DIVISION OF AGING AND ADULT
SERVICES (AAS)

 

Director: Jeanette Hensley

Mission: The mission of the Division of Aging and Adult Services is to assist recipients to live safely with maximum personal independence by planning and promoting an effective, integrated, accessible delivery system.

FY 08-09 Budget: $142,114,839

Number of Employees: 24.5

Services Provided:

• Adult Protection Program
• Aid to the Needy Disabled Program (AND)
• AND Burial Program
• AND Supplemental Security Income – Colorado Supplemental Program
• Aid to the Blind/Supplemental Security Income – Colorado Supplement
• Old Age Pension (OAP) Basic Grant
• OAP Supplemental Security Income Assistance Project
• Nutrition Services Program for the Elderly
• Home Care Allowance Program
• Adult Foster Care Program
• Transportation Services Program for the Elderly
• Elder Abuse Prevention Program
• Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Services Program
• In-Home Services Program for Frail Elderly
• Information and Referral Program
• Legal Assistance Developer Program
• Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
• National Family Caregiver Program
• Senior Community Services Employment Program

Clients served in FY 07-08:

Key Stakeholders:

• Administration on Aging Departments of Social Services
• Administration on Aging Disabilities Program Staff
• Area Agency on Aging
• Catholic Charities
• Colorado Commission on Aging
• Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
• Colorado Department of Human Services
• Colorado Mobility Coalition
• County Disabilities Program Staff
• Disabilities Program Staff
• Health Care Personnel
• Homeless Coalition
• Law Enforcement
• Legal Aid
• Legal Services
• Medical Providers
• Nursing Homes
• Old Age Pension Coalition
• Older Workers Task Force
• Ombudsman
• Options for Long Term Care

Key Achievements:

• Governor’s Initiatives & Administration Accomplishments
  
  • Older Coloradans Cash Fund – Gov. Ritter signed Senate Bill 08-1108 (Riesberg/Morse) into law, increasing state funding to the Older Coloradans Fund from $5 million per year to $8 million. These funds pay for vital community-based services through 16 area Agencies on Aging around Colorado. Services include Meals on Wheels, transportation, in-home medical services, legal advice, elder abuse prevention, and information and referral services. Many of these services help seniors stay in their homes and maintain their independence.
    
  • Silverprint Colorado – This initiative is still going strong, by providing national and local best practices in the area of aging. The silverprintcolorado.org website, continues to help reduce fragmentation and duplication by acting as a clearinghouse for a wide range of materials and information about aging.
    
  • Senior Source – The Colorado Commission on Aging received approximately $370,000 in grants from the Rose Community Foundation, Colorado Health Foundation, and Caring for Colorado to support “Senior Source,” a multi-media campaign to provide health and well-being information to baby boomers and older adults.
    
  • Seniors and Civic Engagement – Colorado was one of just eight states selected to participate in the National Governors’ Association’s Center For Best Practices Policy Academy, “Civic Engagement: Engaging Seniors in Volunteering and Employment.” From this initiative came the website, coloradoexperiencebank.com which connects seniors with locating a new career, enrolling into lifelong learning and contributing to their community through volunteering opportunities.
    
• Appointments to Boards and Commissions
  
  • Gov. Ritter appointed 745 people to boards and commissions in 2008, including the Colorado Commission on the Aging and the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Transportation Panel. Of Gov. Ritter’s appointees, 43 percent are age 55 or older. Colorado Commission on Aging added 3 new people due to term limits and resignations.
    
• Legislation Signed into Law
  
  • House Bill 08-1108 (Riesberg/Morse) – Increases the amount allocated to the Older Coloradans Cash Fund from $5 million per year to $8 million from receipts collected from the state sales and use tax.
    
• Partnering with the Community
  
  • Breakfast in May focusing on civic engagement and Older Americans Month with local businesses to roll-out the Colorado Employer Toolkit: EngAging the Mature Workforce and the Colorado Experience Bank website which allows seniors to volunteer in the community or find employment.
    

Contact Information:

Colorado Department of Human Services
Division of Aging and Adult Services
1575 Sherman Street, 10th Floor
Denver, CO 80203
303-866-2800 - Telephone
303-866-2696 - Fax
303-866-2850 - TTY
888-866-4243 - Toll Free (Within Colorado Only)

Revised December 31, 2008