County Asks Governor for Senior Services Funding

The Board of Mesa County Commissioners approved a letter to formally request Governor Jared Polis to consider an increase in funding for senior services in the upcoming fiscal year state budget. This decision comes in light of Colorado's status as one of the nation's fastest-aging states, with one in five residents aged 60 or older. In Mesa County, this ratio rises to one in four.

The letter from the Commissioners underscores the pressing need for state support. In Mesa County, just three Long-Term Care Ombudsman serve up to 34 care facilities, potentially assisting 1,781 residents. Additionally, 87 seniors, including a 95-year-old amputee veteran, are on the waiting list for the vital Meals on Wheels program.

Despite the state's fiscal challenges, the Commissioners stress the importance of allowing older Coloradans to age with dignity, health, and independence.