the country join forces to increase public awareness about not only the causes, but also the treatments for the growing stress epidemic in our country.
Website https://www.chcw.org/april-is-stress-awareness-month/
| |
|
April 24, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, April 24, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
| |
|
May 1, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, May 1, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
| |
|
May 8, 2023 - Monday, 9:30AM - 11:00AM
CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting via Zoom
There will be a CCA Advocacy Committee Meeting on Monday, May 8, 2023 from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. Newcomers and visitors are welcome - LEARN MORE
Website https://coloradocenterforaging.org/
| |
|
May 11, 2023 - Thursday
6th Annual Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day - Virtual Meeting
Public health practitioners, professionals in the aging network, mental health providers, health care professionals, and anyone interested in ensuring the mental health of older adults should attend this free, virtual event on May 11, 2023. The symposium is brought to you by NCOA, the U.S. Administration for Community Living, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Register now to join us on May 11. When you register, you will be automatically signed up for all of the day’s sessions. Click the green Register button above to get started
https://connect.ncoa.org/products/6th-annual-older-adult-mental-health-awareness-day
| |
|
Cyber-Seniors provides FREE technology support and training for senior citizens
Founded in 2015 by the creators of the award-winning documentary film CYBER-SENIORS, this non-profit organization provides senior citizens with tech-training using an intergenerational, volunteer model.
Website https://cyberseniors.org/
| |
|
CU Anschutz COAST-IT Program
The Multidisciplinary Center on Aging at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is actively reaching out to more older adults in the community for the COAST-IT (Connecting Older Adults and Students Through Inter-professional Telecare) program. Older adults will have the opportunity to engage with a student from either the CU Anschutz School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, or School of Dental Medicine programs to mentor the future generation of healthcare clinicians.
Contact Joanna Fitzgibbons at joanna.fitzgibbons@cuanschutz.edu for more information
| |
|
Denver Public Library Technology Classes & Workshops
From computer basics to digital privacy to applying for benefits online, Denver Public Library offers a variety of technology classes and workshops.
Website https://www.denverlibrary.org/techclasses
| |
|
Senior Planet
If you’re a senior aged 60 and older, these live online classes are designed just for you! Learn about finance, wellness, fitness, computers and technology, and so much more. You will also find a real community of fellow life-long learners.
Website https://seniorplanet.org/classes/
| |
|
Library Services through Strong Library
Thanks to Denver voters, Freegal Music+, an ad-free, unlimited streaming platform, and Statista, an easy-to-use portal for integrating statistics and reports, are available to anybody with a DPL library card. These new services are made possible because of #StrongLibraryStrongDenver, supported by the DPL Fund. Learn more here:
https://www.denverlibrary.org/stronglibrary_strongdenver
| |
CCA Advocacy Committee Meetings 2023 | |
The first CCA Advocacy Committee will be meeting every Monday while the legislature is in session. Note that we may not have meetings on certain Federal and State holidays. | |
If you are not a member of Colorado Center for Aging - Join Today! | |
|
Colorado Center for Aging is a 501c3 non-profit organization,
born out of the roots of Colorado Senior Lobby (CSL) - LEARN MORE
| | | | |
