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Growing Older in Fort Collins Silver Tsunami As a Golden Opportunity

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June 20, 2012 -- Community Conversation

Growing Older in Fort Collins - Silver Tsunami As a Golden Opportunity," was the 4th in a series of community conversations exploring the future growth and impact of the aging population held Wednesday, June 20, 5:00-7:00PM at the Fort Collins Senior Center with nearly 200 in attendance. The program began with a final report presented by Martin Carcasson, Director, CSU Center on Public Deliberation, on the findings from the previous programs in the series held on November 10, 2011 and March 1, April 17 & April 26, 2012. Following the report, speakers (Ruth Long, Program Manager, Larimer County Office on Aging, and Bonnie Shetler, President, Foundation on Aging for Larimer County) shared information about plans for transitioning this initiative into actionable activities focused on issues that have been raised by the community regarding ensuring the future of healthy aging in Fort Collins.

What is the Silver Tsunami?
Beginning January 2011, 10,000 Baby Boomers a day began turning 65 nationwide. Boomers are expected to change the definition of retirement: they will live longer, be more active, spend more, save less, keep working, and do more volunteering than previous generations. In Larimer County, the population over age 65 will grow 140% over the next 20 years.

Keeping Fort Collins a Great Place to Age and Explore New Opportunities
Our city is consistently ranked nationally as one of the best places in the United States to retire. With community support, Fort Collins is well positioned to be an innovative leader in defining livable communities for aging well in the 21st century. Together we can inspire grassroots support on senior issues, create a vision for the future of senior living in Fort Collins, and best take advantage of the positives that also inherently arise from having vibrant, engaged older residents.



April 17 and 26, 2012 -- Community Conversation

On April 17 and 26, 2012, the Senior Advisory Board hosted its third community conversation at the Fort Collins Senior Center, exploring the future growth of our aging population. "Growing Older in Fort Collins, Part 3-Silver Tsunami As a Golden Opportunity" was co-sponsored by the Fort Collins Senior Center Expansion Committee, Colorado State University Center for Public Deliberation, and the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado.

Wade Turner, Senior Advisory Board Chair, served as the emcee. Marty Heffernan (Director of Community Services, Parks & Recreation) and Karen Weitkunat (Mayor, City of Fort Collins) gave the welcoming remarks (April 17 & 26, respectively). The speakers were Nancy Luttrop, CEO of OPS Consulting, and Barbara Schoenberger, Recreation Supervisor at the Fort Collins Senior Center.

The program focused specifically on the planned expansion of the Fort Collins Senior Center, exploring trends in senior center facilities around the country, expectations of how baby boomers will redefine retirement, and the history and future needs of our senior center. After the presentations, audience members participated in group discussions where they generated and ranked ideas for the expanded facility.

The next event will be held on June 20, 2012.



March 1, 2012 Event Information

On March 1, 2012, the Senior Advisory Board hosted its second community conversation at the Fort Collins Senior Center, exploring the future growth of our aging population. "Growing Older in Fort Collins, Part 2-Silver Tsunami As a Golden Opportunity" was co-sponsored by the Fort Collins Senior Center Expansion Committee, Colorado State University Center for Public Deliberation, and the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado.

Wade Turner, Senior Advisory Board Chair, served as the emcee and Morie Smile, State Director of AARP Colorado, gave the welcoming remarks. The panel of speakers included: Darin Atteberry, City Manager, City of Fort Collins; Ray Caraway, President, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado; Neil Gluckman, Assistant County Manager, Larimer County; Jan Rastall, Assistant Director of Adult Learner & Veteran Services, CSU; Gordan Thibedeau, President & CEO, United Way of Larimer County; and, Kevin Unger, President & CEO, Poudre Valley Hospital.

The next event will be held twice, on April 17 and April 26.

Info from the March 1 Event:



November 10, 2011 Event Information

This program was a community conversation exploring the future growth of our aging population held on Thursday, November 10, 2011, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., at the Lincoln Center. The event was hosted by the Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board with support from the Fort Collins Senior Center Expansion Committee, Colorado State University Center for Public Deliberation, and the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. Speakers included Colorado State Demographer, Elizabeth Garner, Baby Boomer expert, Janine Vanderburg (JVA Consulting), former Mayor of Fort Collins, Doug Hutchinson, and Senior Advisory Board Chair, Wade Turner.

The next event will be on Thursday, March 1, 2012.

Info provided at November 10 discussion:

Report #1: